Posted 11 years ago
joshlamiel
(10 items)
Hi. My girlfriend and I picked this trunk up at an antique mall in New Hampshire a few weeks ago for $90. I don't really know anything about trunks, just that a lot of the other trunks for sale in malls and shops around the area were going for $200+, and this looked to be in similar shape. It's covered in canvas, which I have tried to clean up a bit but there's a lot of dirt in it. The slats on the top are wood, and tin (I believe) on the sides and corners. When I was carrying it up to my apartment yesterday, I noticed there are four small wheels on the bottom corners. It's a big trunk - 34''W, 24''H (to top of Dome), 20.5''D, and 21.5''H to the lowest point of the dome. The spring in the latch on the lock still works, but the lock does not close and I don't have a key. The lining appears to be in very good shape, I'm not sure it's original. There is a thin border on the lining in the dome of the trunk with a kind of Native American pattern (is that an indication of the manufacturer?) There are slats for a shelf on the inside, but the shelf did not come with the trunk. The leather handles are in very good condition. No indication of a manufacturer anywhere on the trunk. Any idea when this comes from? Who might have made it? What I can do (if anything) to restore it? Thanks so much trunkman! I flipped through some of the listings, and my highly uneducated guess would suggest the 1880's, but that's just a guess.
Very nice "barrel top" trunk from around the period you surmised -- and perhaps into the 1890's. Without a label of some kind you will not find out who made it -- as it was a common type of the day with many makers sharing parts and patterns. Restoring this will be a personal choice -- due to the fact that the canvas appears to be in excellent shape for its age. Seems there is a crack along the top? To restore would mean simply a good cleaning with some soapy damp to wet cloth on the canvas for a good scrub. I prefer this type in a refinished state because I love the look of pine and I have found that it does not hurt the value -- for some it raises the value. Your trunk has a lot of hinges on the back -- wow -- usually there are three, maybe four but not six! Well made trunk. You got good value from your purchase -- have fun with it. Thanks for posting it and letting us have a look and welcome to CW!
Hi trunkman! Thanks for the fast response! Can you tell me what, specifically, makes you think this is from the 1880s or 1890s? Is there a guide somewhere that shows designs of steamer trunks through time, and the features one can isolate to help identify a time period? What's the difference between a "barrel trunk" and a "domed trunk" or a "camel trunk"?
I think I will spend some time with the trunk cleaning it up some more this afternoon. Any recommendations on what to use to get the metal looking good?
I always use gun oil on my metal trunk parts. A barrel top trunk has a high center point whereas a dome top trunk is even across the top. A barrel trunk is also often referred to as a "camel top" or "hump back" trunk. There are some reference books out there but the ones I have do not give a specific time outline. Generally I go by the lock first -- that square types was used from the 1870's or so onwards -- then I look at the slat pieces -- beaded wood from around 1880 period. Then I look at the slat clamps and handle clasps -- looks like thick metal or cast iron, dates from 1880 to late 1890's. Also the hinges and latches tell a story -- sometimes they are dated with patent dates. Then the whole package -- style of trunk size and type plus materials used. Gives us a general sense. Some parts and pieces were used for many years so over a twenty year span or so you can find similar parts being used. I am not an expert but an enthusiast -- there are other more qualified to comment but they do not seem to be as available. Happy to be corrected to learn. Hope this helps....
I have never seen so many hinges on one trunk. Interesting. Also it is surprising that, if the interior is original, which it seems to be, that there are no lithographs. Have fun with this one.
Thanks everyone for the help. I'm going to give the trunk another hard look today to see if I can spot anything more that might provide some clues.
Also: does anyone know if it was common to have wheels on a trunk?
I have never seen so many hinges on one trunk. Interesting. Also it is surprising that, if the interior is original, which it seems to be, that there are no lithographs. Have fun with this one.
I have learned something from your question. My first thought was that wheels are universal, Then I checked my steamer ( 14 inch high, the kind that went into the state room rather than in the hold of the ship) and, sure enough, no wheels. So, I now think that the wheels are really for the large trunks, not intended for the travelers' rooms.
Wow. Thanks trunking for fun! Great to know.