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By Paul Norton
One Hundred Years of American Trunk Innovation

runks and travel articles tell a story of Evolving Trunk Dimensions
adventure and intrigue. The impulse and Structure
Tto travel—into town or overseas— The 1830s-style trunks took on a boxier
required bringing along one’s necessities. As shape with a gently arched top to provide more
18th and 19th century travel evolved from the storage for open wagon travel. They had the
horse, stagecoach, and boat to train, clipper added benefit of providing a handy seat. Some
ship, and the appearance of the ocean liner, had a “pass-through” compartment under the
changes in the style, size, and material used heavy leather lid where clothing could be placed
in the making of bags, satchels, and travel to take advantage of the added domed space.
trunks were adjusted to best suit travelers and Wood frames were hand-planed pine and
their belongings.
poplar, native to New England. Handles were
typically made from leather or wrought pig
The American Travel Trunk iron, the bases had flat steel cut in the shape
The American travel trunk began as a of hearts.
smaller saddle trunk shaped like a bedroll.
This would be strapped to the saddle carrying
just enough for overnight trips when traveling
by horse. Most late-18th century saddle trunks
were manufactured by military garb, saddle,
and harness makers. Any decoration was mini-
mal with a simple printed label inside with the
maker’s name and location. Measuring about 7
to 10 inches in diameter, the sizes were regulated,
as the story goes, not to impede passage.
Early 19th century trunks evolved into Circa 1880 slatted M Mair dome top trunk
larger, round carriage or wagon trunks about photo: Paul Norton
10-14 inches in diameter. The larger examples straps originally used on saddle trunks reap-
did have some decoration on the exterior as peared to secure the trunk to the rack. Still, the
makers customized the trunks using 3/8 to 1/2 trunk sizes increased, ranging to over 30 inches
inch brass tacks holding down a fancy trim across and 18 inches high, yet were limited
surrounding the owner’s monogrammed somewhat due to the size of the carriage rack
initials. Steel tacks used along the wood frame space made to typically hold two trunks across.
held down a hide cover commonly made of
rough cow, pony, deer, and hair-on. Calfskin
was more refined. A Touch of Style
Both changes to fashion and an increase
in travel dictated a finer level of finish and
materials. More finished leather—sometimes
painted black, green, or red—was tooled with
pinwheel or geometric folky patterns. Most
importantly, the rolled steel banding or strap-
Tulip tooled leather trunk top, circa 1840
photo: Paul Norton ping now covered edges and middles, held in
place with larger more decorative brass buttons
sized 5/8 to 1 inch. More expensive trunks had
Interior home use chests shared the same rolled brass over the iron straps. Clinch nails
hand-wrought lock and hasp sets and handle were cinched on the insides before the interior
designs mostly with dovetailed construction. finish was applied. Sometimes wagon trunks
The decoration used for the lining differed to are found with sewing through the wood frame
suit the owner. Home use trunks had a fancy showing off harness makers’ work.
painted or graining to the exterior. By the
1840s, larger travel articles were required. Hair Locks & Hardware
or hide trunks were falling out of favor with Most locks made up until 1820 were
leisure users. English made and stamped with “Patent” or a
Larger size trunks always ran the risk of
damage. Imagine a Concord stagecoach being stylized crown. American-made blackened iron
locks emerged during the 1830s, with a small
Carriage trunk dated 1819 with shipping newsprint loaded on the top rack with heavy baggage. As escutcheon or leather flap to keep dirt and
lining, American made lockset. photo: Paul Norton better wagons were built, strong front-to-back
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