When was my trunk made

These days, we use the word steamer trunk in reference to a wide variety of antique trunks. However, the term comes from the days when people would carry these types of trunks on steam ship voyages across the ocean. A true steamer chest was only about 14 inches tall, because steam ships had carry on size regulations just like airplanes do today. If you were taking a trip on a steam ship, you were likely going somewhere for a long time, and you may have had a lot of luggage.

Most vintage steamer trunks were made with wood slats, canvas or duck cloth, waterproof paper, and sometimes animal hide. They were decorated with tin, either flat or embossed. High-end steamer trunks were covered in leather and typically had a unique metal design embossed into the material. Many higher end trunks also had internal tray compartments or trays that made them more effective for storing smaller personal items like jewelry or parasols.

They were much more expensive than an empty antique trunk, required more craftsmanship, and were only used by the very wealthy who had these types of personal effects to store. Steamer trunks were only popular for a short time, from about to People began traveling much farther and faster than they ever had in the past.

By the late s, steamer trunks had started to go out of fashion. They were replaced with larger trunk models that would act as a wardrobe and more modern luggage choices. Some of the more notable manufacturers of higher quality trunks made and installed proprietary hardware. One such trunk maker manufacturer was Martin Maier. He ran a trunk business in Detroit, and his hardware was very identifiable. He used cast iron hardware and hinges and very ornate tin corner pieces. Trunks that have been painted are on the very low end when speaking of value and generally do not sell for more than 35 to 50 dollars.

If you plan on having the paint stripped off please use caution when doing so. We regularly find trunks with toxic lead based paint on them. You can buy lead test strips from any home improvement store. In the above pictures you can see the remarkable difference in this trunk after the paint is striped off and the trunk is restored.

Generally speaking the more ornate and decorated your trunk is the more it may be worth. Most antique trunk values can be increased greatly with a professional restoration or a Do It Yourself Restoration.

This is not always the case though and caution must be used when restoring any trunk. If you have provenance of your trunk belonging to a historical figure or have a rare style of trunk such as a Saratoga trunk it is best to leave it as is. Most common trunk values range from 50 to dollars depending on the venue it is being sold in and how much the buyer is willing to pay. If you were a traveling salesmen, you may have required a special trunk to showcase your wares, whether it be toiletries, Tonics, or watches.

I have a metal covered trunk with a Gold crystal like finish. I have seen these before as well as some with spots on the finish. What is this called, and do you know how it was done? This was a very interesting process for ornamenting Tin plate covering trunks. This is a quote from the "Workshop. Companion, " " This method of ornamenting tin goods was at one time very fashionable; but like many other good things it has fallen somewhat into disfavor, probably owing to the "cheap" look given by inferior work.

The process consists in various methods of bringing out or displaying the crystalline character of tin. I am still searching for proof. Crystallized Metal is therefore a chemical process which brings out the natural crystalline structure of Tin, with acids that has be applied to sheet Iron through dipping.

Pure Tin plate was also used for smaller, less durable articles. Once the Tin has been "crystallized" it is coated with a transparent, colored Varnish. The complete process, which is quite involved, and dangerous of crystallizing Tin has been authentically reproduced by myself. I doubt few if any have done this in the last years. However, the crystal portion is only half of the process.

The other half is coating the Tin with color. Now remember, you couldn't just run down to the local paint store back in the s. Some base materials you could buy at the local drugstore, but the rest had to be made from scratch. Most all colors were made from some kind of plant, or spice. Dissolved in a solvent for days to weeks to pull-out the color, the color was then added to Lac Lacquer , or a linseed type based varnish. These were then mixed or applied as-is to the Tin.

The translucent color, with the crystallized base, made for an amazing effect. There is another finish on trunks that looks like a spotting, or "Mottled" appearance. Other trunk restorers call this "Spots on spots", or "Spots", or some other such silly name. As near as I can find, this appearance was originally called "Mottled" or "Marbled". I believe from patent data this process was done with a base color, on which another color was placed.

Of coarse this was all done before the metal was on the trunk. In fact companies sold this, and Crystallized Tin in sheets to trunk makers. The result is a multicolored, spotted design. I saw a trunk on eBay that the seller claimed was very rare because the wood had some printing on if from a cigar co. Have you seen these? Are they valuable?

Yes, and no. Yes I have seen what you describe, and no it does not add any value to the trunk. I'll explain. When a trunks covering is too damaged to save, it is removed, or in the case of too many sellers it is removed no matter what and the wood underneath finished.

Many times little "treasures" are found on the wood. Usually, these are limited to pencil markings made by the trunk makers such as panel , trunk size, or in some cases the trunk makers name. This one about the trunk makers name is a whole other story Sometimes printing is found, such as the name of a company or a product. Sellers of these trunks tout this like the finding of the Dead Sea scrolls. The answer is much more simple.

OK, here is where some of that common sense, and actual history, come into play. Once upon a time, there was a company called ABC Co. They made all sorts of do-dads, and gee-gaws. Their products were shipped, and stored in wooden crates, like most companies of the day and these crates had their name stenciled on them.

The owner of ABC went to the local mill and said, "I need new crates! The owner agrees, and mentions that he has old crates, and will the mill owner give him something off the bill for them. Of coarse he will! Because while trees are everywhere, cut lumber is not. The mill owner knows that many of his customers will gladly snatch these up at a discount.

The customers that buy these have the type of business where is does not matter what is written on the old lumber. Trunk makers! As long as the wood is sound, the trunk company can use it for the trunk body as this will be covered by metal, wood, leather, or canvas.

While we are on the subject of wood used for trunk bodies Too often I read trunk sellers descriptions again Ebay leads the way for misinformation about how their trunk bodies are made from some exotic wood. I read one the other day that claimed the trunk they were selling had a body made of Birch. Here is where a little common sense, and actual information, comes into play. The requirement for a trunk body is that the wood be lightweight, and be able to resist shrinking and swelling. These are the properties of Pine, and Basswood, which were the woods used overwhelmingly on trunk bodies.

I have also run into Poplar a few times. Poplar is fairly easy to distinguish from other woods by its Greenish color. The other large factor is price. Of course, they looked awful, but they lasted. Responding to a more thrifty America, Indestructo competed with Neverbreak, Nevermar, Nevercrack, Travel-Well, and a few others to make trunks that had no appeal but would last forever.

My old pal Hank made some wonderful trunks in his day, which was back in the mids. Started around Based in Rochester, NY, Likly trunks were known for their good looks and functional elements. They made wardrobe trunks, overnite bags, valises, standard box trunks, and even some hatboxes. Look for the original brass tag, as shown. Visit them by clicking here. Before they were known for their department stores, Marshall Field made a lot of trunks.

Mostly all standard box trunks, a little short in snappy features, but they worked and lasted well. Covered trays were standard issue. Started late s, made trunks up until the s, as near as we can tell. Probably responsible for the manufacture of millions of trunks. Based in Racine, Wisconsin. Started business in , patented wall trunks in , , and Maybe he was inspired. Matej Zika of Strakonice, Bohemia learned harness making trade.

After settling in Racine, WI, he opened a shop there. In he commenced manufacturing trunks and his business grew into immense trunk factories under the name M.