Posted 11 years ago
JeninMT
(2 items)
I just found this trunk in my grandparents garage and was told it had been there for over 40 years. I brought it home to clean it up and put it to use as an end table and storage for linens. My grandmother recalls it being in her home but she lived with her grandmother and mother and was not sure who it belonged to. The outside is metal and the interior is cloth. I cannot find a manufacturer on it, not sure if the tag was lost or there never was one? The lock does include the "Yale and Towne Mnf Company". Does anyone have any info on the manufacturer, I know there were many during the time period but I thought maybe someone had a similar trunk. Also, I was going to use steel wool to rid the trunk of rust, use tung oil on the wood and sand the interior. Can anyone recommend other methods or will this be ok? I do want it to still look "weathered" and not shiny and new. Thanks for any info anyone can provide, I would so appreciate it (so would my grandmother!).
Nice old trunk and a great project. Lots of trunks out there like this one unlabeled, which was the norm. Not sure about the steel wool -- but if there is a lot of rust then I would try it to get the loose stuff off -- then to keep the old look I would use gun oil on the metal after. Tung oil on the slats helps. For the interior, a very damp to soaking wet cloth will remove the paper quite easily. Have fun with it!!!
T-Mon, ever use Ospho(naval jelly) on rust? Do it right & leaves a good surface for finishes.
Looks like a soldier's trunk to me.
Trunkman-What would you recommend I use to remove the rust, I don't want to damage it any more than I have too. Also, any idea what the original color was?
While waiting on T-mon, my way is to clean as much rust off as possible & maybe sand some to smooth. Treat with Ospho as directed & apply the finish you decide on. Ospho can be used on bright steel as well. It is phosphoric acid, which turns rust into a protective which is virtually impervious to oxidation. I'm curious if T-mon uses this as well. If he doesn't, he needs to play with it & report back to us.
Thanks blunder, I appreciate the info.
Go with BB2 on the metal treatment -- I am unfamiliar with the best approach. Usually when I get a metal trunk I repaint it so his suggestions sound good to me. Always ready to play with something BB2 -- I will give it a shot next time up!
T-mon, am I showing you a new trick? If you haven't tried it, you are going to like it. "Yachties" showed me this trick years ago & I guess I just figured everybody knew it. I have also noticed that it doesn't seem to do anything to that old peeling-up brass plating, so you can brush it up under it. Leaves an etched surface for paint etc.. Let me know what you think. And I thought you knew everything! LOL
Thanks for the tip -- and my knowledge base is definitely limited -- sort of like water with me and trunks, I usually take the easiest path -- I am a bit of a hack, so I glad there are others on this forum to set guys like me straight and give people like JeninMT some good advice. I do not usually like metal trunks -- this one is interesting because it has all of the hallmarks of a canvas covered trunk -- which makes it a more appealing prospect for refurbishing.
JeninMT -- just to point out to you that your trunk has some characteristics that say this is a higher quality trunk than most. A unique feature are the corner guides -- I do not recall seeing ones like this -- keeps the trunk lid on tight and strong. It also has two guides to keep the lid in place at the front. The strap holders on the front are also unique, protecting the leather at its most vulnerable point on the corner. The more hardware the fancier the trunk and the more expensive it became. Also they rarely put oak slats on an all metal trunk, so consider this one to be double reinforced. Probably a 1910-1930's trunk. Also notice how extended your corner pieces are -- meant to keep anything place on it far away from the wood slats. All little details but these are things that show whoever made this trunk knew how to build it right.
T-mon, I've been messing with antiques (mostly guns) since I was 9 & now 67. We old codgers tend to forget that others don't know the tricks we do & it's a shame that other people's knowledge can't be recorded from brain to a chip. maybe one day. A day that I don't learn at least something, I consider a wasted day & can't remember a wasted day in my life. Would love to swap notes with you as I'm sure you know tricks that would be new to me. Would like to hear your ideas on preserving/restoring leather as it has been one of my weaknesses.
I have a comment about the naval jelly. I have used it successfully but it takes some special planning. It requires a rinse off with water and then to be sealled withint 24 hours. If you do not live in a dry climate you have to watch the weather and be sure to 1. have the right weather for the rinse off and 2. the availability to finish it the next day. And, bb2, love the carauba wax..
Never tried carnauba wax on leather. Great on furniture. That's what shoe polish is.
I have this exact chest!
It was my great grandparents. They used it to come to America in 1886 from Sweden. I'm not sure if they had it for long before that, I would think they bought it shortly before they were to travel. They had two children with them at that time. My grandfather was the first to be born here in America for them. It still has the White Star Line sticker on it. I found ours in the top of one of their barns...it no longer has the leather straps, the canvas that covers the exterior is in good condition but a few owls decided to done a number on it. Just a few runs! :) All the metal is rusted except for the two latches that recess into the bottom of their components...they are somewhat silver and shiny. I use it as an end table in our living room. I had a piece of thick glass cut for the top for protection. I love it and have been told many times NOT to try to restore it. I'm not sure what the answer is, but since this is the only thing I have from my great grandparents I'm afraid I might ruin it. Please let me know how yours turns out...would love to see pictures afterwards! :)