Posted 10 years ago
TrunkerMar…
(32 items)
I bought this very large trunk in the summer and have started to work on it. It's leather covered but since the leather is so brittle and cracked I am removing it to refinish the wood. A nice feature of the trunk is the special grape designed hardware. I found the design was patented in 1884 by a trunk maker in Cincinnati who worked for the Nathan Drucker Trunk Company and the lock is marked with the Drucker name. Based on many Drucker trunks I've seen, only a few of them had this style hardware. The tray was missing so I'll try to make one for it. I hope it turns out nice as I love the look of the trunk and it's very well made. This would be great for the owner of a vineyard! The large dog picture is original inside the lid.
Marvin, I love the look of this one. The grape design hardware is amazing and I've never seen that before. It's a shame you can't save the leather. The sunburst design embossed into the leather is beautiful. Can't wait to see your finished product!
Gorgeous trunk Marvin, can't wait to see it when you are done. I love the Dog picture.
Thanks everyone! Jscotto363, yes, I wish the leather was a little better and I'd try to save it, but it just too far gone. They did some really fancy tooling on some of these trunks. I don't see many with animal pictures in them either. Thanks for your comments. I'll plan to post some pictures when it's finished.
It is a wonderful find Marvin. I'm sure it will be eye candy when your completed.I love the metal down the center of the dome.You don't see that much. I have seen grape hardware before, about 4 times but only on the vertical center slats never the ends of the slat,but this grape pattern does seem different to me.I'm wondering if there was more than one pattern.Well much luck with it.
Very nice trunk Marvin
.I think I see the same thing Drill.I have two trunks with the grape hardware,and after finding them , I see the difference is Marvins grapes have a flat plate of metal under them and mine don't.So they must have made at least two different types of hardware. Mine also has the grape hardware on the outside corners as well.
Thanks Drill and bjb5859! Say bjb do either of your grape hardware trunks have the name Drucker on them anywhere, label, etc. ? I did find a copy of the original patent design with the grapes and they also had a rose design in the patent but I have never seen that, so I wonder if any were ever made that way. This is some of my favorite hardware! Thanks Sean68 and other for the loves!
Just a totally awesome trunk..... fabulous too...
Thanks t-man! I'm gradually working on this one, I don't get as much done in the winter. It's coming along very nicely!
Marvin
I took a close look at both my grape hardware trunks and could not find any makers label. I will be looking for the rose ones now that I now they might be out there somewhere.The grape hardware on mine are patent dated 1880.
One of them has a complete interior that is quite rare. will post pictures sometime soon.
Hi bjb, actually there were three different designs patented: the grapes, an acorn and leaf, and a rose and leaf. They were actually patented in 1884. I have only seen the grape pattern so far. If anyone else would like a copy of the patent document just email me at Marvin@ThisOldTrunk.com Thanks
Thanks for the patent document,Marvin and if I ever find any of these you will be the first to know
You're welcome bjb.... I do wonder if we will ever see any with the rose or acorn style, could be they never made them.