The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-11-19
TRUNKS THEY CAN'T SMASH
--latest Contrivances to Defy the Power Of
Bargage Men md Hotel Porters.


what do know about theatrical trunks
Why. know all about them" manufacturer
in Union square replied. for make most OF
them. have furnished three hundred for the
Madison Square Theatre combinations that are
out. and II you'd see the actors and actresses
swarming about my place between the middle
OF August and the middle Of September you'd
think ought to know by this time what they
are likely to want in my line. Trunks for the
atrical people. like those for drummers are
not much kept in stock. because they have to
be made so strong and heavy that few other
chasers are very liable to have notions of their
own as to what they want which are most
likely in each individual instance to differ from
want; Drummcrs trunks heavy? Well. l
sh l; say SO. , They have got TO have very
solid frame OF thrce-quartcr inch or ono inch
bass wood which will not split or crack must
,e be- covered with No. l duel; or sheet iron.
bound with hoop iron bands fitted with five or
two. strengthened by bolt. llpishedwith MALE
hickory Stats on top siGs and ends and IL w 'Den
you have all that. your trunk weighs from IS
to n i tpesb p9 nn1 Wsn empty Bni Il win come
rough deal the baggage smashcrs give it. A
S 5 I the rsay ssS sG soa Al the WAY
mnnding the latter figure.
-, " The, theatrical trunks are Just about like
cpe OF @ The ehf OF n ha
are what are known as bin trunks for carry
STUFF. which is necessarily very heavy for It's
bulk. They are usually made eighteen inches
hiGm thir1ty- ,SH inches long and thirty
times are varied 20 Accommodate special mat
ter. A sliding board. to Keep the paper in place
SLIT: sl5 to s95 The actors wardrote. Or hotel
t S9GH sSi is in seqEs ssh
sed wd ana Ths G2Ia 9nes IF am2st pom
and like them. arc covered with iron gencr,
ally; but as their prices vary All the way from
Generally the profession doesn't 60 much
above $40 for their business is not altogether
trunks somewhat uncertain at times have
known actors to start out IN the beginning Of n
season Win g2rse,or.s trunks. and come back
rnF oeE as they Ph%si FHnK %a
The largest n trunks are " those OCCASIONALLY
made Tor actresses TO carry fine costumes in.
20 inches wide and 20 inches high. 1t has in
side five skeleton trays. fitting ono upon an
other and is intended TO carry jo;t six dresses
~; hsve,to swosr 50 much in handling It as IS
drummers' trunks about. II is n wonder even
n me how they move those trsnks about. when
Private persons DO not have such liz trunks
now rs they used to. The huge Saratogas. the
size almost Of cottage houses. have nearly gone
to store dresses in. in their own houses. not
meaning t. travel with them, but when they
ga aoTead thy sys nGT to ragef hs,r bag
the aristocratic style OF spending the summer
has made. that change, ! think, Formerly
or popular resort mt the beginning Of the
season. intending to stay until lis close,
and Of course took a great lot of, dresses
along for frequent change to keep up her style.
But now = man goes with HE wife and n couple
OF ordinary sized thinks his wifcs the arg-
est OF course. say TO Saratoga first for compile
principal places from Mount Desert to the
White ',s SULPHUR sprnss in a season, and his
place. does not need to show more than three
oriour dresses in the whole time.
soc leather trunks are no good now. Our
modern satc-likc iron ones cave them in. smash
them, gougc holes in them. ruin them. and
squash their contents wherever they are travel
led with; some parties in Boston are claiming
good deal for raw hide trunks that they nre
max but see no advantages in them, and
doubt II they Will keep their share. There
now such good trunks rs we do. Those turned
out by English and French manufacturers are
tbn Tfry bn 2si bn asnSn ior LOOKS
struction are faulty and their iron frames as
RYE almost worthless. They DO not on tho other
hardware as wo do. Our inventors are CON
stantly getting NJ new devices for strengthen
inG the hinges. increasing the binding force Of
Vulnerable; and many other things. az caleu-
lated to defy the baggage smnshcrs' evil power.
and we trunk makers use all Of them, and are
glad to get ANYTHING of the kind that will en-
nance the durability Of our goods. In fact.
sometimes think we ara making them too
strong for our own good; Tor such trunks as we
ouI than Durglar,prool safes are-the best kind
OF them. at least"