Turn Antique Trunks Into Military or Navy Retirement Shadow Box, Display, and Storage Chest! Customer Photographic Examples of our Antique Trunks Being used as a Military or Naval Retirement Shadow Box and Storage Chest!!

Click Here for Photographs of Our Antique Trunks Re-Purposed as a Shadow Box By Our Military, Army, Air Force, Marine, and Navy Customers For Their Retirements!

Why just get a shadow box or a newly made trunk with no history! One of our 100+ Year Old Nautical Antique Trunks can be used for both a Shadow Box and Storage Chest for your Uniforms, Photograph Albums, and Memorabilia!

Necessary Legal Disclaimer and Word of Caution - Please Read First: Before even purchasing one of these unrestored antique trunks for restoration ensure you have a well ventilated area to do the work, preferably outside or in a large garage or shed. DO NOT bring an unrestored trunk into your home to either restore or to use as it has been tested that lead has been found in the waterproofing paint of canvas covered trunks, part of the restoration process is safely removing this canvas! Also, after 100+ years you do not know where it's been, in what condition or environment it was stored or used, what's been put into it, what kind of molds, bacteria, bugs/critters, mouse droppings, etc etc that could have been or still are present within the cracks and joints of the trunk. Remember, a primary and significant reason for a successful restoration is to remove all of these dangers to your home and health. Before restoring one of these antique trunks ensure that you have available and wear a surgical grade paper mask or respirator, plastic gloves, and eye protection handy so when performing the restoration you do not inhale and injest any of the aforementioned agents, sawdust, as well as the "glue" which was used that will be present under the exterior and interior coverings. CAUTION: You must wear the surgical grade face mask or respirator when removing the outside canvas on any of these antique trunks since testing has shown that the paint used on the canvas for waterproofing contains lead!!! For this reason The Pirate's Lair does not offer trunk restoration tools or parts as it cannot and does not want to be held legally or morally responsible for any potential health hazards or risks to people which may be incurred from restoring these antique trunks. This "glue" must be removed since back in the 19th century it was made from either a horse or fish base which has now broken down into less than desirable components. Yes, it is gross but that's how they did it. This "horse or fish glue" along with the interior/exterior coverings has actually saved and preserved the beauty of the 100+ year old cured and seasoned wood. It just needs to be safely removed!

For modern day contemporary use all of these trunks must be properly cleaned and scrubbed inside and out with a cleaning/disinfecting solution, allowed to completely dry and lightly sanded, leathers removed and replaced, any lithographs professionally treated for preservation, and then the entire trunk sealed with multiple applications of spar varnish or similar wood/metal preservative treatment. We repeat, Never keep an unrestored trunk with an external canvas covering in your home or around children as it could leach lead dust and particles into the air and environment of your home.

We Offer The Below Photographic Historical Documentation To Help Emphasize The Importance and Significance In The Time Consuming Task Of "How To Restore Antique Trunks" or "Antique Trunk Restoration Techniques"!

BEFORE Trunk RESTORATION.......... ............ AFTER Trunk RESTORATION

The antique trunk restoration process, especially antique furniture restoration takes many hours of carefully removing old and unusable canvas, cloth and paper linings; treat the wood using various non-toxic cleansers, oils and varnishes; fix or replace needed metal hardware, leather handles and straps; and carefully preserve any identifying drawings or graphics.

The beginning of any Antique Furniture Restoration consists of removing all canvas and paper coverings and leather straps and handles. Washing the exposed wood in a special non-toxic solution to kill and remove dust, mold and mildew, then lightly sand both wood and hardware. Replace any broken hardware if necessary, replace all of the leather and make any other repairs utilizing the same types of tools, nails, tacks, and craftsmanship used when the chest was first made. The next step is to restore and seal the wood using special non-toxic restorative oils and varnishes in a slow, repetitive manner to bring out the beautiful luster and patina that only 100 year old wood can achieve. The last step is to bring back to the original color the metal hardware, fixtures, and any sheathing.

Necessary Word of Caution - Please Read: Before even purchasing one of these antique trunks for restoration ensure you have a well ventilated area to do the work, preferably outside or in a large garage or shed. DO NOT bring an unrestored trunk into your home to either restore or to use; as after 100+ years you do not know where it's been, in what condition or environment it was stored or used, what's been put into it, what kind of molds, bacteria, bugs/critters, mouse droppings, etc etc that could have been or still are present within the cracks and joints of the trunk. Before restoring one of these antique trunks ensure that you have available and wear a surgical grade paper mask, plastic gloves, and eye protection handy so when performing the restoration you do not inhale and injest any of the aforementioned agents, sawdust, as well as the "glue" that will be present under the exterior and interior coverings. This "glue" must be removed since back in the 19th century it was made from either a horse or fish base which has now broken down into less than desirable components. Yes, it is gross but that's how they did it. This "horse or fish glue" along with the interior/exterior coverings has actually saved and preserved the beauty of the 100+ year old cured and seasoned wood. It just needs to be safely removed!
For modern day contemporary use all of these trunks must be properly cleaned and scrubbed inside and out with a cleaning/disinfecting solution, allowed to completely dry and lightly sanded, leathers removed and replaced, any lithographs professionally treated for preservation, and then the entire trunk sealed with multiple applications of spar varnish or similar wood/metal preservative treatment.

BEFORE - Showing Inside Paper, Old Leather, and Original Tray Insert ..... AFTER - Showing All Wood, New Leather, New Custom Made Wooden Tray Insert
Note: When applicable we typically ship the original trays and inserts at customers request at no additional charge!

Front View. Here we have the BEFORE photo to the left and the AFTER photo to the right for Trunk #317. Originally this trunk was covered in hand tooled leather which needed to be removed due to its deterioration after 130+ years!

Side View. Here we have the BEFORE photo to the left and the AFTER photo to the right for Trunk #317. In the Before Photo you can see where the leather has been removed with a remnant left that had stenciled the original owners name!

Here you will see placed in one of our custom built wooden trays an assortment of tools, hardware, tacks and nails, and leather handles used during the restoration process.

Necessary Word of Caution - Please Read: Before even purchasing one of these antique trunks for restoration ensure you have a well ventilated area to do the work, preferably outside or in a large garage or shed. DO NOT bring an unrestored trunk into your home to either restore or to use; as after 100+ years you do not know where it's been, in what condition or environment it was stored or used, what's been put into it, what kind of molds, bacteria, bugs/critters, mouse droppings, etc etc that could have been or still are present within the cracks and joints of the trunk. Before restoring one of these antique trunks ensure that you have available and wear a surgical grade paper mask, plastic gloves, and eye protection handy so when performing the restoration you do not inhale and injest any of the aforementioned agents, sawdust, as well as the "glue" that will be present under the exterior and interior coverings. This "glue" must be removed since back in the 19th century it was made from either a horse or fish base which has now broken down into less than desirable components. Yes, it is gross but that's how they did it. This "horse or fish glue" along with the interior/exterior coverings has actually saved and preserved the beauty of the 100+ year old cured and seasoned wood. It just needs to be safely removed!
For modern day contemporary use all of these trunks must be properly cleaned and scrubbed inside and out with a cleaning/disinfecting solution, allowed to completely dry and lightly sanded, leathers removed and replaced, any lithographs professionally treated for preservation, and then the entire trunk sealed with multiple applications of spar varnish or similar wood/metal preservative treatment.

BELOW ARE SOME ADDITIONAL BEFORE AND AFTER HOW TO RESTORE ANTIQUE TRUNKS and TRUNK RESTORATION OF A SMALL DESKTOP 16x11x11 TRUNK:

Above is front view of Trunk #326 Before and After.

Above is side and 3 quarter front view of Trunk #326 Before and After.

Above is side and 3 quarter front view of Trunk #326 Before and After.

Above is Open with Liftout Tray view of Trunk #326 Before and After.

What a transformation! The previous owner of #336 did not even recognize this trunk which his family had since he was young boy and grew up with!

Rare 1880 to Early 1890's Photograph of Antique Trunk Factory and Workers Using Albumen Silver Print Method, Mounted to a Period Board Which Dates The Photo Note the Flatop and Two Monitor or Waterfall Trunks, Each Being Individually Unique at the Very Time of Production.

Click Photo For Larger View and More Historical Information!

The Pirate's Lair Exclusive! We all romanticize about the mystique of these antique trunks. The possible owners and travels that each steamer trunk has taken, along with the high level of detailed craftsmanship in the original production of each and every steamer trunk with that individualized character giving both intrinsic and non-intrinsic value.

However the truth of the matter is that the majority of these trunks were made towards the middle to end of the 19th century just at the dawning of the industrial revolution here in America when there were no child labor laws or protections. This rare photo clearly illustrates at least 3 generations of owners and workers, ages appearing to range from pre-teen/adolescent, teens/early adult, through middle to old age! It was a common practice that loyal and productive craftsmen would be allowed to bring their children to work with them to learn a craft, so many of the children in this photograph were more than likely sons of the men shown.

Note the adolescent factory workers on top row! Note that there are no women in the photo! This is due to the fact that at that time "proper" women did not work outside of the home, certainly not in a factory. Everybody appears to look pretty stern, having on their arms crossed and "work" faces put on. Copy of Photo On Request With Every Trunk Purchase

OPTIONAL - Trunk Wood Engraving Examples and Prices Custom Designed, Handcrafted, and Hand Lettered in Caligraphy on your Antique Chest	Click Here To Review Sample Engravings	Personalize Your 100+ Year Old Antique Trunk in Perpetuity!
Antique Trunks as a Shadow Box and Storage Chest! Customer Photographic Examples of our Antique Trunks Being used as a Military or Naval Retirement Shadow Box and Storage Chest!!	Click Here for Sample Shadow Box Photographs From Customers	Why just get a shadow box or a newly made trunk with no history! One of our 100+ Year Old Nautical Antique Trunks can be used for both a Shadow Box and Storage Chest for your Uniforms, Photograph Albums, and Memorabilia!

Rare 1880 to Early 1890's Photograph of Antique Trunk Factory and Workers Using Albumen Silver Print Method, Mounted to a Period Board Which Dates The Photo Note the Flatop and Two Monitor or Waterfall Trunks, Each Being Individually Unique at the Very Time of Production.

Click Photo For Larger View and More Historical Information!

The Pirate's Lair Exclusive! We all romanticize about the mystique of these antique trunks. The possible owners and travels that each steamer trunk has taken, along with the high level of detailed craftsmanship in the original production of each and every steamer trunk with that individualized character giving both intrinsic and non-intrinsic value.

However the truth of the matter is that the majority of these trunks were made towards the middle to end of the 19th century just at the dawning of the industrial revolution here in America when there were no child labor laws or protections. This rare photo clearly illustrates at least 3 generations of owners and workers, ages appearing to range from pre-teen/adolescent, teens/early adult, through middle to old age! It was a common practice that loyal and productive craftsmen would be allowed to bring their children to work with them to learn a craft, so many of the children in this photograph were more than likely sons of the men shown.

Note the adolescent factory workers on top row! Note that there are no women in the photo! This is due to the fact that at that time "proper" women did not work outside of the home, certainly not in a factory. Everybody appears to look pretty stern, having on their arms crossed and "work" faces put on. Copy of Photo On Request With Every Trunk Purchase

The Pirate's Lair
Division of DataCity, Inc.
78 Canterbury Drive
Stafford, Virginia 22554
Phone: 540-659-6209

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