Half Trunk? Hat Trunk?

[pgoat]

Did you ever have an epiphany moment whereupon you suddenly take a closer look at a dusty/rusty/oxidized/overlooked antique or old piece you've had forever? I just had one...

I have an old square cube-shaped trunk I bought for about $10-20 at an estate sale back in the early 1980s. The person selling it said they thought it was a stagecoach strongbox, but it basically looks like a small wooden trunk with leather and metal trim (I believe the lock and snaps are brass). It has "1895" burned into the front, like a brand, which I thought looked suspect (someone trying to pass a fairly recent item off as "old"), but the inside sure looks old...my wife commented it looked like a hat box for some reason and when I Google'd the other day for info I am pretty sure that is what I have.

Does anyone else have one of these? I guess they are also called "half-Trunks"...I searched for threads here, but couldn't find any.

I will try and post pics in the next few days. I am fortunate in that mine is in pretty decent shape and has no funny smell. I've used it as a end table and for storage over the last 30 years. I am thinking about having it restored...it's missing its key and it may have had a tray at some point but that's gone.

 

[TipTop]

Don't spose it has interlocking LVs on the leather does it? ;-> Another idea is one of a set of fitted luggage for automobiles, but it sounds too heavy duty for that kind of service.

I bought a gorgeous pigskin square case with beautiful brasses on it at an estate auction in central NYS probably 30 years ago. Turned out to be a Mark Cross case, with a mint Brooks Bros beaver top hat (MY size!) and an engraved calling card inside it. I figured it out that it was a friend of mine's father's law partner at a very white-shoe Syracuse firm. 20+ years later, I think it was my first sale on ePrey and I got about $200 for it, after a lot of nasty notes to a guilt-ridden remorseful buyer. Fun piece, especially after I figured out who the owner was and assume that it was worn to an Eisenhower inaugural, (lamenting there wasn't one for a NY son, Tom Dewey) as the families of the firm were very strong NYS Republicans.

Have fun with yours.

 

[pgoat]

thanks ray - what a great find that was for you!

and, no mine doesn't appear to be a Vuitton, alas...