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Posted 12 years ago
otucker
(1 item)
30x16x16. Covered in what appears to be leather. Lock is lions head with serpent and bird heads? Top includes separate divided storage. Can barely make out large stenciled initials "GWS" on side. Could this be Great Western Steamship company trunk?
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Beautiful trunk -- the lion's head lock is unique. These refinish quite nicely. Usually the initials on the sides of trunks are the owners -- can you make out what it says underneath the GWS? 1860's civil war era trunk.
Not enough detail to make out the lettering underneath. There was also a name tag on the top with faded lettering. The only thing that appears to be obvious is "Ct" at end of lettering so assume it was an address for Connecticut. We have already stripped the old material and the inside and it did clean up very nice. Kept the end piece and name tag with lettering intact for some history. Will post pics after we get it finished. Actually located someone who found the same lions head cover from a lock during metal detecting at a confederate campsite.
WOW. that is a remakable find, both the individual and the result of their metal detecting. How fun.
Going to look nice when restored, if that's your plan.
Have you been able to find out anymore information about your trunk? I just bought a trunk at an estate sale with the same lock on it. My trunk has a domed lid but doesnt have any writing or numbering anywhere on it that I can find. It may be due to the poor condition of the wood.
hi otucker -- left the following information on ladybugs site -- so will do a copy paste on your site -- do you can make your own determinations based on some excellent trunk info websites -- happy trunking and welcome abroad
autumn
"hi ladibug both you and cw member otucker have the same questions -- so here is my input on this subject
we all seem to agree that this trunk was made during the civil war era -- you got a real treasure with the lock and probably some of us would kill for it -- you certainly would not want me in the room alone with that trunk and access to a fast car --
we have also all fiddled and diddled with the all allusive dolphin/eagle lock -- since this trunk is from the civil war times it is highly unlikely we will ever know who made that all illusive design -- patent number will be of no use since the us patent office was established after the war and during the war many documents were lost in a fire -- history on us patent office as follows:
http://www.the-business-of-patents.com/us-patents.html
quite frankly -- i do not think that lock is american made -- way too stylish -- who else but perhaps the french or germans would make something so lovely during that time frame -- certainly resembles none of the american locksmiths lock design i have researched (corbin, eagle, everlasting, excelsior, longlock, national, taylor or yale & towne)
with that said -- all i can provide you is some nice websites for you to come to your own determinations
http://www.legacytrunks.com/trunk_history_information.htm
http://www.brettunsvillage.com/trunks/history/trunkmakers.html
http://thepirateslair.com/nautical-antique-trunks-3.html
i also highly recommend the following book which should be at your local library or can at least be obtain via illiad
"antique trunks -- identification and price guide" by linda elderstein & paul pat morse -- isbn no: 0-87349-646-9
happy trunking kido"
Some times with time the line back to the origin of things gets skewed or lost completely. I was hoping to find out about your lock -- thanks to epson233 I no longer have to wonder.. Makes it even more intriguing..