Posted 9 years ago
Dallymega
(1 item)
Does anyone know how I can find out more about D.S. Boas - I've found nothing on the internet. The trunk I think is in fair condition, it has a piece of newspaper in it from the Boston times (1997) theatre pages. I have Borden Block, Massachusetts, which had a theatre. I'd love to learn more of my trunks history. Any help appreciated.
What a very nice trunk. To find one of this age with the nearly complete interior is a treat. This would probably be from around the 1870's to 1880's. If you'd like to know more about the manufacturer, you could probably visit hmsantiquetrunks.com and ask Mr. Jim Cardoza. Jim has a wealth of knowledge of the many trunk manufacturers.
Megan, your chances of finding much more than just an address are slim. Sometimes you get lucky and find an obituary or many times you can do a search for the history of the town they did business in, and if they were prominent enough, can find information on them. However, most of the time a makers label does little to the sales price. Your trunk is a metal covered (probably Gold in color originally), barrel top, trunk, and was most likely made between 1878 and 1882. I base that mostly on the latches as they were not patented until 1878, and used until a much better version, and universally used, design in 1882. So accounting for already produced latches, your trunk is from the late 1870's to mid 1880's. Your trunk is a mid to upper mid class design and is in wonderful condition. I don't know what US trunks sell for across the pond, but here, now, it would probably fetch around $300.00 to $400.00 (198.00 to 265.00 GBP)
Hope this help, and please visit my site as there is a great deal of information there.
PS Upon further review of the label I see that Boas was a seller of trunks, not a manufacturer of trunks. Many (well over three quarters) of trunk makers did not put labels in them, and sold wholesale. So, many sellers of trunks ie, department stores, dry goods stores etc. could, and sometimes did, put their label in them.
Jim
Thank you both for the quick and interesting information.
Nice Trunk !!!!!!!!!!!