Posted 10 years ago
djreynolds
(5 items)
Bought this trunk today for 22.50 at an auction. They kept calling it a foot locker and EVERYONE kept sitting on it. Drove me crazy. Anyway it's paper covered, no rollers and has a wooden handle ( one is missing). I would like to know what age and type of trunk it is. Is it Civil War era? Also tips on how it should be restored for my own personal use. Paper again or leave the wood uncovered)? Thanks for the help.
You sure came to the right place! T-Mon, where are you?
I am so excited about this chest. Probably because I have not seen one like it or the wooden handle. Wish both handles was there.
Fun project trunk! Could be civil war era but they made these well past that time -- so perhaps another trunk expert could weigh in -- I would say it i from around 1870's to 80's and I would base that on the lesser quality construction of earlier trunks of this type. Unusual to have a double lock on it -- that is new to me, and yes rare to see a wooden handle. Two choices for refinishing.... take off all the paper and sand and stain or keep it exactly as it is and coat directly over the paper to keep the look of what is left. Essentially make it your own and have fun with it!! Thanks for the post...
Hello. Your trunk is a packing trunk, not a travel trunk. I can email you photos from trunk catalogs if you wish. (BOY it would be nice if CW would let us add pictures!!) I would put this trunk around the 1880's to late 1890's, and here is why. The lid stay was not invented until 1870. Those wood handles were used on less expensive trunks from the early 1880's, and on many packers until the late 1890's. These trunks are often confused as being from an earlier time because of the paper covering, metal bands, and early Patent date on the locks. Those stamped steel slat clamps were not yet available in the 1860's. Your trunk has 2 locks because longer packing trunks used 2 locks. Packing trunks also did not use latches or generally have trays. They were used for "packing" much in the same way we use moving boxes. A 32" packing trunk cost .80 in 1897 and a 40" was $1.50. I have a wood handle if you need one.
Jim
hmsantiquetrunks.com
T-Mon, you have a new buddy! Hope y'all get along OK.
Everyone has been so wonderful to help. I love old trunks. Finding myself with obsessive compulsive behaviour. :) hmsantiquetrunks, I sent you an email using your contact on your site. Save that handle for me and I would love any emails/ pics that you can send.
Jim I so appreciate your knowledge and input and I learn so much from what you say. The reason I did not think it was civil era trunk was from earlier comments you made on a similar trunk -- so your information does sink in. I never even noticed that this trunk does not have latches!! I am a novice so I comment and hope that others can weigh in and clarify for me.... thanks so much for your contributions... keep them coming!!!
Your welcome all, and thanks for the kind words. I was going through my catalogs and found more (almost identical) packing trunks in a 1909 catalog.
djreynolds, I did not receive anything from you.
Jim