Many people have at least one trunk in their lives. Usually it is a trunk that was handed down in the family and has been in the attic, cellar, or garage for quite a few years. It's probably dirty, dusty, rusted, moldy, or otherwise unattractive.

Lately, however, trunks have been on the hot item list of decorators and young couples just starting out. Many owners of trunks are also starting to see value in those old steamers. (And I don't mean clams.) Old trunks are proving to be much more useful than just a way of getting your personal items from point A to point B. They are being used as coffee and end tables. They are being used as storage for winter blankets and quilts. And they also serve a useful decorative function.

When I first started buying trunks they were generally priced under ten dollars. And many could be had for just a dollar or two. At the same time we were selling refinished trunks for around forty-five dollars or so. A lofty sum back in those glory days. One auctioneer in Northport, ME, Vaughan Beal, saved all of his trunks for us and sold them for three dollars right straight through. At one time we traded an oak sideboard to an antique dealer for about thirty trunks. That was the largest number we ever acquired at one time. That dealer was Bud Jordan up in Rockland, ME. The reason he had so many trunks in his barn was because they were just not the hot sellers that they have become lately. So when he bought a lot of stuff or an estate there was always a trunk or three and over a couple of years you could get a pretty good sized pile going. The sideboard was a little rough and we didn't have much use for it. But we saw a small fortune in the trunks.

Just about this time, people were starting to strip off the old canvas or leather on trunks to reveal the beautiful, aged, pine wood underneath. The rest, as the saying goes, is history. Although you can still find the occasional ten or fifteen dollar trunk, most go for fifty bucks and up. Many go for hundreds and a few are bring several thousand. Crouch & Fitzgerald, Louis Vuitton, Goyard, are among some of the top quality trunk makers whose pieces bring a premium. Louis Vuitton is probably the best known. They have been at it since the mid-1800s and still are producing fine, handmade trunks that can cost as much as a new car.

But the French were not the only makers of top quality trunks. In this country, in addition to Crouch & Fitzgerald; there was Haskell Brothers in Chicago; Hartmann in Wisconsin; Gilmore in New York; and Oshkosh in Wisconsin, to name but a few. By the mid to late-19th century there were many thousands of trunk makers. The demand for trunks was very high. People were on the move and they needed something in which to carry their belongings. It kept many trunk makers in business.

Of course, not all the makers were as large as Haskell. There were many, many small trunk makers. Most towns had at least one or two, often more. New Hampshire had its share of trunk makers. William Crocket in Concord; P.H. Hamel in Manchester, circa 1835; N.J. Whalen in Manchester, ca. 1809; A.B. Wyatt of Sanbornton Bridge, ca. 1880. Many of these trunk makers made other useful items as well. Hat boxes, harnesses, boots, suitcases or hand trunks, etc.

Most trunks had some type of covering on them as a weather proofing. Hide, with the hair still on, leather, metal (sometimes embossed), paper, painted canvas. This all served to keep moisture out and belongings dry. The trunks generally had a pine body that was nailed together and often reinforced with hardwood straps and rolled or stamped steel corners and edges. Some of the fancier ones had cast iron or brass appointments. All these extras were usually attached with nails that were bent or "clinched" over on the inside. Anyone who has attempted to remove some of these pieces can attest to the nature of the holding power of the clinched nail. In fact if you don't unclinch the nail before attempting to remove it you run the risk of pulling out a huge chunk of wood along with it.

If you have an old trunk and you want to refinish it you would be well advised to plan it out before you start. You can save a lot of frustration by knowing what order to do things in. Below I'll outline the basic steps for refinishing a trunk.

"A Quick Course"
1. Start by taking care of the metal corners, edges, and locks. Sand, steel wool, wire brush to get rid of all the loose paint and rust. If you do this step while the canvas or other covering is on the trunk, the wood is still protected.
2. Strip off the canvas or other covering using a sharp utility-type knife. Keep the knife sharp. A sharp knife will do a better job and it's actually much safer.
3. Strip out the interior. You can usually do this with a spray bottle of water and a putty knife.
4. After the trunk is stripped inside and out, wash it with a hose if available and dry off with a towel or cloth. If you get the wood too wet for too long it may warp--with disastrous results. (Hey, I didn't say it would be easy.)
5. Wait a couple of days until the trunk has dried fully, then sand it down inside and out. Start with 80 grit, go to120 grit, then finish with 220.
6. Stain with the color of your choice on the outside. Use plenty of ventilation.
7. Urethane the interior with a couple of coats. This will get rid of any lingering mildew odor. Remember to get plenty of fresh air. Toxic fumes cause brain damage. Brain damage. Brain damage!
8. Urethane the outside. A couple of coats will do. Allow enough time for each coat to dry. We usually use a satin urethane.
9. Paint the metal with a Rustoleum-type paint. One coat of primer and one coat of finish.
10. Attach handles, hinges, locks, etc. at this point.
11. Reline the interior and you're done.

Obviously this list is just the bare bones of refinishing a trunk. There are many details that must be attended to during the process. It may take several attempts before you are really satisfied.
The fact is, it is well worth the effort. You can transform a dirty, smelly old trunk into a fine piece of furniture that will increase in value and that you will want to hand down to your kids as your ancestors may have done.

About the Author: Pat Morse, along with his wife and partner Linda Edelstein, are owners of The Trunk Shop in Portsmouth and Barrington, NH and the authors of the book, Antique Trunks. The Trunk Shop is currently celebrating its Twentieth Anniversary. You can visit the store in Portsmouth at 23 Ceres Street or see the virtual store on the internet at http://www.trunk.com
Are All Trunks Candidates For Stripping?

From time to time we run across a trunk that is in pretty good shape. This presents a problem. Do we strip it and refinish it or just clean it up and sell it as a trunk that is close to original condition? It really boils down to economics. A trunk that has been stripped and refinished will sell quicker and bring much more money that a trunk that has not. been. It's sort of a value-added thing. However, it's still a dilemma for us. We are not crass, unfeeling, ignorant "shine and pine" people. (This point may be argued). We understand and appreciate that every trunk has a history, some perhaps important. But, hey, we're not talking Queen Anne lowboys here. There were millions of trunks made and there are still many thousands of them seeping out of attics right now.

All that said, we do see trunks occasionally that we refuse to strip. Why? Generally, these are trunks that are in very good condition inside and out. Here are some criteria for deciding:
Exterior is very good. No or very little rust. Leather, paper, or metal covering intact and restorable.
Interior in very good condition and, perhaps, a label. The interior is not the deciding factor. It can be bad, stripped out, and relined. But we might not strip the exterior.

An early trunk. For example trunks made before say, 1865-70, which are in pretty good condition we would hesitate to strip. The earlier trunks are much more rare that later steamers. A rule of thumb here would be: the earlier the trunk, the longer you take to decide whether or not to strip.
High quality trunks such as Louis Vuitton, E. Goyard, Haskell Brothers, Gilmore, etc. We would think twice about removing the exterior covering. Collectors like the exteriors of trunks like these and it's better to leave them alone even if deteriorated somewhat.

Very rare or unusual trunks such as bevel top, Jenny Lind, Saratoga's, oak-slatted, or wall trunks to name a few. These trunks are so rare that they ought to be in really rough shape before being stripped.
Finally, it boils down to a matter of personal choice and taste. And sometimes, economics. As it happens we have quite a few original condition trunks that have piled up over the years. We won't strip them because they are too good for that. But our patience is paying off because collectors are starting to see the value and beauty of these trunks and are willing to pay accordingly.