Posted 12 years ago
neferterit1
(1 item)
jsut found this old trunk and love it! Can't wait to finish it and use it. It has some custom stickers on it from Holland. I would love to know something about it? Thank you
What is it? | ||
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Hi -- I enjoy your trunk. It is a European made trunk with birch wood bands that were steamed to bend. It is a true steamer trunk, made to fit under a bed in the cabin on an ocean going vessel. These are not rare trunks, nor is this one a high end one. There were many makers of these so it would be difficult to know who made it unless there was a label inside. My guess as to age would be circa 1920-1930. I like the look of these trunks. Hope this helps a little.
Thank you. It helps a lot, at least now I have more of an idea of what it is. Would it be worth restoring this? Would it be worth anything?
The question of restoring is interesting for this type of trunk. Other than a good cleaning and some tung oil on the ribs there is not much to restore -- it appears to be in good shape. I have taken off the canvas on a similar trunk and was happy with the result, but that would be refinishing, not restoring, and would not raise the value much. The value in this piece is how you wish to appreciate it. I do not know your market area to give an appraisal but where I am between $50 to $100 would be fair. I love trunks like this because to me they are a piece of living history, containing within them a hidden story of someones epic journey. How cool is that!
Thank you, yes it is very cool
Trunkman, can I ask why you use tung oil? Tung oil seals and hardens while linseed oil is the natural sap of the wood which never hardens or seals the wood. I frequently use tung oil but not in this application. Share your experience with me. Also do you have any effects (like allergies) if you hand rub with tung oil?
Thanks for asking fhrjr2. Perhaps you are right about linseed oil vs. tung oil. I find I love the sheen tung oil leaves, and offers a small degree of wood protection -- someone is always leaving a glass or mug on my trunks!(tung oil seals the wood a bit better) However it does a far better job on hardwood and a lousy job on softwood. For pine or cedar I usually go to a polyurethane satin finish for the same effect and protection. I have never had any adverse reaction to tung oil -- I just rub it on with a clean cloth. I have never uses linseed (but now that you mention it -- I will look it up).
I have also seen small legs (just 3 or 4 inches --stubby ones) added to to these type of trunks that give it a different look that I like -- so that is also an option.