Posted 11 years ago
trunk_junkie
(55 items)
I picked up this really strange trunk today. The man who sold it to me didn't have much information about it other than the fact that he and his first wife had it for years and years. It has the strangest hardware on it. It opens, not from the top, but from the front. There are 2 doors on it that pull downward when the lock is opened.
It's the hardware on it that I have never seen in any trunk I have viewed in person or by googling it. I can't even describe the hardware; that's why I provided pics. The third pic shows the lock mechanism which is on each of the 2 doors. The fourth picture shows the mechanism that fits into the lock on the door. One of these "arms" is missing. The one pictured had to be pryed open with a screwdriver. I know...bad thing to do but I couldn't get it to open any other way.
Can anyone tell me if they have even SEEN this kind of mechanism and, if so, what the heck time period were these "locks" manufactured? It's a really ugly trunk, that's for sure but....being the junkie that I am...I just HAD TO HAVE IT.
My $25 investment better be worth it. I would hate to have to give up and throw this poor vagabond away. The other hardware on either side of the "lock" are handles that you use to pull open the doors. One of the hinges is literally broken (the metal itself).
Like I said....it's a really, really strange trunk that must have fallen out of the twilight zone. I know, it's a Paul Revere reject that he tossed out and it just happened to land in my lap. Lord have mercy, I couldn't even remember if it had legs on it and had to go back into the garage and check it. Yes, it does have legs and there are 2 drawers at the bottom that pull out of course.
My husband is at the point where he starts groaning when he sees me pulling into the driveway because he knows I have "something" in the back of the van. When he saw this one, he burst out laughing and said that he's beginning to question my judgment and is seriously concerned that I am being delusional if I think I can "fix that thing". I just told him to "hush up" and bring it into the garage please. Now, where's that rolling pin? Hubby needs a whack on his head.
I added the first two pics showing the front of the trunk
Remember its not so much the treasure that you find, its the story behind it that you are able to share... Very interesting trunk, good luck and have fun in finding out more story..
Hi Dan, I tried getting the "history" of the trunk from the seller. He didn't say much about it at all. You would think he would have told me how they acquired it, when they got it, etc. Nope. It really is a piece of junk and needs a LOT of work. I don't want to take off the hardware and throw it away because it is so strange and, I'm guessing...old. It looks home made to me so that's why I don't believe there is another trunk like it in the world. One of a kind.......JUNK. Hahahahaha.
Dan, in the third pic you can see the nails that were used to attach the hardware. In person, they appear to be very very old nails which tells me this trunk was made at the turn of the century 1900+. Of course, that's just a guess since I'm a rank amateur at this. I'm having a blast though, even if my husband has perfected his unabashed groaning every time I bring something home. I laughingly tell him to "get over it or die angry". He's lucky I'm only bringing home inanimate objects and not doggies and kitties that need homes.
Very different hardware. I have a trunk that has something similar to how your hardware locks. I have not be able to find any information on the lock or trunk. I have not been looking that long. Hopefully I will find something and if I do. I will share it with you. Good Luck.
Piece of junk,? I do not think so. Do not throw any part if it out as my experience had always made me regret that . This is a terrific format to find info. Before the Internet your chances would have been far worst. Stick with it and someone hear may be able to help. Good luck.
Well, I must say that last weekend I seriously tried to start work on this but it was impossible for me to even get started on it. The fact that the one hinge on the door (left side in pic) was broken and there was no way I could repair or replace it, made me decide to get rid of it and make room for something that I "could" work on. So..................................it made that long awaited trip
To the dump. Yes, this is the first piece of "history" that I gave up on. My $25 was wasted but it was an important lesson learned. Don't buy anything you can't fix unless you don't care that it's broken, have no intention of fixing it and have the room to store it. Also, make sure it's somewhat USEABLE to begin with.
RIP gothic mess. You WON'T be missed.
Uh.... which dump was that????
:)
You are right there eye collect -- I remember last year buying a trunk I knew I should not have -- and the feeling of wasting $25 and putting it on the curb only to watch the steel garbage guy come to whisk it away to be crushed for the metal.... not even worthy for a neighbour... so trunk_junkie I share your lament -- the pizza would not have last much longer anyway..... and we move forward....
It's the dump in Phelan, CA. Find the I40, head west thru NM, AZ, CA. Stay on the 40 til you get to the I15 south. Go about 40 miles, hang a right on Palmdale Blvd, make your way thru the desert til you get to Sheepcreek Rd. Head south then hang a right on Phelan Rd... You will run into the street that takes you to the dump. You will have to get permission to climb those mountains of trash that have not been put into the trucks yet....and maybe, just maybe, you will see it sticking up for you to grab. It's calling your name. It's gothic so maybe there's some evil wizardry that will cause it to rise to the surface so you can retrieve it. Hahahahahaha. Thank you for your emotional support. My heart is breaking (can't ya hear it) as I throw myself against the frig and sob.............LOUDLY.
Love your comment Icollect.....I laughed out loud at that.
Hey, maybe you could help me identify these boxes: http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/122934-tramp-art-boxes?in=user