The Belber Wardrobe Trunk ~ A History Part 2

Besides overestimating the size of the trunk (thankfully it fit in my car!), it was underestimated by the sellers. I walked out of the used furniture building with a hefty piece of "luggage" for $35... with some research to access value, this piece is easily worth minimum $150 and possibly up to $400.

My $35 Belber Wardrobe Trunk

The trunk that I purchased was of the wardrobe style. In the July 1920 issue of Cosmopolitan, a Belber ad described the trunk as follows... "A Belber wardrobe trunk is a closet and dresser combined. Clothes hang up on hangers - place for shoes, for hats, for underwear, for laundry, for small accessories. Everything kept neat and orderly - nothing mussed or wrinkled. No more trouble than to pack it than to hang things in a closet - and you needn't unpack it at all. Simply take things out when you want them and place them back again when you are through."

Another ad in the American Magazine Volume 85 used the catch phrase "You Don't Pack a Belber Wardrobe". The description continued with "You simply place your things away in convenient drawer or hanger. At the journey's end you find them fresh and neat. It is the last word in travel luxury."

This was a novel idea, it was a good idea. Though I do not travel as often as I would like, I have traveled in the United States as well as through Europe. I learned after my first trip to England when I was 18yrs. old, that I really had to solve my packing issues. I would pack the most random items, thinking that I would have to have them overseas. I soon changed my packing ways after that trip. Now, I bring significantly less & try to pack with my suitcase half empty, for souvenirs and other items to bring back from a trip.

For the life of me, while these wardrobe trunks are a wonderful creation - it really is a closet in a trunk - I still cannot imagine the poor person/porter that had to maneuver these trunks around. Just lifting an empty Belber wardrobe trunk required 2 people. How much could a filled wardrobe trunk weigh?? It was functional and even practical, despite its heftiness. I just wouldn't want to be the bellboy that had to maneuver this beast.

The Belber History Continued... 

In 1919, Belber moved their headquarters to Woodbury, New Jersey into a building that used to house the Blasius piano factory. Production continued and Belber added other items such as purses and suitcases to their line.

 Workers at the Belber Trunk & Bag Company, circa 1926 

Photo Property of Images of America: Woodbury by Robert W. Sands, Jr & Barbara L. Turner

By 1970, various areas of the building were being rented out to other companies since the production of trunks had slowed down considerably. On March 9, 1970, the town of Woodbury experienced one of the biggest fires in its history. The Belber Trunk & Bag Company facility had caught on fire. The Friendship Fire Company #1, one of the many who helped put out the fire, has a page on their website dedicated to the fire. The fire was described as "going from window to window, floor to floor like someone was turning on light switches in each room." 

Photo of the blaze - From the Friendship Fire Company #1 Website

533 men were needed to put out the blaze, coming from over 30 responding fire companies.Water from both the Woodbury reservoir and Woodbury Lake system were used, totaling around 10million gallons pumped out from these two places alone. The only thing that remained of the building were the stair towers and a basement flooded with water and filled with the remnants of the four story building.

So What Happened to the Trunks...

Henry Selig Belber was one of the founders of the Belber company. His father, Selig L. Belber, was the originator of the Belber trunk idea & so went into business with his sons. Selig died in 1924 and was buried at the Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Philadelphia. Henry passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack in June of 1934. Henry was born in Yassy, Romania and came to America with his parents when he was ten years old. Upon his death, he left a widow, three sons, and two daughters. He was noted for being active in welfare and charitable work. He was buried in Mt. Sinai Cemetery in Philadelphia.

I could not find an exact date as to when  Belber trunks stopped production. I imagine as the years progressed and new forms of luggage were produced, the need for a trunk of the wardrobe style and size was not as necessary or wanted. People began packing light and new methods of transportation allowed for this. Can you imagine getting on a plane and bringing this item as your checked baggage? 

So, now trunks as those made by Belber can be found on Ebay, Craigslist, and at flea markets for collectors and interested eyes to look at and wonder with amazement at the promises that a wardrobe trunk held for people of the early 1900s. While they may be categorized as impractical now, they served a function back then and were much in style. 

A place to hang your hat, thanks to the circular form on the inside of one of the drawers. Also, a small ironing board was featured in the trunk model that I had purchased. This ironing board was stowed away behind the wooden hangers and could easily be taken out when needed to freshen up clothes. The trunk that I purchased actually came with an iron, but it was missing. The spot where the iron attached can still be seen on the bottom portion of the trunk.

So what will I do with this piece of history? First, I must attempt to rid it of its' "smell". Somewhat basement/attic scented, moth balls should do the trick. The fabric is another story... it is in pretty good condition, with only a few minor stains inside one of the drawers. I will have to research the best way to clean this without damaging the fabric itself. The outside of the trunk needs some maintenance, mostly in cleaning. All of these issues are very minor and from what I can tell, this trunk is in very, very good condition compared to others that I found listed on the internet. Once it is in restored shape, I plan on using it as a display in my room... use it to store other antique treasures, perhaps some vintage linens/hats, make it look like it is still being used & back in the time period of its' heyday... restore it with history...

~ Flea Fact ~

Have a tape measure handy. I was lucky enough that this trunk was able to fit in my small car. If you are looking for a specific piece, make sure that you know the dimensions of the area you want to place it it... also knowing your car's capacity can be a big help too. 

Don't be afraid of a little polish work. Sure, the trunk has a smell too it. Yes, there are a few minor fabric issues. But, these all can be fixed with a little elbow grease. I'm not performing a major restoration on this for various reasons: 1. Money. Having a trunk this size professionally restored would carry a cost that at the time, I am not willing to pay. 2. Preference. I'm not sure that I want it all shiny & "new" - I like the look of it being used, of it having traveled during its' life, of it having a history. Why take that away when it only adds to the piece?