Armored Trunk Manufacturing Company

Last updated

The Armored Group, Inc.
Company typePrivate
Founded1920
FounderLouis Knell
Headquarters North Hollywood, California, U.S.
Key people
Louis Kaye, President
Products Road cases
Protective equipment cases
Custom ATA flight cases
Website www.InnerspaceCases.com

The Armored Trunk Manufacturing Company (now operating as The Armored Group, Inc.) is an American luggage and protective case manufacturer founded in 1920 by Louis Knell in Youngstown, Ohio. The company became one of the largest producers of steamer trunks, trunks, and luggage in the United States during the 20th century. [1]

Contents

History

During the Dust Bowl era, Armored relocated its operations to Los Angeles, California, where it developed a reputation for producing durable, travel-ready cases and trunks. During World War II, the company manufactured footlockers for U.S. military personnel traveling overseas. [2]

Following the expansion of commercial air travel in the postwar years, Armored became one of the country’s largest luggage and footlocker producers, with a Los Angeles-based factory and a New York City sales office serving major national retailers. [3]

In the 1970s and 1980s, the company introduced several proprietary luggage lines, including Alfredo Fettuccini, Sports Network, and Luggage Set in a Box, and licensed well-known brands such as Budweiser and Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts characters. In 1984, Armored Trunk Manufacturing Company obtained a license to produce official Olympics travel goods. [4]

By the early 1990s, the U.S. luggage industry faced increasing competition from inexpensive imported goods. In 1994, Armored sold its trunk production line to the Seward Trunk Co., which was later acquired by Mercury Luggage Manufacturing Company of Jacksonville, Florida, forming one of the largest luggage manufacturers in the United States. [5]

After divesting its trunk manufacturing operations, Armored shifted its focus toward custom protective case production under its Innerspace Cases brand, serving entertainment, industrial, and government clients. [6]

See also

  1. ↑ "Armored Trunk Expands Luggage Line". Youngstown Vindicator. March 12, 1936. p. 14.
  2. ↑ "Local Firm Supplying Trunks for Soldiers". Los Angeles Times. September 5, 1942. p. 8.
  3. ↑ "Trunk Firm Expands Coast Operations". Los Angeles Times. June 9, 1958. p. C3.
  4. ↑ "Local Firm Gets Olympic License for Travel Goods". Los Angeles Business Journal. April 1984. Armored Trunk Manufacturing Co. announced a licensing deal to produce travel goods bearing the official 1984 Olympic insignia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ↑ "Mercury Luggage Acquires Seward Trunk Co". Mercury Luggage Manufacturing Co. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Innerspace Cases – Custom Case Manufacturer". The Armored Group, Inc. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
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