Posted 10 years ago
JonB
(6 items)
Hello to the room
Three weeks ago the only thing I knew about an antique chest was that my mom has one. A friend of mine is about to retire from the military and I wanted to make him a unique retirement chest, well I have now purchased his and two others and was given one. I found this site a week ago and have been through every post, multiple times, and most of the other sites as well. If the room has time I have three questions. First, when will the addiction end as my wife is no longer happy with my new pursuit? Second, how often can I ask all of you questions? The third is, please help me identify this trunk. I, in my ignorant trunk education, believe it is a Duguid trunk but it has cast iron ends and is a type of bevel top. Measurements are 30 W / 18 D / 20 ½ H, Please help. Seriously I have about 30 hours trying to figure this out.
Thank you, Jon
JonB, This is incredible!! What you have here is a "Wall Trunk". They are very rare to come by. I'm going to say this is from the late 1800's. If it were mine, I'd want to keep it as original as possible. You've probably figured out why they're called "Wall Trunks" by now. You can open it without pulling it away from the wall.
There are others on CW with much better trunk knowledge than myself. I became a trunk enthusiast several years back and now have a nice collection of trunks and traveling cases. If you're like everyone else who starts collecting, the enthusiasm is a very hard addiction to overcome. You can ask as many questions as you like on CW. You have an amazing trunk here!! Thanks for sharing with us.
Jscott thank you for the nice welcome. I do not mind the addiction however I think my wife is wondering when it will end, hopefully not for a long, long time. The skin on this trunk is in pretty good shape however someone a long time ago put some type of sealer on it. Might be a linseed oil but I am just guessing. Again thanks
JonB, It seems that most canvas covered trunks were painted (usually brown or green) by the manufacturer. Do not use denatured alcohol to clean the canvas with, it will destroy it. The canvas is attached with a water soluble glue, so if you try to wash it with hot soapy water, the canvas could easily detach. A damp cloth is one of the best ways. One of our fellow trunk enthusiast turned me on to sealing the cleaned canvas with Howard Bees Wax Furniture Food (you can get this from Amazon). It seals it and leaves a nice shine behind. If you're like me and all of the other trunk enthusiast out there, you'll be addicted to antique trunks for many, many years to come. Good luck and take care of that nice trunk!!
Welcome aboard JonB -- fellow addict here -- nice wall trunk -- great find! A good cleaning and as jscott recommended a good overall with the Howards Feed'n Wax wood Polish and Conditioner (do not know about the "furniture food" line). Well the learning curve is fun and you have already made a collector's score on the wall trunk!
JonB, You'll most definitely want to check out Trunkman, Drill and the other enthusiasts trunk post. Some pretty awesome collections posted!!
jscott and Trunkman thank you for all of the refinishing tips. I will order today. I have been on the sight and looked at all of the post and have been to your site Trunkman. Because of you and a few others I now have a long wish list. With that said, I also will take my time and look for the right trunk to buy it at the right time. Part of the fun. A question about this trunk. Does anyone have any information about maker, I know its hard but hopefully and an approximate date. Once I get it cleaned up or refinished I want to put a silver dollar in it from the time period. Again, thanks for the kind words, encouragement and advice.
There are a couple of books you may want to purchase by Paul Pat Morse. He owns Trunk.com and you can buy them from his website. There is a wealth of information in those on restoration. As far as the maker of your trunk, you may want to go to Hmasantiquetrunks.com and pose a question to Jim. If anybody can answer your question, Jim should be able to. Hope this helps!!
Sorry, HMSANTIQUETRUNKS.COM
jscott
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction and I will order the book today. It is rather strange that I am only 5% done on my first chest and am searching the net for that "Chest that talks to me". Again thanks.
Try local peddlers (antique) malls, estate sales, local auction houses. Auction houses seem to have lots of trunks at the best prices.
Jon. Like others have said, you have a wall trunk. It is most likely from after 1890. What make you believe Deguid made it? Does it have a label? I found 2 likely contenders for patents on your trunk. One is from Palica, May 5 1891, patent #451513. The other is from Eggeman, July 3 1894, patent # 522318.
Pat has done a lot for the trunk world, but his informational book is over 10 years old and pretty much useless except for the pictures. The restoration book will help depending on your needs. There are many trunk sites out there and more info than ever if you look enough. You can contact me anytime through my website, hmsantiquetrunks.com or phone me at 408-691-4264 with any questions you may have. I'll be happy to help.
FYI, once you are bitten by the trunk bug, it,s over. Your toast. Clear out a room (your gonna need the space) and take a picture of the wife and kids as you probably wont see them for a while...
Jim
hmsantiquetrunks.com
jscott, I ordered the book and put my restoration on hold until I see what it reads and thanks for the info on where to look.
Jim, thank you for your knowledge and help. I do not have any particular reason why I thought it was a Deguid except matching pictures on the internet and trying to get a general feel of specific manufacture. I have been to your site many times and enjoy it immensely. Again, thank you.
Welcome-JonB I agree with Jim your @#%$n toast, look at the bright side when the wife realizes she can't compete you will have plenty of "luggage" to put your stuff in and travel.
I searched all the images of wall trunks on the net that I could find looking for similarities.(Clinton,Miller,Fournier,Palica,Champion, Duguid, some other one with lid hardware stamped PB&Co.) Not a bad guess From what is visible on the web using the S.W.A.G. principle only (Scientific,Wild,Ass,Guessing). But Without a label present it is almost impossible to be absolute. Patents dates can sure help get you closest.Interesting searching though, Didn't know F.J. Palica's business partner apparently tried to blow up M.M.Secor at his house.He was convicted and sent to jail Palica kept the business going for a while but ,committed suicide after his trunk business failed.Morbid! Well Again welcome! and good luck with the cure.
Drill, thanks for all the time you put into the search. Once I start the restoration I will look for patent dates.
I have 1 of these. "Hercules" wall trunk by Duduid Bros.
Excellent condition, but no key!
Any help in finding a key? There is the #1004 on the brass lock.
You can get a key through Michael at Island Trunk Shop (http://www.islandtrunkshop.com/. You will need to know the type of lock, Corbin, Eagle, Yale & Towne etc. and the key code. The key code is stamped on the front or back and can be pretty small. Your number could be the code, but i cant know for sure until I see a picture of the lock. If it is a common number i may have a key for you.
Jim
hmsantiquetrunks.com
mmullally, thank you for the help with the ID. Off to do some more research.
Jim, It's good to know that you might have some keys. Stand by for some orders as I do not think anyone sells a trunk with a key where I live.