This trunk was given to my dad by his landlady when he was in college (very early 1960's), it is very old, although neither he or I know much about it. The beautiful blackletter text on it says, "Frank Johann Aus Sinsheim", which translates to "Frank Johann of Sinsheim" [a town in Germany].

Anyway, dad has had the trunk in his backyard for at least 10 years, exposed to weather - rain, snow, heat, drought - you name it. He has known that I have always wanted it, yet I never seemed to be able to have the time or room in my car to take it... until it literally fell apart and collapsed into a lovely weathered heap of boards in his yard. At last, it fit into my car! In its dilapidated state, it was no longer a trunk, but POTENTIAL! So I did the next logical thing - I cut it up and made a shelf. Here is the fruit of my efforts... with the original iron handles and charming old text.