Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-18
CHANGES SHOWN IN
VOGUE OF TRUNKS
Steamer Ones Not Used so Much
in Foreign Travel; Baggage
for Other Trips.

An expert leather goods man throws
interesting lights on the kind OF luggage
that is most used at the present time
and some of the changes that have been
developed by the war. 1t might be
thought that the cessation of. ocean
travel would have thrown the steamer
trunk quite out of commission and that
its resumption would have brought it
back again, but, that is not the case,
While there was lessening in the manu-
fecture of all goods Of this kind during
the war through Government pro-
hibltion, the steamer trunk held its own
rather better than other trunks. 1t
Is good short-visit trunk, and its size,
making it possible TO carry IT on the cab
with the paseenger, insured Its use Tor
that reason. Many women have dopted
the practice of carrying two steamer
trunks rather than one large one for
the same reason that they are easier 10
transport after the destination is reached.
For foreign travel the steamer trunk
has not come in again since the war
because of the great difficulty of trans
portatiou on the other side and the
danger of loss of anything that cannot
be carried by hand. The KIT bag with
a suit case takes the place oil the steamer
trunk and they viii hold more than
one of average size. The drop-front
steamer was one of the So called luxuries
in the luggage line that was dropped
during the war, but il is again being
made. This is fine rawhide bound,
i0ineh long trunk having the appearance
of the big steamer trunk, but when
unlocked the front drops and reveals two
tills or trays which can be drawn out,
In steamer this precludes the necessity
of pulling big trunk from under the
berth, and in hotels, placed on q trunk
rack, it simplifes getting at the contents.
The half size wardrobe trunk is not
much larger than the steamer and is also
transported easily.
The average kit bag has stiff ends,
but there is q soit-end kit which Is
being used TO simplify travel on short ,
trips. IL can be folded or rolled, placed
IN the trunk when that is carried or IN
a big suit case which can be left at
hotel or station, while the owner can carry
in the kit bag enough luggage for two
or three days.
The average woman who goes on q
tour these DAYS with real clothes
for all occasions uses only three trunk
where some time ago she would have
had six the trunk man says. In the
first place, she viii have the full size
wardrobe trunk with many hangers for
gowns and room for much lingerie, etc.
In the six drawers There viii also be
a steamer trunk and hat trunk. The
steamer trunk is the side trip auxiliary
used for weekend visits or on short
trips, the large trunk being left at the
central base. The hat trunk will hold
anywhere from SIX 10 eight hats and
there is a tray which is fitted for seven
pairs of shoes. If the woman chances
to buy the hat trunk in a smal-hat
year she may get size too small 10
accommodate her chapeau the follow
ing wear, and then she is so much out
of pocket, for she must have new one.
Many people rated by the trunk maker
as best customers will keep trunk
in service for fifteen years. The aver
age trunk wont stand repair, but those
more stanchly made can be done over
as good as new. To keep trunks IN
order they should be vanished with
regular trunk varnish once a year, and
the commercial traveller who gives hard
wear to his trunks has them vanished
twice a year. An ordinary leather
binding on a trunk is improved by oil
ing, but the rawhide which is used on
the strongest trunks takes varnish.
Mems kit bags are sometimes fitted
with case for papers and toilet articles
that goes into a pocket at the side.
Toilet articles for men are In black usually
and those for women In white and all
as light weight as possible. One of the |
light weight suit cases will have the |
fittings in the cover on a frame that
comes out and can be set up as an easel. |
The most satisfactorily fitted bags !
for women are in the square suit case
shape, small enough in size to be opened
and set up on the bureau in hotel.
The case is large enough to hold a gown
and slippers and few papers, and hand
bag if the woman wishes hers under lock
and key These small cases are silk lined.
the larger ones being lined with linen.