Posted 6 years ago
krimsynkit…
(5 items)
I bought this trunk 3 years ago with the hopes of being able to identify it somehow. Currently have found nothing. It was originally black and gold, the entire bottom had to be replaced and one of the trunk rollers is broken. I have not been able to find a matching replacement anywhere. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I've read just about everything I can find on the restoration process of these trunks but I still have lots of questions, the big one being how to make the new tin match as closely as possible.
Mid 1880's , mostly C.A. Taylor hardware patented 1877, the gold color was called crystallized tin, very common and gold was the most popular color, looks good so far, what are your questions, greendog.
Also without a makers label hard to say who the maker was, greendog.
Painting your tin back to black is the easiest solution, I have also chemically aged new sheet metal, with a solution of white vinegar and liquid gun blue mixed together in a spray bottle, it will darken the metal, greendog.
My first question is about the hardware, there are numbers carved into them, the corner rollers have 84, and the corner slat brackets have 83, is this significant? The other questions have to do with securing everything back to the trunk if I ever get all the paint off. I had to completely replace the tin and wood on the bottom of the trunk. I've mostly got it figured out, just having trouble deciding which size clench nails to use, and I'm also thinking that I should go ahead and remove the last 3 slats to get all the paint and gunk out from under them, I have had to remove 5 of the 8 so far to replace the tin, they are very difficult to remove and if anything breaks I think I'm screwed on replacing it with anything that matches
What is liquid gun blue?
http://www.omerohome.com/product/large-saratoga-trunk-secor. I found this listing for a trunk very similar, ad says it a Secor, I assume that means MM Secor, is the MM Martin maier?
The 83 and 84 numbers on the back side are a part number, the patent date is 1877, you can find trunk nails on line, they are a special cut nail used to build trunks, I would remove the other slats you already did five whats three more, just take your time. Birchwood and Casey gun blue used to touch up the bluing on gun parts, comes in a 3 oz bottle, most gun stores carry it. I also thought your trunk could be MM Secor, but without out a label hard to say, MM Secor and Martin Maier not the same, two different makers, give a shout if you need anything, greendog.
Greendog, thank you for all your help!!
No problem, anytime, greendog.
Welcome to CW:)