I purchased this trunk for $40 at a yard sell with the intent to add it to my living room to keep blankets in. I was wondering how I find some history on this. Age? Maker?
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This is a flat top travel/steamer trunk.
The travel/steamer trunks "had one exclusive purpose serving storage for items on travel. And most of the people visited distant places using the train. Mostly flat-topped designs held a stack on one another to fit a snug place. Likewise, the design should accommodate multiple small compartments."
Since there is no maker's mark, it is almost impossible to identify the maker.
It is possible to identify the age by the lock on the trunk.
"Locks for the so called early steamer trunks were first made by hand before 1833. In or around 1836, trunk locks were made by machine and continued to be manufactured as such until the late1920s with some simple modifications for the present day foot lockers."
www.stevensantiquetrunks.com/
Your trunk appears similar to this 1920's trunk, which is priced @ $250:
www.chairish.com/
Depending on condition, they can range from under $100 to much more money. I would get it appraised if I were you
I'm glad that you are only asking about the history of your trunk and it sounds like it will make a nice addition to your home.
The history of trunks is a very special field as there are so many things about trunks that help to identify the maker and especially the date they were made.
It will take a little time and effort to find real information but if you will join several of the online trunk forums I feel sure someone will provide some useful information.
The members will want good pictures of all of the locks and hardware because this is very important for identifying a maker and also age.
You will have to join the groups before you can post your questions.
brettunsvillage.com/
www.antiquers.com/
trapperman.com/
iantiqueonline.ning.com/
Check this information link:
www.legacytrunks.com/
Vintage flat top trunk
I think the trunk is covered with canvas.
Canvas covered trunks appeared around 1880 to the early 1930s.
The canvas (Duck cloth) was painted to offer some waterproofing
www.hmsantiquetrunks.com/
Inspect the metal parts well for a patent date. It can help in dating the trunk.
"By law items such as locks, latches, slat clamps, etc. had to display a patent date if they were patented.
However, the law also states that items too small to put the date on were exempt so, not all patented items have the date on them. Trunk locks will often have more than one patent. This is because more than one patent applies to the lock, or a patent was reissued. There may be a patent date on the latches, the lock, the casters, slat clamps, and interior pieces. Obviously, the most recent date is the oldest the trunk can be."
www.hmsantiquetrunks.com/
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