Posted 10 months ago
PJT
(1 item)
My daughter-in-law was selling this and her garage sale for $20. She picked it up somewhere. I found it such an interesting piece. Very unique hardware. It has three words written on the top of the trunk. The third word I’m sure is theater I don’t know if the two words above it or someone’s name? That would be really cool. I also liked it on the side. It has some remnants of some stickers from Coney Island And some other place in San Francisco I’m not sure what to do with this piece. I was going to put some casters on the bottom so I could easily move it around and put a little stain on the worn parts and buy new leather handles for the side. A little voice in my head says , don’t do anything to it , but what do I know? I would be very excited if any of you would like to share your thoughts on this piece.
Charles A Taylor founded the CA Taylor trunk works in 1859, which was destroyed by the great Chicago fire in 1871. He rebuilt the company and it was incorporated in 1891..the following year he died.
Now this is where it gets interesting..his wife took over until 1902 when she died. Then her son took over LB Taylor.
Your certificate clearly is dated 1902. It appears to be signed by LB Taylor.
"When his wife died in 1902, the Taylor business was passed to her son, L. B. Taylor. The Taylor business was originally a wholesale and retail maker, however, Mr. Taylor drifted into special fields including the theatrical."
Here's some more history in the article from 1902.
https://www.buckinghambooks.com/book/taylor-trunks-for-the-profession/#:~:text=The%20C.%20A.%20Taylor%20Trunk%20Works,he%20opened%20his%20third%20store.