Posted 10 years ago
jscott0363
(903 items)
This is a very unusual trunk. It has a separate protective heavy canvas cover that slips off and a very heavy English made VR Crown lock. Inside the lid was written that this trunk survived the 1908 Chelsea, MA fire. The protective canvas covering has the name "Stebbins" stenciled on the outside. The name Mary Augusta Stebbins is written inside the lid of the trunk. The exterior is canvas with a very heavy black protective coating. You can see that it experienced a lot of heat at one time or another, but still appears to be in premium condition. The canvas covering still has part of a decal from a bank. So, I would assume that this trunk was used in the banking business. Can anyone tell me anything about this trunk, it's age and what it may have been used for? I bought it because it is so unique.
Normally this size of box with a handle on the top would be considered a document box more than a typical trunk. It looks to be mid to early 1800's. The winship company became a large manufacturer of trunks if my memory serves me correctly. The canvas cover is great. A very lovely piece...
Thanks Trunkman!!
Yeah thinking mid 1800's to nice trunk. Winship did become a large trunk conglomerate. I am still trying to figure out all of the damn Winships did some research a while back on H.C Faber trunk they are tied together with Winship (It's a confusing thing to piece together. There were 3 Winships that I can tell,maybe more- Albert Winship, W.W. Winship, and Winship Ha. I'm sure they were all related somehow I believe Winship Ha. to be the older of the 3.From everything I've been able to research From around 1912 to around 1927 ( and I'm sure other fellow trunkers know better)Albert Winship acquired multiple trunk corporations, starting with H.C. Faber sons in Utica NY.,(Which in 1912 had acquired & owned Newton and sons sample trunk cortland Ny. , later BB&B theatrical wardrobe trunk,as well as Simon & co. 7th & Aren st. Phil. Pa.)
Central Trunks est. in 1864 was purchased as well as W.W. Winship Kingston st. Boston, Cleveland sample Trunk co. 1244 E. 9th st. Cleveland Ohio, Joe A Quirk trunk co. 723 Case Ave St. Louis Mo., George A.Miller Trunk co. 7 East ave. Rochester Ny. Yes. they became one of the largest trunk manufacturers in America and the world.
I do believe that your Trunk label would be Winship Ha.Which had two locations 16 Tremont st. & 13 elm Boston Mass. I have never seen this particular label which tells me It is probably the original location( an early label).Other labels have both locations listed.
Jim from( HMS trunks.com) does not have this label listed on his site(There is no better listing than his).I would love to see you send him the picture of the label as he documents all of the manufacturers for historic purposes and he may be able to shine the most light on any trunk subject.Good luck, hope this helps and thanks for sharing.
this is wonderful!!!
Wow Drill!! I can tell you've definitely been doing your trunk homework. Thank you for the wealth of information you've provided. I will send Jim a picture of the trunk label. It actually hadn't entered my mind until then, but I will make a point to send Jim the picture of the this trunk label. Thank you again, you've been a great help!!
Thanks SEAN68!!
Ok so from everything I can tell . Mary Augusta Stebbins Is a hard women to pin point. Ancestry.com has a few leads, and 1908 Chelsea Mass. Fire searches only lead to more rabbit holes but something tells me she Is quite ordinary as,
her name does not register as anyone of prominence or fame.Women tend to be harder to track due to marriages and maiden names. As for the bank sticker, Chelsea
Savings Bank sure did burn along with 1500 other buildings,leaving 10,000 to 12,000 homeless. 3 people died initially 17 total perished from their injuries. it was
a big deal in 1908.
P.S.- Another famous fire in 1911 the triangle shirtwaist fire has a very famous picture in the national archives of two trunks thrown from the windows
surrounded by the bodies of those that jumped and perished (god rest their souls, I don't mean to be morbid ,It is a haunting image) but historically these were two important fires that changed history in America still to this day.Thankfully many of the fire codes ,and labor laws that we have today are because these great tragedies took place. I'm curious as to where those trunks might be? Hopefully in a museum as a memorial to those who perished.
Thanks Drill. I read a lot about the Chelsea fire. Ironically, another fire took place in Chelsea in the early 1970's just a few yards from where the 1908 fire started. I hadn't read up on the 1911 fire. Thanks for the wealth of information you've supplied. You definitely do your homework.
Your very welcome jscott :)
Thanks for the loves everyone!!
Thanks Caperkid for the love and for stopping by. Much appreciated!!
Thomas,
Please do not leave our wonderful CW forum here!!!!!! You've been a wonderful addition to our forum and truly love all of your incredible posts!!
Scott
Thomas,
This is a much much heavier canvas than your painting canvas. But, I'm sure you could artistically paint it. But, with something of this nature, I wouldn't consider altering it in fear or ruining a good antique. It's extremely rare to find the original canvas cover on a trunk. Few, if any, of the canvas covers have survived over the years.
No, I really can't say that I have.
Anna,
Thanks so much for the love and for stopping by. Always greatly appreciated!!!
ho2cultcha
hunterglee
and
Jenni
Thank you all very much for the loves and for stopping by!!!
trunkman,
Lori
and
vcal,
Thanks so very much for the loves and for stopping in!!
Jenni,
Thank you very much for the love and for stopping by!!