Posted 4 years ago
Ludwigbren23
(1 item)
RARE Antique Martin Maier Alligator Tin Humpback Steamer Trunk. Not exactlysure who the maker is. Any leads?
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OK, I'm a little confused you start out by saying rare Martin Maier but then say not sure who the maker is. Martin Maier was a trunk maker in Detroit Mich. I don't see anything on this trunk to say that it is a MM, without out a label this trunk could have been made by any of a thousand trunk makers, this is a barrel top travel trunk cross slat design made in the mid to late 1880's or even later, not a steamer trunk, the terms humpback, camel back, round top or dome top are all slang terms used by many people including myself, I call them round top. The pressed tin hardware is C.A. Taylor patented in 1880, the # 2 latches with the cross type hole in the front were patented I think 1883, the alligator embossed tin patented around 1886, not sure on the caster type wheels, star lock, do you have a key for it ? this trunk is not rare by any means this style was made by hundreds of makers at the time and the hardware was used by all makers, for me what makes it a bit unusual is that its not beat to death, its in really good shape, hope this helps.
Just FYI, the easiest way to spot a MM trunk, it will have MM corner hinges patent date 1879 or it will have MM hardware patented around 1885 sometimes both sometimes just hinges or a Martin Maier label, if you are not familiar with the hardware I'm talking about, there are plenty on MM trunks on this site you can look at, nice trunk, thanks for showing.