Posted 6 years ago
AnnaB
(85 items)
Freshly picked at an estate sale today, this trunk is being added to a growing collection of my vintage luggage. This is a massive piece, about 28x19x10, all leather and very heavy. It's lined with cotton fabric inside. It's in decent condition for its age, still pretty solid and holding up and functional. The leather trim/lining on the inside has lifted in some areas and i can see remains of a newspaper underneath. Did they use newspaper back in the day to help glue adhere better?
I couldn't find any maker on the piece, only the travel labels all over. Does anyone recognize this type of luggage? I would greatly appreciate some info on the possible age and maker. Thank you as always!
Newspaper can help date it!
The Cunard White Star Line exited 1934 to 1949. Of course the case could be older...
T A
Nice one Anna!! This one is English made and more than likely from the 1920's to 1930's period. There were several manufacturers of this type of steamer trunk in England. so, it'd be difficult to say which one made it with no brand label. I have a few of these in my collection. Here's one that's very similar to the one you have here.
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/199733-edwardian-era-english-leather-steamer-tr?in=1169
Scott, thank you so very much for your nice comment and for this info. I did check yours, and it looks very similar indeed. You did such a fabulous job on your trunk, it looks like new! Where should i be looking for a mark and what kind of mark would it have to be- stamped letters or a metal label? Maybe i'm just not finding it. Is it possible it wasn't marked?
TubeAmp, thank you for a good lead, i haven't thought of researching the labels.
Rob, the newspaper's font is very small and there are just fragments of words. I'm sure you'd figure it out, but i'm not that knowledgeable to put it together ;)
FatBoy, newfld, charcoal, nutsabotas, Scott, Spirit- thank you all for stopping by, much appreciated!
Oh that is a nice one.
Thank you Fortapche, means a lot coming from you =)
Anna,
If there is a makers name on it, you'd see it stamped into the leather somewhere or a label on the inside of the trunk somewhere. Very few of mine have a makers name on them.
Oh, and thank you so very much for the lovely compliment on my leather trunk as well. I do appreciate it!!
https://www.antler.co.uk/heritage
Above some history of just one of the companies that used this style of lock, and potentially made this style of trunk.Below is another that made this style of luggage.
http://gb.fotolibra.com/images/previews/75958-luggage-advertisement-circa-1910.jpeg
Antler,Brooks,Jon Pound, Drew, Finnigans were some of the portmanteaus makers
of the time period.
Incidentally there is a makers mark on the lock that may help to determine either the lock maker or sometimes the
manufacturer of the bag. I wonder what it says?
Drill, thank you for your resourceful post and links, this information is super helpful. The lock reads "Secure Lever" which i though is not much to go by...Does it indicate a particular maker?
Scott, yes, it appears there may not be an explicit maker's label, i looked thoroughly. But what you guys have provided here is already a lot more than what I knew about it when i started!
Fortapache, Drill, Roy, Iggy, Mani, Vetra, Anik- thank you all so much for your loves!
It is more than likely the lock makers mark.much luckhttps://i.pinimg.com/736x/d2/5f/c8/d25fc81b851273485a7bbaf27d5f18d5--old-trunks-vintage-trunks.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/d2/5f/c8/d25fc81b851273485a7bbaf27d5f18d5--old-trunks-vintage-trunks.jpg
Drill, thank you. They look very similar to mine. Do you know their maker? Are they yours? I thought mine was in a decent condition for its age, but these ones are looking great!
When I toted books around at my 90's sales I only had a couple old ones but never as fine as this one looks. I love the added leather at the corners and that probably made this last so beautifully !~
Phil, thank you always for your kind words! You can make everything sound special, but it's true, these days they don't make things the way they did back in the day. Everything is disposable and soul-less.
Officialfuel-thank you for stopping by!
Closer inspection of the leather in the pic with handles shows it's dry and flaky. You'll need to condition it to preserve it.
Spirit, yes, you're right, it needs TLC. I'm planning to do this very soon. Thanks for stopping by!
leighannrn, farmlady, sanhardin, Lady_Picker, crswerner, trukn20, MooreAntique- thank you all for your appreciation!
I just rescued a sweet old leather suitcase from a Goodwill. check it out :)