Posted 8 years ago
mness002
(1 item)
I just picked this up a few days ago and I've been unable to locate another like it! It appears to be covered in leather and it has cast iron handles but it also had buckles for leather straps to secure it while closed. It has a faint print on the front that says "upright patent SE?????1866". There is also a label on the side and I was able to make out "Rich's Brk & NY express baggage" but was unsuccessful in locating any background information on it! It opens halfway down the trunk and there is a compartment that can be closed on the top and two drawers under that (along with a letter holder) and the remainder of the section is basic trunk storage. It also appears that the studs are brass but I am no expert on metals. Lastly there are 4 metal wheels on the bottom! Any information would be appreciated I am thoroughly curious!
Well, it's pretty cool, outside of that I can't tell you anything but there are a few people around here who know these things a lot better so check back.
The printing on your trunk used to read, "THE UPRIGHT PATENTED SEP. 18th 1866" I have photos of the same trunk that is owned by Marvin Miller at This Old Trunk. This trunk was patented by AV Rider, patent #58,141. It is leather covered and was made close to the patent date, and probably no later than the early 1870's. The handles are not original as it came with handles that looked like large lid lifters. (Boy I wish CW would let us post reply photos!) The "studs" are brass capped nails. This is the earliest example of what could be called a Wall trunk, or a Bureau Trunk, or even a Dresser Trunk. The patentee simply calls it a trunk with drawers. There are two things that everyone seems to get more excited about than anything else, casters, and shipping tags. In most cases, and especially yours, these are the least interesting things about your amazing trunk. For the record, 98% (approx) of all trunks had casters (wheels) and the first patent was in 1855. Shipping tags are today's equivalent to your airport baggage tag. Express companies were shipping companies much like FedEx, or UPS. Some of them got into banking (Wells Fargo Express, American Express) and there were dozens, if not hundreds in the last half of the 19th century. Because there were many of these companies, and express was not very romantic, information is difficult to come by. I hope this helps, and I REALLY like this trunk (wink, wink,) so if you would like to "discuss" it (wink, wink), please give me a call.
Jim
hmsantiquetrunks.com
Thank you so much for the information Jim! I'm going to dive nec deep into this information and see if I can find anything else interesting! and I love this trunk but I may give you a call to find out more!
it is called a dresser trunk it was use by stage or show people all so use on the back of a car it is all so call a space save because you could open it up aginst the wall hope it help it nice
This type or style of trunk was never made to be used on a car.The very first production car was made in 1886 by Karl Benz . This trunk is from the 1870's as Jim has stated above.
He might have meant Cart... (Probably meant wagon, though!)
I have this exact trunk (different color envelope). Thank you Jim, for finally providing information on my trunk. I was unable to find ANY info on it until I found this.