Are old trunks worth any money?

Are old trunks worth any money?

The average American made antique trunk is worth about $100 to $300 depending on the style, size and condition. If fully restored prices can be anywhere from $400 to $1300.

Are trunks worth anything?

Once you refinish it the value can range from $250 up to a high end of about $750. Little details determine where in that range the price will fall. If you paint anything on the trunk black or gold (metal banding, corners, etc) the trunk’s value will fall in the low end of the range.

Why do they call them steamer trunks?

Steamer trunks (named after their location of storage in the cabin of a steam ship, or “steamer”) which are sometimes referred to as flat-tops, first appeared in the late 1870s, although the greater bulk of them date from the 1880–1920 period.

How do you clean an old chest?

1. Vacuum the inside and outside of your antique trunk. Use a brush attachment to gently vacuum along the inner walls and corners of the trunk.
2. Clean metal antique trunks with a mixture of one part white vinegar and one part water in a spray bottle.
3. Prop the trunk open and allow it to air dry completely.

How do you get the musty smell out of an old trunk?

If any odor remains, place a small bowl filled with white vinegar in the bottom of the trunk and close the lid. Vinegar is a natural odor absorber and neutralizer that will help rid the trunk of odor. Leave the bowl of vinegar inside the trunk overnight.

What is a Jenny Lind trunk?

Jenny Lind was actually given a trunk of this style while traveling in America, by a trunk maker from Cincinnati, OH. She kept the trunk and used it as a hope chest as she was getting married after her U.S. tour. The trunk later was given to someone who brought it back to the U.S. and it wound up being sold here.

How do you air out an old trunk?

Here’s a method I use to lighten up old trunk odor:

1. Vacuum the interior carefully and then set it outside in direct sunlight for a day.
2. Wad up newspapers and fill the interior with them.
3. Next, spread out fresh newspapers.
4. Repeat these steps until the smell has lessened.

How do you get mold out of an old trunk?

Clean stubborn mold from the inside of an old steamer trunk with diluted bleach. Mix a half cup of bleach in a bucket of warm water. Dip a sponge into the solution and wring it out. Wipe out the steamer trunk paying special attention to the mold spots.