How do you clean an old trunk tin?
Use a wire brush attachment on a power drill, a hand brush and steel wool to clean the metal and hardware pieces very well. Wet sanding the metal is also helpful when removing rust is is probably the most effective way for getting down to solid metal.
How do you restore a tin steamer trunk?
Use a putty knife to remove old paper from the inside of a steamer trunk. Scrape old paper from the inside of the steamer trunk with a putty knife and remove excess glue, using a spray bottle with water and vinegar mixture.
How do you restore old tin?
How to Restore Your Antique Tin Items.
- Step 1: Grab Your Towel and the Warm Soapy Water. Put a little bit of dish washing soap into some warm water and mix it up. You want enough soap so that you have a pretty good amount of bubbles.
- Step 2: Applying the Oil. Soak the end of a cotton swab in the linseed oil.
What was the purpose of an antique steamer trunk?
Antique Steamer Trunks and Chests. Antique trunks, also called traveling chests, were originally used as luggage for extended trips by stagecoach, train, or steamship.
What was the Mount Vernon steamer trunk made of?
They were covered in leather and hide and usually ornamented with brass tacks. They were lined with a printed paper or often old newspapers. They sometimes were made with a small brass handle on top and were made in many sizes. A couple nice examples are at Mount Vernon, owned by George and Martha Washington.
Where to find the best prices for steamer trunks?
Go to flea markets, antique shows, antique shops, garage sales and junk stores. Compare the price and condition of the trunks you see and take notes. You may also want to consult internet outlets like eBay.
What was the interior of a Victorian steamer made of?
The earliest examples commonly found today are from the Victorian Era. Generally the interior box is made of a wood like pine and then lined with materials intended to protect and decorate. Early Victorian trunks are upholstered, much like the furniture of the time, with studded hide or leather.
Where can I find an antique steamer trunk?
Learn as much as you can about steamer trunks. Consult reference books like trunk expert Paul Pat Morse’s “Antique Trunks: Identification and Price Guide.” Talk with antique dealers who specialize in old trunks. Go to flea markets, antique shows, antique shops, garage sales and junk stores.
What kind of material was a steamer trunk made of?
They were made of various woods and covered with hides such as deer, horse or cowhide. In the 1700s the hide covered trunks continued and became a little more ornamented with handmade brass tacks, forged iron locks and handles and leather trim. In the late 1700s and early 1800s round trunks became popular.
Why are steamer trunks called’ladies trunks’?
They are also called “Ladies Trunks”due to their small size. In 1850, Jenny Lind, “the Swedish Nightingale” came to America and had a two year concert tour. She had trunks which were made in London which were soon copied by trunk makers all over America, which we now refer to as Jenny Lind trunks .
What kind of trunk did a Saratoga steamer have?
The Saratoga Trunk was a very large, domed top style with fancy trim, covered in either leather or metal. Early trunk catalogs and ads describe Saratoga trunks as a “large round top of the highest class”.
