Posted 10 years ago
Vathis
(1 item)
I bought this old trunk and I am wondering what year it might be from. The lock has a pat date of Sep. 3, 1867 and re-issued Aug. 12, 1879. It measures 28 x 18 x 25. The bottom wheels are intact. Unfortunately, the trays are missing. Any help would be very much appreciated. I paid $26.00 for it (and that's Canadian money)
Great find at 26 dollars any currency . Wonderful example of a small dome top.Made on or after Aug. 12, 1879. not before this date and I would say not after 1900. Embossed leather in tact,handles present. Nice Japanned steel hardware. some additional nail work forming the crosses below the latch hardware and on the dome itself. Original leather lid lifter, Some lithography,some missing. Yes you did good.
Others on the site may be able to identify the manufacturer,but this is difficult sometimes. Welcome to the site and thanks for sharing. Side note to T-man( See trunk- man they are up in Canada after all.)
Thanks so much for the information. I love it and am now on the hunt for more. I got the bug :)
Love the stickers on the top. Beautiful trunk.
Thank you fortapache.....I tried to make out dates on them but no luck.
Great trunk -- wonderful find. Good to see Canadian trunk find content!!!!
Thanks for the comments everyone...just a quick question...should I leave it as is or try and restore it?
Restore or refinish that is always the question Two very different definitions as well. That depends on what you like,Some people like to see the original embossed leather.I'm one of those when I can be but only with the leather covered and french Trunks too . It is extremely difficult to find the leather it tact. Moisture needs to go into the leather to slow the process of dry rooting.(Lexol leather conditioner Works well. Others like to strip the leather exposing the wood below and refinishing the wood. This can always be done. But once you go there you can't come back. those top travel stickers are gone in that process as well. There goes the provenance! Tricky sometimes. Good web sites out there with plenty of knowledge / advise .Well glad you caught to bug and good luck with the cure.
P.S.- Incurable
For me if I had this trunk I would take off the leather. It is old stained and just will never look good -- and there are pieces missing. I would take out an exacto knife and cut out the stickers first (with the leather on them underneath) and reapply exactly where they were after I refinished the wood. It is a matter of personal choice and what you like to see from your trunk and what room or place it will end up being displayed. So the short answer is do what works for you -- your trunk your fun.
Awesome...thanks so much for all the information. I really appreciate you both taking the time to help me. For now, I will sit, look and think for a while before I decide :)
T-man has very valid points and good advise. stickers tend to be difficult to separate from the substrate material But depending what they are you might not even want them.Make no mistake that wood is wonderful underneath. I am always trying to think outside the box.I'm cool with most anything that pays tribute to the spirit of what the trunk was originally That is why I sometimes cut the leather into strips and re-apply them to the trunk to pay it a little homage to what it once was. If you go back a little to a round top that I posted about a month ago you might see what I mean. I re-nailed and glued some of the original leather back on to the trunk. This is why I got into burning into the wood as well /it's similar to embossing. Everyones skill level is different,as well as tastes,I have burned images into railroad trunks to create art and send a message. Everyone is different and its all good. There is no right answer. It would do the hardware and wood some good to freshen up and refinish it for sure. After all your only in it for 26 bucks,smile and have some fun.Trunk mans right go to town on it. Jump in with both feet. I will advise to get book on basic trunk refinishing to save yourself some headaches and to stop you from making mistakes others have learned before .Plenty of great advise on line at trunk sites.Have fun and show the results. P.S. Just don't paint the damn thing 1 solid color and kill it. HA! thanks!
T-man hope your getting the crags list links to trunks Ive been sending Your email. If not let me know.
I vote clean it up and leave it as is. Especially leave the stickers. Plus it is much easier.
Thanks again...I think I will clean it up and leave it alone for now. Who nows what will happen later :)
Nice leather covered, barrel top cross slat trunk. I can narrow the date a little more from the latches. They were patented on March 22 1882, so your trunk is after that date.
Jim
hmsantiquetrunks.com