Posted 14 years ago
pstartz
(1 item)
Hi,
My neighbor has this antique trunk. The person she got it from told her that it was used during the Civil War to store guns. It is very heavy so we think it is solid wood. We know it was made in the 1800s.
We have tried to research it a little bit and have found many trunks but not one that looks like this or that has been used for this purpose. We even contacted a person who specializes in antique trunks but he said he has never seen one.
At this point we are not sure if maybe the story she was told is incorrect or if she has a rare trunk.
Can you help?
Likly, Henry Rochester, NY, est. 1844. Most early trunks were black on the outside.
Likly, McDonald & Rockett Trunk Manufacturers, 122, 124 & 126 Superior St., Cleveland, Ohio - Still in business: Likly-Rockett Luggage Co.
Here is a good site to get you started on your search!
http://www.brettunsvillage.com/trunks/history/trunkmakers.html
Thank you Wendy!
I just did research because I have a A R Pitchard & Likly trunk. Henry Likly & his father worked for Pitchard. A R Pitchard retired in the early 1870's and died in 1876. Likly was given or bought the business from the Pitchard family. Both names were on trunks until around 1878 or 1879 and then only Likly's was on label. You can call the library in NY Rochester. They did make custom trunks.
I restore, and do a great deal of research on antique trunks. Your trunk was made after 1900. Not even close to the Civil war. It is low profile or "Steamer Trunk". Used for travel like most all other trunks.
Jim
Hmsantiquetrunks.com
Hi, I agree with Jim, the trunk is probably from the early 1900's, or at the earliest about 1898, because I have an early trunk catalog that states that this style trunk with the angle steel braces around the edges was a new style that year. Also, the inside tray and tie down straps are for clothes, not guns and would never hold up with something heavy like guns. The latches and lock are also a style from the late 1890's to 1910 based on patent information. This is a Steamer style trunk made by many trunk companies around the U.S. during the 1890's to 1920's. Thanks.