BRETTUNS VILLAGE TRUNK SHOP

Customers' Gallery

This is where we show off some of the projects that our customers have taken on.
Many of them used our trunk handles, some bought a challenge from our Compost Pile.
Some curse the day they decided to take on a project of such magnitude.  Take a look and see what you think:

Angelo Arcoleo is Open for Business!

Fine work that has been performed by someone who obviously takes great care to do impressive work.
Angelo is thinking about selling some of his masterpieces, so you may want to drop him an e-mail if you're in the market for a trunk!
angeloarcoleo@yahoo.com


I purchased all my parts through you.  I started with bare bones and created a pirate chest almost 400 copper nails.
This is my first attempt at a chest and I will be a faithful customer for years to come.
I obeyed the rules... No screws!.
Benjamin Heiser

John Cunningham Took a Painted Trunk and Brought it Back to Life!

Here's another from John Cunningham:




Gentlemen:  Here are a couple of pictures of my trunk.  I did use a wire brush on a drill for a couple of hours.  This trunk was in very bad shape and I did the best that I could to restore it.  Thanks for your help and the parts.  Linda Hursh

Joyce Coss Works Miracles!

Hi:   Brettuns Village
I know when we place orders, I always tell  you I will e mail a photo of  a“before” and “after” of one of the trunks we refurbish.
Well, I am sending one for you now (hopefully, it will go through). We would like your opinion on the finished product.
Will be calling soon with order.  Thanks again,
Randy and Joyce Coss
213 Pine St
Waynesburg PA 15370

Here's David Stacy's Project:

I wanted to thank you very much for the very entertaining guidance you provided online concerning restoration of old trunks.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and felt it was 100% helpful.  The parts I ordered were also top notch, especially the leather.
My wife is definitely thankful as the trunk belonged to her long dead Uncle.  I thought you might like to see  before and after photos of an amateur attempt.
David Stacy


Jerry Landsman Can Work for us Anytime!

Jerry runs Boonsboro Trunks in Boonsboro, Maryland.  Exellent work, in our opinion!
Contact Jerry by e-mail here.

Carl Freeman Gave His Trunk a Makeover!

Churchill, These are some pictures of the trunk I restored for my Grand Daughter. I bought all the parts to restore it from you.
The Grand Daughter was brought to tears with joy, she really loved it; was a moment for me to cherish for the rest of my life.
Carl Freeman

Here's a Before/After Pic from Adam

$20 steamer trunk I found on Craigslist. Lots of scrubbing and finished in tung oil. All new leather from BrettunsVillage.Com
A couple more from Adam:



From Sarah Ludwig:

Hi Brettuns Village!
I just wanted to say thank you for all the help you've given me over the past six months either through your website or in e-mails.
I've really appreciated it and it definitely helped. Here are a few pictures of my finished trunk, Tung Oil finish and all!
Sarah Ludwig

Val Jensen Does Nice Work!

I am sending along before and after photos of my trunk.  Genealogy research shows it likely came from
Minnnesota to Oklahoma, then to Kansas between 1878 and 1890.  My great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother
all stored family photographs in it.  I guess I may as well carry on the tradition now that it looks a little better.
I spray painted the embossed tin base coat then repainted the flowers by hand with an artist's brush.
I decided to let the bright brass develop it's own patina with time rather than paint it.
Val Jansen
Wichita, KS

From Sally Weeks

While you've been sitting around thinking about maybe trying to work on that trunk that's out in the garage, Sally Weeks has been BUSY!
Here are three of her trunks, in their original form on the left, refinished on the right.  Nice work, Sally!  Here's her note:
It was hard work but, I enjoyed doing it.  The end results were well worth it.  The pink trunk belonged to my
grandmother and had a date of 1880 on it .  My mother had "antiqued" it 2 times.  The first time, it was red!
It had about 4 different coats of paint on it.  Who knew it would turn out to be so pretty underneath all that ugly paint.
The lock on it is beautiful. I did it for my mother who is 83 and I told her when I gave it to her that I wanted to be sure I got it back one day!
Thanks again for you wonderful web site.  I learned everything from ya'll.....I couldn't have done it without you and your great guidance.
Also, great parts department too!
Sally Weeks

Chuck's Woodbarn
Custom built trunks that you've got to see to believe

Chuck’s Woodbarn is owned and operated by Charlie and Sherry Zeller.  Specializing in the lost art of steam bending wood to create beautiful hand crafted  trunks and wood chests.  A true family heirloom.  A unique work of art, no two alike.  Emphasis is put on fine craftsmanship and quality construction.  We personally design and construct everything from the beginning jigs to finalizing with finishing the interiors.
Visit Chuck's Woodbarn by Clicking Here

Robert Tyler's Work!

 Hi Churchill:  As promised, here is the trunk I just refinished. This is my first try.  Thank you for all the trunk parts.


  Here is my 2nd trunk. It was in a friend's basement went she bought her home over forty
  years ago. The old trunk had a metal exterior. Thank you for your trunk supplies.  All the best,
Robert Tyler, in California


Look What Stan Gardner Did!

(on the left) My first trunk project, someone had painted it all red at one time.  I had to replace a board in the top and I also replaced all the slats and connectors,
found a working key and lined the entire inside.  I used brown shoe polish to stain the new slats.
It reeked of mold  before I started.  Now I have four more to do, to give to my granddaughters.
On the Right:  My latest project. It took lots of time to paint the embossed metal, but well worth it.  It is the original color,
as I discovered when removing the old handles.  Built a new tray and lined it all with cedar. Hopefully the oldest grandaughter will have it for many years.
Thanks for the the help and  parts.

From Larry Gattis:

I have enclosed before and after pictures of my first trunk project.
Thanks for the excellent service and all the help. You have been wonderful to deal with.
The grandmother of the bride was happy and I hope the bride will be also.
Larry Gattis

From Rodney Herring:

Thanks for having everything I needed to finish these and also for your great prices and advice......Rodney

Jed Painter Proves the Old Black Fiber Trunks Have Potential!

At long last the project is done.  It took six weeks and more forearm strength than I thought I had.
As you can see, all the metal was cleaned and shined.
The disgusting vulcanite covering was shaved off and then the paper underneath was attacked with all manner of tools.
The oak slats were custom cut by yours truly and then added to the sides and top.
The edge clamps and the top clamps are from Brettuns Village, as well as the new handles,
but the rest is original New Jersey steel.  Not a bad way to spend 6 weeks.  I wonder if I still have a job.

Thanks for all the free advice on the website, without which this would not have been possible,
your prompt answers to my inquiries, and your prompt shipment of my repeated orders.
Jed P.


From Christopher Rollston

The dark brown straps and tabs look great (we think!)

From Randall Barbera:

Here's my first attempt.  It's a large wine box that I sanded all of the logo's off of (the bottom half) and then I made the top from scratch.
I made the slat ends from brass slabs, the slats are maple.  Those are your leather handles on the sides and I used your leather for the belts too.
No screws anywhere on this one.  Tung oil finish (of course).
Randall

Another Trunk by Randall:


Charles Wright took care of business on his Grandmother's trunk:

He even made a new tray out of oak!  Nice work, Chas!



Nice work by Donald Guss

Larry Larson's Miracle

I would like to thank Brettuns Village Trunk Shop for the advice you gave me on refinishing my trunk and also the parts you had shipped me to do the job.
I had bought my trunk at an antique place in Michigan for $22.50.  I cleaned it up, little paint, removed the paint from the wood and tung oiled everything else.
I put on some new handles, hinge, and some embossed metal where I had a lot of damage and I now have a beautiful trunk.  Thank you, Larry Larson


Built From Scratch by Dave Lackey

Just wanted to say THANKS for the orders you filled and the questions you answered.  Also, attached a photo of the completed trunk.
First attempt at anything like this and it was so much fun!  Best regards, Dave Lackey

Here's a winner from Jennifer Edwards:



Sir, May I introduce myself, i'm Thierry Vermeulen from Belgium (Europe) and i'm a professional photographer
and graphic designer.  Me and and my lady are active in the re-enactment scene (1833 - 1899),
and after buying a real 1890's fieldcamera with tripod there was the need for a photographic toolbox.  I never did this before, and the toolbox is made out of scratch,
all by hand and i did not use any screws at all.  Using no screws is something i learned from You, i'm very pleased to have found your site on the internet.
Buying almost all the necessary stuff at Your shop, made it a lot easyer to achieve my goal.
Again thanks for the support, and hereby You will find 2 pictures of our new/old toolbox.
Friendly Greetings,  Vermeulen Thierry
Antwerp, Belgium


Jim Theriault's Jenny Lind-Keyhole-Saratoga-Loaf of Bread Trunk
(Pick the name you like best)

Covered in new leather.  Don't the guys over at Brettuns Village Leather just love to see this type of restoration work!


Jim Zartman

Howdy!  Finally, after several hundred man hours of work and a couple hundred dollars in parts and supplies  --  the trunk is completed!
Hopefully, the efforts of this family trunk restoration project are reflected in the attached photos -- along with photos of what I started with.
I do want to thank you again, for not just being a valuable source for parts, etc., but for answering my novices's questions and offering sound advice.
I stayed strictly to your philosophy of “keep it original”  (no paint or screws, etc.) --  even to the point of replacing the canvas--
and of modifying the strap holders to conform to the originals.  I think my wife’s grandfather would be pleased.
Best wishes for your continuing success.
James L. “Jim” Zartman
San Antonio, Texas

Frank Hayes Performed a Miracle!

This was my fathers trunk, sat in the garage for 54 years that I can vouch for, not sure how many before.  So, I tried to make it look cleaned up but not redone as you can see.
We are extremely pleased with how it turned out, couldn't have done it without your expert advice,
beautiful leather pieces, nails and once again, your expert advice!
I would like to say for any other novices that want to take a project on like this- no matter how many nails you think you need, you will need more!
It does cause a break in the momentum waiting for them to arrive. However, it does give one time to reflect and reconsider 'hmmmm, maybe I should ???'.
That's what I did, and I love the result!
Thanks again, hope to find a trunk in the neighborhood that wants to follow me home!
Frank Hayes, Grass Valley, CA

Take a Look at What Becky Prince Did

I always enjoy your newletters and your website.  Your website alone is like a reference book for refinishing a smelly old trunk and I appreciate all of your tips and advice.
I refinished the trunk using your shared knowledge from your website, as well as Brettuns Village's handles, leather straps and stays.
The tung oil and golden oak stain formula is great too and it took several applications to soak in the dry wood.
I'm planning to begin working on another trunk this week.  Best regards,  Becky Prince



From Seaton Reed

Hi Churchill,  I thought you might like to see the finished product. Your helpful suggestions provided me with guidance I would not have otherwise had and the
parts and supplies made it a fun project. And we now have a usable trunk.  You will note I was able to find suitable trim strips which were 1/4 " Aspen
(inexpensive from Home Depot) which I tacked on with the short clinch nails so as not to protrude through the sides. By using 1/4" inch the original tray rails remained usable.
The original tray disappeared long ago so I made a replacement using 1/2" Aspen (glued and nailed) lined with aromatic cedar which came out very nice.
The original interior was lined with a brown paper on the sides and paper cover cardboard like pieces on the bottom and top all glued in.  This was in very poor condition.
 Thanks again for your help.  Seaton Reed
Here's one from Debra Early



Radio Radio!
Tom & Pat Gaber Worked a Minor Miracle

Hi:  We ordered a hide from you in November 2004.  We covered an old Majestic Mighty Monarch radio with the hide.  You mentioned that you would be interested
in seeing the finished product.  Here are some pictures of what your hides covered up.  It was a lot of work, but the finished radio is beautiful.
But here are the pictures - hope you enjoy them.  Tom & Pat Gaber

From George Bernheimer

This trunk is one I made, with your parts, for my wife to use in pre Civil War Territorial Kansas and Civil War era living history presentations that she and I do.  Thanks again for looking out for us!  Best regards, George Bernheimer

Joe Mihm!

To all you good folks at Brettuns Village, Thanks to your help and wonderful website, I finally refinished my first trunk (first photo, above).
It belonged to my great-grandfather and got passed down through the years.  I took the "before' pictures a little late
(after I started tearing it down), but overall I was very pleased with the final outcome (even though I broke a cardinal rule and painted the metal!!).
I hope this one is good enough to make your "Customer's Gallery".  Thanks again for all the help,
Joe Mihm
North Branch, Michigan

Dear Churchill,
Well, you've got me good and hooked now, a hopeless basket case.  I just finished my second trunk (my first is on your Customer's Gallery, and I have four more in the wings).
I bought this one off of George McConnell, whose name I discovered from your website-  he is only about an hour away from me here in Michigan.  I attached some before and after pictures.
All hardware was purchased through Brettun's village (advice was free!).  You're website should come with a warning-  "this hobby can be hopelessly addicting, and involves vast amounts of hard, dirty, detail work.
Enter into it at your own risk!"  Once again, thanks for the advice.
Joe Mihm
North Branch, Michigan



The blue one was a real challenge-  my first all-metal trunk, and the first one I papered (and the first one that had mothballs in it,  hooo-weeee!!!-  I
'm still trying to get the smell out of my nosehairs!).  I used pre-primed house trim aluminum coil stock to replace the metal on the bottom that was rusted away.
It worked out real nice.   I pre-papered the inside with the thick white paper material used for "rough" surfaces, then put the finish paper over it.  M
akes the inside smooth as a baby's bottom, and "mighty purdee" to boot.  Of course, the Brettuns Village handles, caps, nails, lid stay, and bottom corners add the final touches.



From Les:

Thanks Again for your advice and help.  The Handles, Straps and hardware were perfect.  The information on your web site was really helpful to me.
I decided to keep the original worn look, but removed the black paint that was in big runs all over the place.  I scraped this thing with a dental pick carefully chipping of the paint and
other crud from years of neglect.  I sanded and used brass wire brushes to clean the embossed tin then used flat black paint.  After it was dry I lightly sanded the tin to reveal the canvas
like embossed pattern.  A light scraping and sanding of the wood slats and some red mahogany stain (that maple don't take stain well) did the trick.
Followed all that up with two coats of thinned Tung oil.  I think its safe to say that this will someday go to my kids.   Les

From Mike Vitetta - Custom Built for his 1930 Model A Ford

Mike used our handles, straps, and some spare pieces of matching leather to do the corners of his trunk.
They may not build cars like they used to, but Mike knows how to make the trunks. E-mail him your questions here.

From John Godbout
Godbut
This is my first project but not my last. Thanks to Brettuns Village for the advice and parts i used!! I also used the tung oil and golden oak with a little added secret ingredient.
Thanks again!!
John in SC.

Check out this one that John built from scratch using parts from Brettuns Village:
3
After refinishing several steamer trunks I decided to make one from scratch, after spending several days in my workshop I ended up with this replica of an 1880's steamer trunk.
The trunk is made from one inch pine boards which I planed down to a half inch just like the original trunks, then added the oak wood slats and brass plated hardware.
There are no screws in this trunk, the main trunk is nailed with small nails and all the oak slats and hardware were attached with solid brass tacks. The trunk has some small dings and
hammer marks here and there, but thats from being hand made and not machine manufactured! It is made of 100% solid wood,
no particle board or plywood in this one! Its stained with golden oak and a touch of cherry and mahogany stains.


From the Compost Pile...

This guy has vision.  Mike has bought a couple of trunks from our Compost Pile - but he manages to breathe new life into them, as you can see.  We weren't about to mess with that weird paint, but it didn't bother Mike at all.  Or maybe he's just not admitting to it.  Turned out to be a nice Christmas present for his wife.  What a guy! 

For the Back of the Buggy

Robert Fisher of Virginia used some of our handles and tacks to complete this trunk for the back of his 1930 Ford Coupe.  Although the trunk may not be the best looking part of the car, it still looks pretty snappy.


From Alan Mills in Carlisle, PA

Alan must be the bravest guy in Pennsylvania.  Can you imagine taking on this project?  Even mice wouldn't live in that trunk the way it looked before.  They all moved out.  Nice work, Alan.  The word 'miraculous' comes to mind.


Federico DiSciarra

Federico used our cast iron chest handles to finish off this trunk that he made from scratch.  FROM SCRATCH!  Very nice work, Federico has created an heirloom that will last for generations.  Here's another of his creations, added in May 2006:



From Michigan:

This is George McConnell's handiwork.  George lives in Brighton, Michigan.  George used our handles on his trunks.  They're wicked smart in Michigan.

An actual quote from a real customer:
Dear Brettuns Village Trunk Shop,
I have used your trunk handles many times...and visit your witty web page often...keep up the fantastic work! I am attaching a couple of pictures of my handy work...
since my recent retirement I will have more time to devote to restoring the approx. 120 trunks I have stored in a nearby barn. Should keep me busy for some time. Thanks again for being such a great resource.
 George Mc Connell
Brighton, Michigan


Greetings Churchill,
I am including some before and after pictures of my latest Trunk project. I was contacted by a nice lady about undertaking the job of restoring her mother's Antique Trunk.
Karen got my name from your website where I have some of my previous restored trunks in your Customer gallery section.  The trunk belonged to her mother and
has been in the family for generations. Karen wanted it restored in time to present it to her mom for her 89th birthday. I accepted the challenge after seeing some pictures...
it was a basket case in need of a ton of work. The lid had been detached from the body for many years with many areas completely rusted thru...it also had a busted slat.
The challenge was to have the trunk completed by Sept. 24th....that is Karen's mother's birthday. Her mom will be celebrating #89 with her 4 siblings...all of them are over 80!
They will be gathering at her home to view the newly restored heirloom trunk. I have restored many trunks over the last 30 years....this one was most satisfying.
Of course, all the parts needed for the job came from Brettuns Village...thank you!
Best regards,
George Mc Connell
Brighton, Michigan