Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1900-07-06
OLD AND NEW TRUNKS
EARLY EXAMPLE OF ANEW YORK
MAKERS WORK.
Much Smaller and Heavier than the
Specimen of To-day-Bureau Trunk
and a Chicago Woman's Improvement
on It-English Leather.

Yes, I've been 63 years manufactur-
Ing trunks in New York City," said a
veteran in the trade to the New York
Evening Post.
That's a long time, but never real
lie 1t till l look at this article'-and
he gently pulled an oilcloth covering
off a small, dark box, which, when
taken out into the light, revealed what
was acknowledged at the time of its
manufacture to be the finest trunk
made in New York City. 1t looked like
veritable antique, the shriveled little
object emitting a musty odor, which
for the moment carried one away to
the New York of 63 years ago.
Il have kept it always here with
me-" it's owner said, streking it
thOughtfully and almost fondly, Just
to watch the evolution of the trunk in
my own factory"
The little trunk was covered with
heavy leather. four times as thick as
the article now commonly used to COW
er the wooden frame. 1t was strapped
round and round with iron bands fas-
tened with big, black headed nails. and
inside the two trays, neatly papered,
nave bottoms OF latticed tape. The
trunks fit easily in one-half of the
trunks of modern make surrounding it.
The little trunk stood beside the latest
sent out by one of the leading factories
In New York-the bureau" trunk, so
called from its resemblance, when
opened, to that piece of furniture. The
trays are in the form of drawers of
graduated depths, an upper one suffi-
GENTLY deep for large hats. The top
tray, however, which turns up against
the. lid in the ordinary way, has vari-
Gus small compartments, and the in
side of the lid is similarly equipped
on narrower scale.
When this trunk first came out of
the factory year ago Chicago
| woman purchased one and asked for
permission to take out patent on a
proposed Improvement, which was
granted her She fitted the fall of the
top tray, which, when dropped on its
hinges, extended few inches over
the tiers Of drawers or trays below, as
writing table, and pigeon-holed the
lid of the trunk for letters, writing ma
terial. etc, until it resembled the face
Of writing desk. She received the
patent, aud presented trunks to various
friends, who found them useful as
travelling secretaries and trunks com
bined. and. although one of the largest
trunks manufactured. 1t weighs only q
little over fifty pounds. The trunk is
covered with the new canvas which is
almost as durable as leather, and in.
side 1t is model of neatness and
strength in its fine linen Innings and
fittings.
"All our finest leather for trunks
comes from England" said the manu-.
facturer Of trunks, because the Ameri
can Is In too great a hurry to make
good leather. Quick chemical process
es have taken the place of slow tan.
ming. AS consequence, America pro
duces no such sole leather as England
where the old methods of tanning are
still employed. In fact, canvas, which
Is now especially manufactured for the
purpose and painted and treated until
1t is as strong or stronger than the split
leather used in trunks is taking the
place of the leather for reasons OF
economy and saving of weight The
Ideal trunk to-day weighs from forty
eight to sixty pounds. 1t must be
strong and it must he light. We have
tried aluminium, but it becomes in
dented If not made so thick as to be
too heavy and too expensive at it's pres
ent market price. The frame for an
average trunk Of this metal costs SAG"