J.w.Gibson saddle trunk

Thanks for the add...a couple of years ago I was renting and older house. After living there a while, I was cleaning up some stuff in an old building on the property . I had come across this old wooden trunk that was spray painted, beat up, and filthy. I was bored and decided to see if I could clean it up. After a lot of sanding, I got through the old purple spray paint to discover on the front there where letters. I can make out J.W.Gibson. After I finshed, I researched this name and found that a harness saddle maker back in the late 1800s owned a company named J.W.Gibson harness company. In 1899 he sold it to the current Stetson Company which is popular making western wear. So the age of the trunk is between 1869 and 1899. And I belive the name changed to Gibson Trading Co. But anyway, I've done a lot of antiquing, picking, auctions, and so on. I've never once seen a picture or anything similar to my trunk. Any info would be great. I have no clue what it would be worth or if it even looks like the original. Thanks in advance.

 

Hello, JessiLynn and welcome to the forum.

I would be more inclined to call this a tool chest than a trunk.

What does the inside look like?

 

The JW Gibson painted that way is most likely the owner and nothing to do with the maker

Although the owner may well have been the maker

 

From what I understand the saddle came with a trunk back then. A saddles worth back then would be alot like a car now a days. The inside is bare its just open can't tell if it had any other wood shelfs or anything. I see similar trunks that would hold all sorts of horse tack. Same round about size and it just seem ironic that J.W.Gibson would been a saddle maker and that name is on a trunk that looks similar to other trunks of this nature.

 

Which J W Gibson are you referring to - the one in Texas or the one in Kansas?

See this ad for the Kansas one who also advertised "trunks."

https://books.google.com/books?id=7...6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=J W Gibson saddles&f=false

 

A saddle maker works in leather

This is a carpenter's tool chest

 

Bakersgma what page is it on?

 

I agree with tool chest. Its got great lines . I bet it weighs a ton too ! Love it.

 

Agree with the others that this is a tool box. A box that a saddle came it would probably not be so robust, nor have the molding details seen on this. I would also think the shape wrong unless this is bigger than I think. Would a saddle even fit? I suppose it could be a box for storing just about anything including tack but, even in such a case, the name would likely be coincidental.

 

Just click on the link and it takes you right to the page. Perhaps you don't get the yellow highlighting of the searched text. It's to the left of the display ad and text only.

 

Perhaps a custom trunk, or a trunk made by that company was an extra/gift with purchase back in the day. To my limited knowledge, a "Tack" trunk isn't/wasn't to store a saddle, but the necessities for grooming and storage for the owner.
You are correct...a custom saddle is the cost of a cheap car, in some cases....and worth as much once you drive it off the lot. A good tack trunk may pay the mortgage for a month - to some. A vintage/antique? A very nice coffee table, I suppose...

 

Ok got it bakersgma...I'm not sure. I researched like 5 years ago can't remember exactly where I was finding the info. That is if it is what it is. But thank u that's a neat article.

 

It's a big difference in age, JessiLynn, as I hope you noticed from the date in the link. The Kansas Gibson was only 42 in the 1910 census. He reported his occupation as "merchant in leather goods."

Where did you find it originally?

 

707susang a coffee table is exactly what I use it for.

 

To my guess....the name on the front is the owner of the horse or barn/stable, nothing more, as Terry said.

 

Bakersgma I noticed that sorta raising more question now. I just don't know. I'd love to see a picture of another to compare. Or if somebody actually knew what this thing is. Nevertheless I love it, it's one of my favorites I have collected. I live in virginia at the time I lived close to harrisonburg which is still in virginia.

 

Id have pegged this 1870s-80s,what does everyone else think?

 

Only thing that makes me wonder about saying it was the name of the owner, is the lettering is hand done it's not a stencil it was very nicely done someone went beyond just marking their name. You can see over lap in brush strokes. Here's a pic

 

Well you all my be right. I found one that is very similar.

http://www.antiquemystique.com/images/6734_jpg.jpg

 

If a saddle were to be in a trunk it would have to have a piece for the saddle to drape over else the tree would break. Even in the old days they had at least a rounded pole like a saw horse to place the saddle on. Nice trunk though and would be perfect to store horse supplies like brushes,,shampoos,liniments,bandages,and the list goes on forever.

A BIG welcom too.