Posted 10 years ago
Novabear
(1 item)
I picked this trunk up at an antique mall here in columbia sc. I've been trying to find information on it. It's gorgeous with acorns imprinted on the metal (I think it's tin) black with gold on the acorns. It's looks like some of the metal parts were painted red at one point. There is some writing on the metal that you can hardly make out as it is worn down. There is also lettering on the locks. On the inside it has a picture of a lady, a ship, and a city. It's probably about 3 feet wide by a 1 1/2 feet long and about 2 -2 1/2 feet tall. It really is beautiful. If anyone has any info on it's history to where I can research more about this that would be great.
What a great trunk!!! I love the acorn pattern on the tin -- first time I have ever seen that pattern -- awesome! Now here is the tough news -- without a maker's label you will be hard pressed to find out any info of that nature. There were just too many trunk makers at the time making the same types of trunks using the same parts. The lock is interesting and a bit unusual -- so you may find something there or a contributer may be able to help you. The floral design on the slat clamps is dogwood motif -- common to many trunks. It bothers me that we can only post four pictures on these forums -- I would like to see a whole shot of the trunk. Hope this helps a bit -- nice find....
Here's a latch that looks similar to the one on your trunk. http://www.kennedyhardware.com/brass-trunk-latch.html
Hello. The clamp on your trunk is from a March 16 1880 patent by CA Taylor. There is no name for these, so I am not sure where you get dogwood (Trunkman). In the trunk parts catalogs these were simply referred to as Tin reverse clamps. The latches (not lock) are from the July 9 1972 Ca Taylor patent. Believe it or not this is the same patent for the very popular latches with the double crosses, or + cutouts, and the earlier ones with the three oval hole cutouts. The patent was concerned with the mechanical operation of the latch, not its appearance. The oval hole latches were from 1878 to 1882(for the most part). The + hole latches were from 1882 on. I believe these latches probably were being made starting around the early 1880's.
Jim
HMSAntiquetrunks.com
Jim,
The latches are clearly marked GS & Co., could this be Goldsmith and Sons ?
Is it possible that they could have used C.A. Taylor patented latches with their own
name affixed? I am curious because I am working on a G.&S. trunk(Labeled on the underside of the tray) that for all purposes is a C.A. Taylor professional . Were the two companies linked in some way I wonder?
Well.., they could be Goldsmith, but what about the letter before the "G"? Looks like an "N" or "M". We may never know. While the latches were a CA Taylor patent, the term of a patent filed from 1861-1994 was 17 years. So, after that time the patent holders were no longer required to show a patent date on the part. Anyone could then copy it and put their name on it without be charged with copyright infringement. Also, Taylor could grant privileges to anyone they choose to. As to trunks looking like the Taylor XX Professional....I have seen several trunks made by other makers (HC Faber & Sons, JH McNamara, Goldsmith) that looked just like a Taylor. However, the distinctive Taylor corner trim that everyone attributes to Taylor, is actually a Goldsmith patent (one of two) from 1895 & 1897 (https://www.google.com/patents/US540734?dq=goldsmith+1895+trunk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=xhy4U7W2MNLAoASLxIH4Ag&ved=0CB8Q6wEwAA), and as far as Taylor,s name being cast on the trim, it was either not a patent infringement, or Goldsmith gave permission. Everyone assumes that Taylor's recognizable trunk design was copied by others, but it is just as likely that Taylor's design was based off of Goldsmith, as Goldsmith patented the corner pieces originally. I have posted a picture of the Goldsmith trunk on my website from a Goldsmith catalog at, http://hmsantiquetrunks.com/trunk-catalog-images.html
The trunk makers club was a small one, and I have found that not only did they know each other, they intermarried, swapped employees, and in the 1872 Taylor patent, John McNamara is listed as a witness.
Jim
HMSantiquetrunks.com
Thanks, Jim you are the man with the answers, love the info.Enjoyed our chat on the phone.Thanks for the clarification about G&S will be sending you some trunk things I have laying around?
I just got a trunk identical to this one!!!! I didn't think I'd find another one just like it. So gla I did, gave me a lot of insight.