Trunk Hardware
In the late 1870s affluent vacationers visiting the spas and racetrack at Saratoga Springs, New York traveled with large and ornate round top trunks. Gaining popularity among the masses, this hefty and elaborately trimmed style of luggage became known as the Saratoga trunk. Manufactured in a variety of sizes and coverings, round top trunks were developed to ensure packing at the top of baggage cars in an effort to avoid damage.
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Banding and Slats
In the mid 19th century, leather covered trunks with iron bands and large brass studs became popular. This style of fabrication was commonly labeled gold rush trunks in reference to the copio ... View All Banding and Slats »
Edge Clamps
The earliest trunks manufactured in America date to the late 17th century. The trunks were fabricated from various woods and covered with animal hides. In the 18th century the hide-covered trunks beca ... View All Edge Clamps »
Fasteners
Manufacturer's labels did not abound in trunks until the advent of mass production. Although some early craftsman put labels in their trunks, labeling was not commonplace until the late 19th century w ... View All Fasteners »
Handle Loops and Caps
Prior to the 19th century, trunks were generally unlined. Newspapers were commonly used to line trunks at the turn of this century, and were often embellished with decorative dots applied with wooden ... View All Handle Loops and Caps »
Handles and Straps
The Louis Vuitton Company crafted the most highly regarded flat top trunks using standard base materials adorned with elaborate ornamentation. Most often, solid brass trim was applied to a designer c ... View All Handles and Straps »
Hinges and Stays
The wardrobe trunk, which is flat on all sides, is among the largest and heaviest ever made. Designed to stand on end for packing or open use, wardrobe trunks are usually equipped with drawers ... View All Hinges and Stays »
Locks and Drawbolts
The steamer trunk was designed for use by passengers of steam ship travel. Approximately half the height of a standard flat top trunk, the remaining dimensions are comparable. Steamer trun ... View All Locks and Drawbolts »
Ornamentation
Jenny Lind, the Swedish Nightingale, delivered a two-year concert tour in America starting in 1850. She traveled with elaborately decorated trunks manufactured in London, which were widely copi ... View All Ornamentation »
Slat Clamps
Canvas was employed as a covering for the majority of flat top trunks, which varied in thickness, quality and color. Manufacturers added canvas to the exterior of the unfinished box fallowed by the ... View All Slat Clamps »
Studs and Rollers
In the early part of the 20th century, flat tops were replaced with dull black trunks. Wooden staves disappeared from the exterior and giving way to flat metal bars, canvas was replaced by a tough bla ... View All Studs and Rollers »
Trunk Corners
Ernst Lange was a prominent trunk maker in Dresden, Germany. His work is characterized by rounded edges, half-round staves and two brass locks, with much of the trim in brass. Lange crafted trunks o ... View All Trunk Corners »
Trunk Labels
Trunk makers put labels in their trunks during the 19th Century and to a lesser extent in the 18th Century. Trunk labels were not widely used however until trunks were mass-produced in factories by t ... View All Trunk Labels »
