Hello Hello,
I’ve recently been watching a few different pirate movies lately. Besides loveing all the nice woodworking on the ships.
I came to re realization that a captains chest would be and interesting and skillful build.
I know there is some leather or canvas work and some steam bending involved but that’s about it.
I’ve seen them before inperson but it never occured to me to build one before so I’ve never taken a hard look at the construction. I havent found much online and was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction of finding out more about there construction.
i have attached a few photos for reference to what style I’m most curiouse in building.
Cheers,
Ben
Replies
Norm made a similar trunk on an episode of The New Yankee Workshop. It was season 14 episode 3. He called it The Steamer Trunk.
https://www.newyankee.com/product/steamer-trunk/
You can build that without canvas, and without bending. Make a coopered top.
https://www.finewoodworking.com/2016/12/10/coopered-lid-steamer-trunk
If you search "steamer chest plans" on the internet, you'll find a few sets of plans and more info.
Looks like Norm's is more of a solid wood blanket chest, not really the ocean-going luggage in the OP's photo.
A quick hit at youtube found this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CPMHGRslC8
This rockler plan is a bit closer to it than Norm's:
https://www.rockler.com/steamer-trunk-brass-plated-hardware-kit?country=US&sid=V91040&promo=shopping&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_content=pla&utm_campaign=PL&gclid=CjwKCAjw0dKXBhBPEiwA2bmObXORPudWCVyi21iJNmq1cTq-LyKeN9A_VtIpYRHwHwEhcqzKVneKQRoCaPIQAvD_BwE
Ha, I have an old steamer trunk in my basement which I totally forgot about until I saw this post.
Mine has a pattern stamped (embossed) piece of sheet metal covering the wood on most of the exterior. Of course it does have the exposed wood elements on top of the metal work. The underside of the domed top is coopered.
If you'd like to see some photos of the trunk and get some dims just let me know.
The one you showed as an example looks to me to be pressed metal. Steamer chests were made for travel and possibly to be stowed with other cargo. They were built to be nearly indestructible! I have one ,though flat topped. It's been in the family since the gilded age and built like the proverbial brick shithouse! They had to be able to withstand possibly enormous weight. A curved top would give you a better chance that the stevadores would save your luggage for the top. Once everything was on board they cribbed the cargo with lumber so that it couldnt shift while at sea. I mean they really pounded it in there! Being really ornate and fancy meant that you were rich and traveling first-class and that your box was to be handled and stowed in such a way that you didn't have to wait a week for your stuff when you reached port. I'll bet it happened anyway!
A blanket chest could be a similar look but much lighter construction. In any case you should do a proper job and cover it with alligator!
Here is one I thought looked fantastic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50JYCUVu8Eg
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