Introducing My Wardrobe Steamer Trunk

My blog will take a lot of entries before it is complete and it may be a bit 'long winded'! (which I apologise for) but I want to write the whole story of the wardrobe steamer trunk from the time it came into my life. The intensions of doing this is to keep a print format that will stay within the trunk (and hopefully within the family) 

I bought my wardrobe steamer trunk from a garage sale back in the late 80’s, but sadly, I have no idea of its history. The trunks body structure was a little bit out of alignment on the outside front edge, a small area across the top where the pulldown flap compartment joined had also dropped away from the top frame. Other than that, considering its age, the trunk was in very good condition.

 After taking my trunk home and setting it up in the garage, I spent endless hours cleaning, re-painting its metal structure and polishing all the 876 - brass nail heads and handle strap connections.

The internal state of the trunk was in good condition and only needed a clean-up. Once the clean was completed the true "WoW' factor of my wardrobe steamer trunk really hit me.
Besides being an interesting point of display, the trunk was always intended to be used in everyday life. For many years I used the trunk as a storage unit and dress up area for my two children.

Years went by which incorporated four house moves. With the last move my trunk had to go into storage for almost two years. Even with every deterrent known to man I could not stop the invasion of pesky cockroaches. Sadly, they chomped their way around the edging of all the drawers and badly stained the internals from where they left their 'calling cards'

Cocky timber damage

Into house number four the trunk finally went and with busy family lifestyles of children, now teenagers of non-dress-up age, my trunk was left purely as a storage unit with all its cockroach damage. 

The day came when I could not stand the look of the cockroach chomped drawer edgings every time I walked by. So, I decided to remove the material back to the leather trim and gave the timber a light sand and left it at that. While it was not fantastic, it was a far cry from what it was and I just ignored the horrid staining the best I could. 

The material removed and stain added.
Somewhat improvement, but still a sad state of compare!
Because of the age of the leather (even though it was treated many times)
all the drawers had lost their leather pullers, or were about to.

Old drawer pull 

More time passed and the wonderful internet came into our lives. The children have flown the coop. I have just become a grandmother and about to retire from my daily job, which will allow me time to concentrate more on the small business that we own, as well as having time to have a go at putting some life back into my wardrobe steamer trunk.