I never knew exactly what to clean things with once I got them home, without trying several ideas. A few things I would try (on a corner first to see what happens) would be Murphy's Oil Soap, and a soft gummy eraser. If the eraser works without lifting the lettering, I would then use wax; like Briwax to protect the finish. I hope this helps. You never really know until you try it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Briwax

That's wonderful!!! Can you read what it says on the top? and rough idea as to age...by what it says?
To clean it even a little without fading the writing you need to find out what kind of paint is on the trunk and what the lettering was done with.
It maybe milk paint...in which case, don't use soap.
Try the cloth wrapped around the finger to see if various things make the color come off on the cloth. Try plain water....mild soap and water...like palmolive liquid....there is nothing magic about Murphy's except that it's soap and not detergent and may leave a residue.
Then try denatured alcohol and then mineral spirits.
One of those things will work....you just have to find what doesn't also remove the paint and the paint lettering.

What about trying one of those Miracle Sponges that you just dampen?

Thanks - I'll try to gather up more patience and start with just damp cloth and move up from there.

GGGF was in the Civil War and beyond, so that about dates it. We also have one of his rifles, but unfortunately it's a later issue. I don't recall the inscribed date off-hand but I believe it's in the 1870's, post CW anyway.

As for the lettering, what I can read is his last name (Quentin), trunk number (8), and Grand Junction Colorado. There's more on there which perhaps I'll be able to read when it's cleaned or in different light, or perhaps will be more obvious to my father the family historian.

I'm hoping to use this as a family room coffee table. There are countersunk holes around the perimeter of the lid which I assume are for extra shipping screws. In order to protect the top I'm thinking of getting some glass cut so size and then making a frame that will be secured to the lid using the existing holes.

I suppose one day the trunk and rifle will be reunited.

My suggestion would be not to touch it.

1. There are special antique restorers who can get it done with the proper method without the risk of damaging it.

2. You may want to go to an art store and get a piece of UV protection plastic or UV glass, frame it to put on top so that you can use it as a coffee table. Otherwise it will continue to fade, as it has already done so.

dcarch

Don't use a miracle sponge. That could ruin it forever.

Just thinking out loud:

1. Not too long ago, you can buy infrared sensitive film for your 35mm camera and take a picture of the lettering. You can find very interesting clarity that you cannot see with your eyes because different ink reflects IR light differently.

2. If you can get your hands on a UV (black light) lamp, you may also see more with it.

dcarch

Seconding don't use a miracle sponge....they really are quite abrasive.

I would also do nothing. I took an antique trunk to a trunk restorer near me, and they cleaned it so good that they scraped off the picture on the inside! I would just wash with a damp cloth, being very careful around the lettering, and leave it as is. It would make a great coffee table with a piece of glass over the top.
Sherry

My husband is an antiques dealer and he recommends that you show it to someone who specifically handles civil war military antiques before you do anything.

They would be able to tell you what to do without damaging this precious item.

He warns you against taking it to a restorer, to avoid an experience like Sherry describes.

He likes your idea of the glass top to cover it, but hopes you will be careful not to damage the countersunk holes.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm thinking I'll try again with gentle damp cloth, water only, and if that doesn't work I'll try to get some professional advice as recommended. There's a place near my inlaws in NJ that deals with this kind of stuff.

I don't know if it has any monetary value, but as a family piece it does to me so I don't want to ruin it.

If it is mildewy on the inside, I learned from an art restorer that a mix of rubbing alcohol and water (I used 1:1) will kill the mildew without damaging the interior...

"Posted by fearlessem -----If it is mildewy on the inside, I learned from an art restorer that a mix of rubbing alcohol and water (I used 1:1) will kill the mildew without damaging the interior... "
That's OK, as long as you don't try that on finished surfaces. I understand that alchohol is a solvent for shellac finishes. Shellac is a common paint in the old days.

Then, I am not a restorer.

dcarch

Thanks again - The inside is unfinished and very clean. But, I'm open for suggestions on how to get rid of moth ball scent!

Line it with cedar wood, or camphor wood if you can get it.
You can also buy cedar oil.

dcarch

Leave the lid open...and if the mothball scent isn't gone in a week...put a lit very low wattage light bulb in the trunk....don't shut it!!
another trick is close it up with wadded up news paper....they say something about the soy in the ink does the trick.
The chances that that trunk has shellac on it is slim to none....unless you or someone else put it there...in which case it's better off gone.

I hope you don't perceive me as challenging your knowledge, because I am not an expert. I am just curious and also concern that this is an extremely valuable item for FOAS. Any damage done could be irreversible.

1. If you want to drive a scent deeper into the fibers, what would you do? You would heat up the scent in an enclosed container. That's how you smoke meat.

2. As I understand it, shellac was the single most used wood finish around 1800s.

Perhaps you have better information than I do.

dcarch

Ok, I hereby declare NO BICKERING ON MY THREAD! LOL.

Bottom line, I'm going to treat it extremely gently - water - and if need be beyond that will consult experts as suggested above.

I really appreciate everyone's input!

shellac is a clear "finish"...that wood box is painted, very utilitarian. Shellac was used for fine cherry tables. Paint, perhaps milk paint was used for utilitarian things like a Civil War soldier's trunk.
The advice on the lightbulb etc was predicated on considerable experience removing such odors from several trunks and old dressers. Heating makes the volatile oils volatile again.