1880s replica steamer trunk

That looks like one nice coffee table. A fun project to boot.

What type of nails did you use? Modern or period?

-- Betsy - There is no strength where there is no struggle

Thats a great looking trunk. Dont think anyones really improved on trunk design since that model.

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""

Very nice. I learned that the reason the steamer trunks had the round top was so that there would be no more trunks stacked on it and it would always be on the top of the pile.

-- Ron, Twain Harte, Ca. Portable on site Sawmill Service http://westcoastlands.net/Sawmill.html http://westcoastlands.net/SawBucks2/phpBB3

Beautiful Trunk. I have two that my maternal grandparents used when they came over from the “old country.” I hope to restore both of them some day.

-- Maplewood, MN

Hi Betsy,

I cheated and used modern nails. I took some liberties and didn’t stay 100% true to the historical construction of the trunk.

Rikkor, Thanks if you want to reference a great website when it comes time to restoring your grandparents truck check out www.brettunsvillage.com. They are located in Maine and not only restore and sell vintage trunks but they also sell hardware for those who want to do the work themselves. There is great information there on how to go about it. I got the recipe for the finish from them and some of the hardware there.

-- bfd, Folsom, CA

Hi MDF

The trunk looks great! You did a beautiful job!

My wife wanted me to build a heirloom of some sort that she could pass on to her daughter and grand daughter. I knew she had a lot of personal things like old jewelery, old nick nacks, quilt, old pictures, old books and old writtings she did when she was younger. I came up with the idea of giving her a trunk for Christmas two years ago so she had a place to put all this stuff. I want to post the trunk on LJ but need to get a picture of the three of them by the trunk first. When I get it on in the next couple of weeks let me know what you think.

Tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

this is very cool!!! how long did this take when you include all the research…I am a history teacher…so this project of yours makes me think that would be fun…to find some heirloom piece and re-create it…my skills are not there yet (by far, lol…) but some day…

what does the inside look like? and does the customer use it like pictured or does he have a piece of glass on top???

-- Matt, Napa, CA...SING WITH ME: "Sum...sum...sum...summ...summ...summ...summertime..."

Hi Matt,

Since this project I started to keep track of my hours. I estimated 40 hours total between research and shop time.
Here is a picture of the interior. The client didn’t want any interior trays or adornments. Customer uses the trunk exactly as shown without glass.

-- bfd, Folsom, CA

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this coffee table in fact I have been looking for an antique steamer trunk to use as a coffee table for months and can’t find one that i like. Do you happen to make things and sell them? I would be very interested in the same exact coffee table to purchase from you if you were interetsed in that . It is absolutely gorgeous!!