Share your favorites on Show & Tell

Inherited Steamer Trunk

In Furniture > Trunks > Show & Tell.
Drill's loves45 of 546Antique Doll Trunk Brass TrimVintage Trunk
8
Love it
0
Like it

officialfuelofficialfuel loves this.
ManikinManikin loves this.
RichmondLoriRichmondLori loves this.
fortapachefortapache loves this.
kwqdkwqd loves this.
DrillDrill loves this.
jscott0363jscott0363 loves this.
vetraio50vetraio50 loves this.
See 6 more
Add to collection

    Please create an account, or Log in here

    If you don't have an account, create one here.


    Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate


    Posted 3 years ago

    mkenz1
    (1 item)

    Hello! My name is Mackenzie. I just inherited this steamer trunk and would love to know a little more about it, or confirm what the family story is!
    This trunk belonged to my great-great grandfather, John Pearsons and (from what i’m told) it came with him from Sweden through Ellis Island. Ending up in Auburn, Washington where my family has lived since before my grandmother was born in the 1930s. I don’t think my family was very well off so i’m not expecting it to be a national treasure, but it is certainly a treasure to me.

    It is covered in a layer of (what I assume to be) tin. with wooden slats going vertically across the trunk front and lid, and horizontal wood slats on the sides and back.

    If you happen to recognize any parts, or the style I would absolutely love to have any of that knowledge so I can share it with my family!

    It was used heavily in its day so is in pretty bad shape with the leather straps on the sides torn off, pieces of metal bent or broken, and quite a bit of rust. I hope to gently clean the rust off of all the metal and sand and stain (or maybe beeswax?) the wood so it can at least be preserved a bit longer. I am researching the best way to do this now, but if you have advice, or products you have loved and used, i’d love to hear from you as well!

    Thank you

    Unsolved Mystery

    Help us close this case. Add your knowledge below.

    logo
    Trunks
    See all
    RARE Antique Authentic Louis Vuitton Travel Flat Steamer LV Monogram Trunk
    RARE Antique Authentic Louis Vuitto...
    $3,700
    Large Antique Steamer Trunk
    Large Antique Steamer Trunk ...
    $250
    Early 20th Century Fully Fitted Flat Top Steamer Trunk Cunard Christiania Label
    Early 20th Century Fully Fitted Fla...
    $2,200
    Vintage WOOD STEAMER TRUNK chest coffee table storage box antique old loft decor
    Vintage WOOD STEAMER TRUNK chest co...
    $99
    logo
    RARE Antique Authentic Louis Vuitton Travel Flat Steamer LV Monogram Trunk
    RARE Antique Authentic Louis Vuitto...
    $3,700
    See all

    Comments

    1. greendog greendog, 3 years ago
      Well first things first, not a steamer trunk, the correct term is Barrel top travel trunk and it is American made, millions of these trunks were sent to Europe by American trunk makers, they were bought by people emigrating to American back in the late 1800's your trunk is a cross slat design top slats running front to back with metal slat clamps patented in 1880, the front latches which you are missing part of the left one were patented in 1872 but were used for decades, the gray looking tin had a crystallized tin finish on it at one time probably gold as it was the most popular color but there were others, the middle latch is not original to the trunk, the original was probably broke off due to being locked and having no key, it is in rough shape, I wish you luck with it.
    2. Drill Drill, 3 years ago
      I Agree completely with Greendog, it's American made. Below is a patent image for the 1880 cross slat design that he pointed out.
      http://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/pages/US225497-0.png
      Thanks for the post.
    3. blunderbuss2 blunderbuss2, 3 years ago
      And I was just fixing to call Greendog for "clean-up" in aisle 1. LOL
    4. mkenz1, 3 years ago
      Thanks so much for the information! I really appreciate it

    Want to post a comment?

    Create an account or login in order to post a comment.