Posted 12 years ago
myoldkyhome
(22 items)
I bought this trunk recently in an antique mall. I gave $70 for it. I don't know if I paid too much or not. I don't know how old it is or who made it.
It is structurally sound. All of the wood is in good shape. It has scratches on the outside but no holes in the tin. The inside was some type of fabric over paper and I have since removed all of that.
It is a really nice old trunk that you did not overpay for. Probably made around the turn of the 1900's. A little better quality trunk with the extra guides on the front lid, big rivets all around and some extra metal strapping. Without a label identifying a maker is difficult for these trunks, as there were many companies that cranked them out. Hope this helps...
I think it is a Decker 1897 as we have one that looks identical sitting in our living room. Ours does have a sticker on it with a Lion and a D, I assume that stands for Decker. As far as how much it is worth, I don't know, that is why I came to this site :)
look on the lock i have one something like yours and on the lock it reads eagle lock co. terryville conn. usa but i can not find a date
the one i have also has a removable tray with two lids
I have one that's very similar as well - at least all the corners, latches, rivets and metal straps seem similar. The lock on mine says Corbin Cabinet Lock Co. New Brittain Conn. USA. Mine has a 2-sectioned tray inside, and 4 rollers on the bottom. I bought mine from my neighbor in WI who says it belonged to his grandfather - and my neighbor is now in his 70s!
This is a lovely but common style and type of trunk, which is why many of us have a similar version of it -- I have two. Locks and slat clamps and guides and all hardware for most trunks for this time period were purchased from suppliers who supplied many trunk companies with similar pieces, which is why it is difficult to know what company made what trunk without a label. The information on the locks is purely from the lock company and not the maker of the trunk. This type of trunk, by the way, refinishes quite beautifully if you like that kind of look.
Thanks for the comments, DoorCountyTrunks. Mine also has a 2-sectioned tray and each side has a lid made of a heavy (cardboard-type) paper. This was the first trunk that I bought. I have bought several others since then but I'm ashamed to say that I still haven't refinished this one. I keep finding others that I'm more anxious to see the end result, and I work on those instead. Hopefully, it will be done sometime in the near future. When I start that process I may unearth some patent dates on the metal work.
Thanks for the kinds words, Trunkman.
So many trunks and so little time.....but why rush? it is all fun. : )
And trunks to refinish in my sleep...
Just a little comment subsequent to my last. Although this is a common style of trunk, each trunk maker, if they so wished, (and many did not) could add or modify their version to make it stand out -- as is the case with this one. The big heavy rivets cost more to put on, and there are lot of them -- the cast iron guides for the lid is an added feature that also adds value, and the steel banding was an addition not put on by most Also the corner pieces are very pronounced adding more protection to the trunk. Often it is these little details, when you add them all together, make a standard style of trunk stand out. I really love the rugged sturdy look to this trunk.
I love this one!!
This was my first trunk, jscott. I have mostly restored the outside of it but had a paint problem that I'm going to have to work on at some point.
I recently bought a trunk very similar to this one. I was wondering if you have any new information on it? Thank you!
No, Leventin, I don't have any more info on this trunk. I did get it refinished. It looks a lot better now and serves as a table between two chairs in my sunroom. Good luck!
Nice id love to see a picture!!
Of course we would all love to see it!