How Can You Tell Age of Trunks?

Hello everyone! I have these two trunks and I am curious to how old they are, the red one seems somewhat newer, the brown trunk looks like it could be quite old.

How would I go about learning more about telling the age of trunks? I come upon a lot of trunks in my adventures but I have no idea how to tell age. Are there any tips?


Thanks!!
-Sassy Newb

 

Are the locks marked with a manufacturer? Sometimes researching that can tell you when the factory was making those locks. I've always heard that flat trunks were less expensive because they got stacked. Wealthier people got domed trunks because those were required to be on top.

 

Oh that is such a cool little tidbit!!! Both things actually- the locks AND about the domed tops. Thanks! Very neat.

 

the 1st looks like the trunk i took to summer camp in the mid 70's.

 

The trunk that is open, the paper looks Art Deco. So I would guess 1930s.

 

Hmmm, because I am unsure of the size of your trunks, I wonder if (especially in light of Komokwa's "took to summer camp" comment above) at least one of your trunks is of a size to be sometimes referred to as a "foot locker"?

Speaking of size(s) . . . how large (or small) are they?

 

The first trunk looks like it had a tray in it. I took all my possessions about 1000 to college by train in a footlocker like that years ago.

 

for sure the tray is missing....u can see the ledge..

 

The paper and lock style of the first places this to late 20s-30s. Second is probably just slightly newer.