Antique Trunk Date

[metcage]

I have an antique trunk I am trying to find out the approximate date of, the only numbers I can find are (Pat. May 1176 or 5 ) on the two side locks. Does anybody have any ideas?

[mart]

Hi there and welcome to the forum !!
Can you take a pic of the trunk itself and a close up of the writing ??  Generally trunks were made for many years with little change in design !!~ The writing would be the patent date of the lock or whatever metal piece it was found on  and would not necessarily have anything to do with the trunk !! We can probably give you a date range but getting the year it was made is unlikely !! Would love to see it though !!  Is it something you bought or do you know any history on it ??

[metcage]

Here are a couple pictures to maybe help identify the date of the trunk

[metcage]

Let me try this picture thing again.

[mart]

That would be the patent date of the lock or hardware !! May 11, 1875 !! These trunks were made from 1800`s through the 1920`s !!  Let me see if I can find you some history on them !!  There were so many makers of these that without the name plate or label its almost impossible to know who made yours !!  They were so common that most families had one and they are still easily found today !!

[metcage]

Thanks, I have redone 4 or 5 trunks but usually I cane find some kind of date on something.

[mart]

OK,, your lock was patented by Frank Mix who worked for Eagle Lock Co. in Terryville, CT !!   Can you tell me about the woven cover ?? Is it a thin metal or what ?? 
Even though the lock was patented in 1875 they would be used much later !!  First thought about your trunk is that it was made around 1900 !! But no way to really know for sure !!~

[metcage]

Yes, It is a light stamped metal. I agree with your early 1900,s Date. Thanks for research and info.

[mart]

Are you in the NE states ??  That's where many mfrs were located !!  Some do have catalogues available online !!

[metcage]

N0 Iowa but who knows the journey of these trunks over the past 100 years.

[mart]

That's true !!

[FluffyBombs]

I love these old trunks. I have one that was in my Grandma's house and one that I pulled out of a dumpster (I don't often go dumpster diving, but I couldn't let it go to the dump!). I would love to get them restored. Does anyone know how much that generally costs?

[mart]

It can be expensive !! I would not recommend it unless the trunk is also a more expensive one !!  You can find instruction online as well as parts if needed !! Why not do it yourself !!  Dumpsters can be a goldmine of neat things !!

[FluffyBombs]

Hmmm...there's an option. I would just worry that I'd mess it up somehow, haha. Something to look into though, thanks.