Historical Trunk Makers

Historical Trunk Makers
Old Trunk Makers ListWilliam Crockett & Co. Early to mid-1800s, harness maker who made trunks as a sideline.Charles F. Cushing Apparently this guy made trunks in New Bedford, Mass. We've only seen his advertising card, never have been able to find a trunk with his label on it.DUGUID BROTHERSWall trunks were made by several companies, most famous of which was the M.M. Secors line. Duguid Brothers were less well known, and their trunks sold more to the middle class of travelers. Not steerage, not sunny topside, right smack amidships. Handy for pushing against the wall in a small room.FABER TRUNKS or H.G. FABER AND SONSMade in Utica, New York, starting in 1890. They made trunks from several varieties of wood, including mahogany, teak, pine, oak, birch, and ash. Maybe others that we haven't seen yet. Usually has a brass tag on the outside, near the lock.FLORIDA TRUNK MFG. CO.Find one of these old Florida Trunks and you've got a keeper on your hands. Many of them were covered in real alligator skin, straight from right about where the Miami Dolphins play now. They advertised by sending out these postcards all over the east coast. We believe they operated from about 1925 until around 1948HARTMANNA very popular name in trunks, bags, traveling cases and the like. Still in business today. Most of these ads shown here are from the 1920s. We're not experts on Hartmanns. The people who really know Hartmann stuff know it inside and out. Who are they? Darned if we know.HOMER YOUNG CO.Old Homer and his folks made wall trunks and dresser trunks out in Toledo, Ohio.INDESTRUCTOYes, these trunks were very hard to break or damage. Of course, they looked awful, but they lasted. Responding to a more thrifty America, Indestructo competed with Neverbreak, Nevermar, Nevercrack, Travel-Well, and a few others to make trunks that had no appeal but would last forever. 1920s. Don't spend too much for these.HENRY LIKLY & CO.My old pal Hank made some wonderful trunks in his day, which was back in the mid-1800s. Started around 1840. Based in Rochester, NY, Likly trunks were known for their good looks and functional elements. They made wardrobe trunks, overnite bags, valises, standard box trunks, and even some hatboxes.C.A. Malm & CompanyOperating in San Francisco starting back in 1868 - still in business today as Malm Luggage.MARSHALL FIELD & CO.Before they were known for their department stores, Marshall Field made a lot of trunks. Mostly all standard box trunks, a little short in snappy features, but they worked and lasted well. Covered trays were standard issue. Started late 1800s, made trunks up until the 1940s, as near as we can tell.M. M. SECORSecor made the Champion Wall Trunk, which was a good seller for the company, along with many other styles. Probably responsible for the manufacture of millions of trunks. Based in Racine, Wisconsin. Started business in 1862, patented wall trunks in 1894, 1895, and 1897. Many of his wall trunks had a 'hip-roof' style, like the barns you'd see if you were out there in Wisconsin. Maybe he was inspired.M. M. SECORSecor made the Champion Wall Trunk, which was a good seller for the company, along with many other styles. Probably responsible for the manufacture of millions of trunks. Based in Racine, Wisconsin. Started business in 1862, patented wall trunks in 1894, 1895, and 1897. Many of his wall trunks had a 'hip-roof' style, like the barns you'd see if you were out there in Wisconsin. Maybe he was inspired.M. M. SECORSecor made the Champion Wall Trunk, which was a good seller for the company, along with many other styles. Probably responsible for the manufacture of millions of trunks. Based in Racine, Wisconsin. Started business in 1862, patented wall trunks in 1894, 1895, and 1897. Many of his wall trunks had a 'hip-roof' style, like the barns you'd see if you were out there in Wisconsin. Maybe he was inspired.P&S TRUNK CO.P&S had this unique yellow lithograph inside each of their trunks. It says "Trunks that Wear Everywhere" and their trunks usually are showing some wear just about everywhere, but we don't think they meant it that way. Late 1800s to early 1900s.E. D. Reynolds Trunk & Bag From Fremont Street right in downtown Portland, Maine, operating from about 1800 until who knows when.E. D. Reynolds Trunk & Bag From Fremont Street right in downtown Portland, Maine, operating from about 1800 until who knows when.SEWARD TRUNK AND BAG CO.Claiming to be the largest baggage co. in the world, Seward was based in Petersburg, VA. Postcard shows the factory. Price list above from 1904 shows trunk prices averaging around $2.00. Middle-class trunks, nothing too elaborate. Still in business today; their footlockers may be purchased at large stores such as WalMart and others.LOUIS VUITTONProducing highly expensive bags, purses, and traveling cases (including trunks) from Paris and London, old Louie really made a name for himself. These are sort of the big money trunks in this game. Some are worth tens of thousands of $, and even some very beat up Vuittons sell for around $1,000. There are many experts on Vuittons, but we are not one of them. We learn a little more every time one of them shows up in the shop. Vuitton is still in business; they have a website that provides some history of the companyWHEARY TRUNKSProducers of fine wardrobe trunks and smaller bags that looked like trunk/suitcase hybrids. 1930s.WINSHIP The Trunk with DrawersWinship was one of the very first makers of wardrobe trunks here in the US. They made their first wardrobre trunks around 1884. Based in Utica, New York, they also made specialty cases for musical instruments, surveying equipment, and other needs. This ad is from a 1926 magazine, we believe the company disappeared around 1933