Posted 7 years ago
labonnita
(2 items)
This steamer trunk was handed down through a few generations in my family though we were not the original owners. Grandmother originally found it at an antique store years and years ago and was passed on to my aunt and then to me over the decades.
Standing upright it measures 41"x23"x22" with a slightly domed shaped top. Leather handle on the top has been unfortunately broken, but rollers on the bottom still work so can be rolled across a hard surface.
Labels on it that I can find easily include:
Beller Traveling Goods
Robinson Luggage Co. Philadelphia
Genuine National Vulcanized Trunk Fibre
Inside right side has 5 drawers. Top drawer has a built in, slightly hidden jewelry compartment. If you remove the top drawer, there is a lever behind it that can lock or unlock the other drawers. Top drawer has a key-lock, but sadly we can no longer find the key.
Inside left side has hanger bars with lots of clothes hangers, an ironing board, and a square thing that can lock in position I assume to help keep the clothes in. It has a cloth panel that can drop over the left side and is buttoned in place (snap buttons). Bottom of this side has what I assume to be a shoe compartment that also has a cloth drape over it that can be buckled down.
Entire piece is quite heavy. Trunk opens and closes with a mechanism attached to the lock for the exterior which acts as a lever as you rotate it.
Not entirely sure how old it is or what it is worth, but definitely think it's a cool piece!
I would really appreciate it if you could get back to me on this comment, you see the thing is me an my mom been scouring the internet for more information on this trunk/wardrobe. Whats crazy is you have almost the exact same trunk/wardrobe my mom just got from a family friend. I was wondering if you could tell me what these things are approxemently worth? Not to buy or sell but because we want to be able to if should the need arise. It has the Beller Traveling Goods logo on it, but it doesnt have the indian logo probably because it isnt leather im guessing. However, it has a postal sricker on it with the previous owner's name from 1912 on it and it also says it was either on the Titanic or was supposed to be on it. The sticker reads "Nathen Cohen... Titanic... 5, North River New York... 217... Cruise" that is all there is that can be made out on it. We looked up the guys name and found he was a real dude that died in the 1980s at the age of 72, but any information would be greatly appreciated!