Posted 8 years ago
mfran12345
(1 item)
I am trying to identify this round top trunk I found at my grandparents. It appears to be tin plates with what looks like alligator skin type imprinting. Trunk is roughly 32" wide X 20" deep X 23" high (max). Does anyone have any idea of what it could it be? It's in rough shape with most of it rusting but I'm wondering what it is. Thanks
Hi. You have a metal covered, American made travel trunk. The alligator embossed metal was a popular design from the 1880's til the early 1900's. Before your trunk metal corroded, it was most likely a Gold color as this was the most seen. Your trunk has cast iron hardware (slat clamps, corners, latches etc) so, it is at least a mid-grade trunk. Is there any interior left? If there was a makers label it would have been on the inside, and clearly visible. However, less than half of all makers marked their trunks and many times the label was on the interior tray, which is often missing. Since there were dozens (if not hundreds) of trunk makers that all made similar trunks, lack of a label means the really is no way to know who made it. Do whatever you like to your trunk, it will not affect its value.
Have fun,
Jim
hmsantiquetrunks.com