Restoring an Antique Louis Vuitton Steamer Trunk - Thomas Johnson Antique Furniture Restoration
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- Опубликовано: 15 окт 2024
- Tom Johnson of Thomas Johnson Antique Furniture Restoration in Gorham, Maine restores an early 20th c. Louis Vuitton steamer trunk that has met with some water damage. Tom has been restoring furniture professionally since 1979. Visit our website at www.thomasjohns..., or write us at thomasjohnsonrestoration@gmail.com. And for those on the west coast looking for custom framing, be sure to check out Tom's daughter's shop, www.emcollier.com (@emcollierframes on Instagram).
Retaining its. History along with its memories, that’s a good thing you did it.
Thanks!
Finally someone who appreciates the history and restores it instead of redoing it! Very interesting to watch, thank you!
You're welcome!
Agreed, the idea is to retain the history not replace it. I’m a believer that an heirloom restoration should be keeping as much intact as possible.
@@ahf5471 Which is easy to do with a piece as beautiful. Thomas does great work. I'm not adverse to putting paint on a piece though but if it were antique then no. I couldn't. Prefer to restore/renew if possible.
To travel with that in Egypt around 1906 - what a dream!
I can only imagine. I love period movies where the sets look realistic, you can imagine the docks in Egypt when the steamer pulled in
My Grandfather used to convey passenger luggage like that from the docks in Cape Town to the hotels, with a horse and cart.
I would give up a lot of modern conveniences to go traveling with a great big trunk with all my things and not ever worry about carrying it myself.
Relatively, not much has changed.
What a fabulous heirloom and such a cool back story too. You did a marvellous job there Mr. Johnson. It'll look beautiful for years to come.
Thank you!
I’m so happy to see you do something that is not entirely wood. This video was packed with information.
Thank you!
I appreciate how you "held back" and didn't go scrubbing away. Your ability to go slow and think things through is wonderful. I also appreciate how the owner didn't worry about the handles, not be replaced. Shows great restraint.
Thanks! A lot of times you just need to really clean something, without changing it too much!
@@johnsonrestoration Yes sometimes less is more I'm always careful to not over restore Your work is impeccable
Brought back to life......great CPR you gave that trunk👍
Thanks!
I saw this steamer trunk in the background of another video you did and was excited to see if you were going to do a video on this trunk. Your work is excellent and I love the information you share. I always learn something new. I use oxalic on furniture and now will use a mild solution on my next trunk restoration. I have a pressed metal dome top one waiting in the wings. Thank-you so much for the videos!
Thanks! You're working on a lot of projects!
@Thomas Johnson Antique Furniture Restoration I started my refinishing business part time 7 years ago. It's has grown through customer referrals and now I'm booked out 4 months. I plan to retire from my full-time job as a project manager later this year and take my business full-time. I'm so excited because I enjoy this work.
Amazing job, so much dedication and caring, well done mr. Johnson
Thank you!
Fantastic revival! That's what I love about refinishing and restorations. No two projects are ever the same.
nooooooooooooooooooooo l
.
lol
im waching your video
Thanks! yes, it's always something new and interesting
Tom
I worked for LV in the 1980's. I was fortunate to be able to visit the factory in a suburb of Paris. Their hard sided pieces were made there of seasoned poplar wood, solid brass fixtures and their famous vinyl coated fabric. Also, the leather trim stamped with LV is no longer leather it is a durable man made material. In this particular piece, the fabric was not vinyl coated. That material was not invented for several decades. We used to brag to customers that 'the locks were unpickable', which today sounds silly, but it was the sales pitch we put out there. Each piece had a unique serial number and if you lost the keys they had to be made in Paris for replacement. (at least that was the sales pitch). Of course in the 1980's tourists from Japan were our biggest customers and they just wanted LV, they knew more than most of the sales people and the little facts did not matter. Just write it up and take the money. Interesting video Thomas.
Thank you! I'd love to learn more from you about the factory. This fabric was definitely coated with something, I assume varnish
Thomas Johnson Antique Furniture Restoration -- I don't know about LV specifically, but I renovated an old steamer trunk that was canvas covered. When researching how to do it, I learned that they usually used shellac to waterproof the canvas. That is what I used to coat some of the canvas I had to replace (just Zinser from Homedepot), and it looks just like the original canvas that is still in the trunk. Here is the link where I got the info about shellac (I think) www.legacytrunks.com/trunk_history_information.htm
Peter Eastwood how did you research to repair the trunk?
The man made material is call called Lozine
You're an absolute master Tom! Wonderful restoration.
Thank you!
Tom
He always says when done on a piece, “I think it looks pretty good.” How about pretty damn great?!
The cleanup of this was amazing and it's beautiful to still see how antique it is by its wear.
Raluca K Thanks!
Wow great work Tom and not a clamp in sight! thanks for posting
You're welcome!
I had to chuckle at this comment! LOL! Usually there’s dozens of clamps. This was a very nice change. Stunning result.
Mr. Johnson, I've watched all your videos over and over. You inspire me, even at 76 years. I've made a beginning with a small night stand. I find that even with the most basic things, I must refer to you again. This little piece has a burn in the top, so I must patch. It takes more cleverness than I imagined. Thank you, sir. You're a real artist.
Thank you!
Applaud the fine detail of your work. Scrubbing every inch w/ a toothbrush deserves major respect. I come from automotive modifications and restoration and can identify wholly. Bravo sir.
Thanks! I greatly admire you car guys!
Wow... that piece is so valuable, i'd be afraid to do a thing to it. But you really helped it to come out of the dust! Great job!
Thanks! I am afraid! but once it's in my shop and I have a deposit from the owner I have no choice but to move forward!
Hey Tom do you know anything about Wooden Chest trunks that Say W.L. & S. ltd from 1939? I would love to send it to you as i am afraid to try and restore it as i've never done so before.
@@GangstaNerd it's a munitions chest from the second world war. That's all I can tell you.
And I think it looks 1000% better! So classy.
Thank you!
Wow! You made it look so beautiful! 👍
Thanks so much 😊
Looks amazing, great restoration.
Thank you!
Great work. So fun to watch. Thank you!!
You're welcome!
I love how you say, every time, I think it looks pretty good. This trunk made me gasp when you showed the cleaned brass and then when you finished it............HOLY COW! Amazing, amazing work. You are a true artist.
Thanks!
Watching your videos to restore an old Hartman Wardrobe Trunk. It's the only decent reference I can find anywhere! Thank you so much!
You’re welcome! I’m not familiar with those. A good source for info and parts is Brettun’s Village Trunk Restoration. They are very helpful
WOW GORGEOUS I collect Louis Vuitton handbags and this trunk is just ABSOLUTELY STUNNING FABULOUS JOB!!!
Thank you! check out this site www.lvtrunks.com/
I looked at that piece when you first showed it and to see the finished article is amazing, I never thought it would come up as beautiful as it has, you're so very very talented!!
Thank you!
Beautiful restoration
Thank you!
Just bumped into your video. The history behind it is amazing! And you are amazing!! Thank you for this video.
+Bradshaw Thank you!
Excited to watch you restore this.
Trunks are not easy.
More after
....
Great job.
I really , really wanted to see inside.
Said it before, you are a master.
And your videos are a pleasure to watch.
Thank you! Trunks are a whole 'nother thing!
Wow this is absolutely beautiful! Amazing to see your process. You put so much time and hard work into this but it was definitely worth it in the end. I bet the family were thrilled.
Yes they were! Thanks for watching!
I continue to be captivated by your calm manner and your thorough work. Cleaning such a piece with a toothbrush... You are an excellent craftsman and a fine videographer as well. Look forward to new projects.
Thanks!
I am astounded! I had no idea one could restore fabric like that.
Thanks! But not always - this fabric had been finished with varnish originally. If not finished it"s a whole different ball game, usually impossible (at least for me)
That was simply amazing. I'm sure they were very pleased to see how good it looks. This is why I'm glued to your site and love these videos.
Thank you!
That trunk looks amazing !!! Cleaned up very nicely!!
Thanks!
Brilliant job! I found your video's a few days ago and I am so happy I did as they really are amongst the most informative I have seen. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge, as a novice restorer they are not only educational but are also inspirational.
Cheers Thomas.
Thanks! Tom
Tom you're a bloody genius...that trunk looks beautiful...
Thanks!
Nice job! I was completely surprised with the results!
+Swedish Holmberg Me too!
This is quit interesting. I wonder how a fine art restoration person would have restored this. Great job Mr. Johnson.
Thanks!
It looks great!
I’d like to see a video about how you decide which cleaning substance to use on a piece: plain water, alcohol, ammonia, TSP, oxalic acid, detergent, paint thinner, mineral spirits, etc. How about it?
Good idea, I'll put it on my list. I am going to make more videos on specific processes
Looks fantastic! I wonder if the patina should have been left on the hardware.
Thanks! Always a tough call - but the hardware was rusty
That Damier canvas pattern held up and so did my breath! Tung oil was genius.
Thanks! Some of the fabrics don't hold up, you have to be careful
I am a big fan of your work. This time a little different challenge than usual... but still like it. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Jorge, definitely different, I learned a lot with this one.
Tom
What a great job bringing out the color of the fabric, wood and leather. Just wondering what shape the bottom of the trunk was in.
Thanks! Luckily, not bad at all. That's the first thing we look at, sometimes the bottoms are so rotted out there's no fix
Great job - I do the same thing except I needed to use rust remover & I use rub n buff for the metal decorative pieces .
Thanks! Yes, that's good. It also depends on the look you're going for.
Your videos are always a treat.
Thanks, Tom
love this! the story behind it is really neat as well
Thank you!
Looks amazing!!
Thank you!
I love the care and delicacy that was given to the piece. It was like watching an archeologist carefully brushing away the dirt from the fossil.
I found an old rusty trunk, the hardware looks ornate, I think it may have been quite pricey back in the day. But the metal is deteriorated in places and rust covers the whole thing. What would you suggest to remove that mess?
Thanks! White vinegar and elbow grease! It's best to remove the hardware if possible. Great resource are these people: www.brettunsvillage.com/
This restoration looks amazing. The only part I'm not entirely thrilled with is the brightness of the brass, but it will dull down again over time, and I know it can be challenging to clean everything evenly when there's such a mix of materials.
Hi Sooth15, thanks for watching. Brass is always tough, it's either all or nothing. There was no way we could avoid the tacks, so we shined up everything. It looked great because it realy wasn't too shiny, like off a buffing wheel. And yes, it will mellow out pretty quickly.
Tom
As far as water damage is concerned, you will always be able to tell there was that damage there unless you take hours of deep cleaning.
There are ways to install newer parts of leather ( that complete the handles) without losing the escutcheons or pieces that hold them in place.
I have come here because I myself am restoring a unique trunk and like to see the processes in my downtime.
Nice trunk you have. Nice work over all you’ve done.
Sorry I was a bit late to find the video, but glad I did.
Thanks for watching! These people are a great source:www.brettunsvillage.com/trunks/
Wow! What an amazing piece to get to work on!
Yes, the history of it is amazing. Thanks for watching
Tom
Tom, thank you so much for your videos. I have learned much from you and continue to apply your techniques to my own restoration projects. Keep it up and again, thanks!
You're welcome! and thanks for watching
Tom
Your work is a masterpiece. Thanks for sharing😊
You're welcome!
just gorgeous, fantastic job.
Thanks!
Beautiful. What a lovely job you made of this restoration, Tom. It looks like it was a pleasure to do, too.
Thanks!
Fantastic save Tom!
Thanks!
Are you kidding me! Are you kidding me! That looks great! Great job! "I think it looks pretty good" means there's nothing more you can do. Awesomely job.
Thank you so much.
Tom
Hi Tom. Great restoration. The canvas really cleaned up. The whole restoration really came together. I like how the oil gives it a new look, but keeps the old wear and tear in tact and shows its history when it traveled. You did an amazing job man. Hows everything ?. Were just packed and more work keeps coming in. Keep the vidz coming.
Thanks, Michael Frey
Hi Michael, thanks. It did come out with a great look, still looked it's age but nice and clean. Everythings great, really busy too.
Tom
Great video. I just discovered two steamer trunks in the basement of the house we moved into (northern Vermont). I doubt if they're valuable but they look amazing. So, I did a RUclips search for "restoring an old steamer trunk" and your video was at the top of the page.
Step one: bring those trunks out of the basement and get out some soft brushes and a mild soap solution.
Thanks!
TheStockwell so how did they turn out? :-)
It looks really nice. I wonder if she’s going to display it now-maybe as a magazine table?
Thanks! I think at the end of a bed, like a blanket chest
Tom, the world needs your book. Please write one.
Writing a book would be too limiting! Believe me, I love books, but videos are so much better to show this work
I have a few goyard trunks... I have one now that is a motoring trunk. Smaller size. It is originally a bright red canvas, but has been painted over black in most places. Any advice on how to carefully remove the black without eating through the red? Perhaps a very light paint stripper?
Wow! That's a tough one. light scraping might work, but still a lot of chances for going to far. I don't think I've ever successfully done that. You might have to strip it and repaint with the red color
Beautiful! Would not have thought that chest was restorable. Enjoying your videos. Thanks!
You're welcome!
This is a beautiful restoration! What is the ratio of oxalic acid and water that you use on the brass?
Thanks! The oxalic and water were for the wood, it lessened all the black iron stains. I start with about 1/4 cup in a quart of hot water. If that doesn't seem to be working I'll double it. Sometimes it works right away, but you need to let it completely dry overnight.
I have an old wardrobe steamer trunk that was saturated with mothball smell. I febrezed and aired it out as much as I could (the drawers still smell), so I could use it as my "valet". I love it, but feel it's still pretty rough. Thank you for demonstrating something that might bring it back to being a bit more attractive (and hopefully last longer in use).
I was afraid to touch it, but I learned a lot from your painstaking restoration. May I ask what determines whether you use tung oil vs danish oil on certain parts? Would teak or (boiled) linseed have similar effect?
Thanks! odors are tough to get rid of!
Wònderful ! The owner(s) will be in awe when they see the end result.
Thank you! Yes, they were very happy!
This is a great video. In the video you say that you used Dawn Detergent to clean the canvas, was that the "Dawn Dishwashing soap"? How many parts water vs. Dawn would you suggest? And what brush what you suggest to clean canvas with?
Thanks! Yes, Dawn for dishwashing. I mix it as I would for doing dishes. It doesn't take much. Use a soft brush, like a stencil brush, anything soft
Wonderful work, thanks. Just to note as others have suggested, it’s not leather but lozine, a vulcanized celluloid material, more durable than leather, developed by LV -I think.
Thanks! That's interesting, I have to look into it
magnificent results!
Thanks again!
BEAUTIFUL JOB...THANKS FOR SHARING
You're welcome!
Super video. Thanks!
You're welcome!
This is so great! I've scored an old steamer trunk that I want to restore and use as a coffee table. I was going to use polyurethane, but you used tung oil. Since its going to be a coffee table I want to protect it from spills and water damage. Is poly my best bet?
+Kelly Rae Jenken Hi Kelly, thanks for watching my videos. Polyurethane is fine, it's good to use whatever you're most comfortable with, especially if you've used it in the past and have experience with it. Poly's good for a coffee table, yes. Good luck!
Tom
Hi Thomas, great work!, what is the brand name of the sealer, the stain, and oil and solvent blend?
Thanks! I used Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish
Beautiful!
Thank you!
Nice job, clever approach!
Thanks!
Beautiful!
Thank you!
Will any Oxalic Acid residue cause a problem? I assume the dilution would be very mild. You did not talk about removing it and I wondered if any might be introduced to the cloth surface. and present a future problem being an acid.
Thanks! Yes, the residue is bad. I used a very mild solution here. In other videos you'll see me rinsing it off with a lot of water. Here, I was brushing on the wood only, trying to keep it off the fabric. This fabric had a varnish finish so the liquid was not penetrating the fabric
Professionally well done.
Thank you!
The trunk really looks beautiful
Thank you!
Amazing job!!! I want one of those!
They are cool. Go to the site "LV Trunks" and check them out
you wont when you see the price!!
bert klangton I still want one no matter the price.
+Juan Licera hard side luggage specifically that large is approximately $20-30,000. Now if it is larger or vintage, then double if not quadruple!
Nice work on a nice piece
Thanks!
I wonder, does Louis Vuitton have a service type center that you can send in old pieces like this that they can work on?
Thanks! I'm not sure. Check out this site: www.lvtrunks.com/. Maybe they can help
Fantastic Job 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thanks!
I have a question about rivets.. there are ones the clearly go all the way through. And there are ones on hardware. Are the hard wear ones just for looks? Or are they short nails that are glued?
I have a 1920’s watajoy and the flip down compartment hinge needs to be moved out. Not sure if it got pushed back over time or what. But the whole bottom left side rubs. And is clearly back to far visually. Any help would be appreciated, Thanks
Thanks! Some may be rivets, I think with these older trunks they may be clinch nails. Send photos of the desk problems: thomasjohnsonrestoration@gmail.com
Thanks so much for this -- wonderful tutorial and plan to use it on recently acquired trunk -- one question of advice -- my trunk has some cool paper labels from steamer and train travel -- any recommendations about how to preserve those? Seems like perhaps they shouldn't be painted with the oil? Any advice appreciated.
Thanks for watching! That's a really good question. If the stickers were originally made to be on the exterior of a trunk I would imagine that they were not delicate. I think you're going to have to somehow stay away from those stickers. I would search the internet for methods to clean paper buy you must proceed very carefully. Good luck!
Nice.... Job... Interesting.... Your.. So. Fit. Thanks..
Hi Mr. Johnson I just bought a trunk and am in the process in researching how to restore it w/o more damage. I was reading one of the comments on the products you used Dawn dish detergent - how did you mix the portions with part water to dilute it? Is Bar Keepers Friend the same thing as oxalic acid? The Danish Oil with walnut does it come that way? How many coats of Tung Oil did you use? What type of brushes did you use? I have canvas on mine too and wondering if it could be patched or not. It actually adds character to it so afraid it would not match. Finally when did you paint the metal black? I still see brass. Please reply when you can and thank you for a great learning video. I have saved it so I can watch over just in case. Ruby K
Hi Ruby, thanks for watching! You're asking too many questions! Besides, I feel like I pretty much covered all that in the video. The dawn is mixed as you would to do dishes, pretty random.
@@johnsonrestoration I
@@johnsonrestoration I apologize. I was so excited to see that I could do this. I have watched this several times and took notes from other comments
so cool! the satisfaction at the end ♡♡♡
+den a (pinkballoon06) Thanks for watching and yes, it's very satisfying work. Not just about the object but the owner's reaction!
Might have considered attaching a handle to the remaining leather, keeping the nails. Of course I'm not there to see for myself. Nevertheless, another excellent restoration, and a big thanks for opening your workshop to us!
You're welcome! The handles are a tough problem. The nails are clinch nails, under the fabric, they can't be removed and replaced
You did not mention the base, I would have thought that would be the most damaged, also how was the interior?
Hi, thanks for watching! The base was fine, no water damage. The interior was stained, I left that alone.
Very, very nice- I do have a question: I do leatherwork as a hobby, and a friend of mine asked if I could restore a leather item (an old, old holster that was passed down to him) and I'm not sure where to even begin without damaging it. Do you know of any good resources for leather restoration?
No, I don't, except I've always had good luck using aniline dyes (the same ones I use for wood) for any color issues, and then using neat's foot oil
That makes sense, I appreciate the response!
If I may, this is the first time I heard of oil being used on fabric, Id like to ask why, and do you use it on every fabric restoration, if not then what should you use it on?
Thanks for watching! I was using the tung oil as a varnish really, brushing it on and leaving it. The Waterlox Tung Oil Finish is really a thin varnish. But the concept of oiling and varnishing fabric goes way back, at least to the 19th century, it evolved into the linoleum that we grew up with, and oil cloth coverings were used for many purposes.
I think it looks pretty good too .
Thanks!
absolutely awesome!!
Thanks! (sorry for the delayed response)
Amazing restoration, wow! Why did you decide to use Danish oil on the wood first?
What I was doing was staining it, using Walnut Watco Danish Oil. I could have thinned out any walnut oil stain, but I've used the Watco a lot, I really like it
Ah, very nice. That makes sense...thanks!
Beautiful work
Thanks!
Tom
I was wondering, did you do anything to the underside of the trunk. Great work by the way.
I just cleaned it
With my dads LV trunk restored the canvas with Barbour thornproof wax dressing then a hairdryer to bring yp the shine.
Thanks! that sounds like a good tip. i have heard about the hairdryer technique but have not tried it! I will
facing extreme mold issues with my own trunk, Interior as well as some exterior. any recommendations aside from extremely diluted bleach? I'm afraid to use bleach especially on the interior, and I'm afraid dawn detergent just won't do the trick.
Mold is a tough issue, especially on these trunks because there are so many nooks and crannies on the bottoms. But yes, just diluted bleach, 10 parts water, 1 part bleach. Use a spray bottle on the fabric to apply a nice even coat, very slowly to avoid any drips. Good luck!
Great job
Thanks!
Nice job.
Thanks!
Gorgeous!!!
Thanks!