Our History
Charles T. Wilson
Founder 1919
In September of 1919 Charles T. Wilson opened up the Tampa Peninsular Trunk Factory at Franklin Street 33602. Our original phone number was 3419. Charles T. Wilson prior to this operated in Augusta, Georgia under the name of C.T. Wilson & Sons.
Wilson King
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C.T. Wilson passed his business down to his grandsons Wilson King and Lofton King in 1932 where they operated the Tampa Peninsular Trunk Factory at 214 E. Cass St. Tampa, Florida
Lofton King & Wilson King
Featured in this Photo from The Tampa Tribune news article "Broken Baggage Business" circa March 29th, 1964. From Left to Right: Lofton King and Wilson King
Robert N. King Sr.
At the age of 22 Bob King took over the family business at the invitation of his father Wilson King. Over fifty years later you have Luggage Service Inc., still family owned and operated.
Locations Through The Years
Since 1919 Family Owned and Operated
C.T. Wilson opened Tampa Peninsular Trunk Factory in downtown Tampa, Florida in August of 1919 located at 1211 N. Franklin Street.
C.T. Wilson, Jackson St. Store Tampa, Florida September 15th, 1911
In the early part of the twentieth century people were traveling most frequently by steam liners and railroad cars. They used heavy trunks and wardrobes, that of which we produced and repaired. The photos below are of a book from 1920 where this is mentioned.
C.T. Wilson inside of His Shop on 1211 N. Franklin St. Tampa, Fl in 1919
Over the years, the shop also sold vegetables. We moved from Jackson Street to 1211 N. Franklin Street in 1919.
We then moved to 214 E. Cass Street. From there we moved to 1001 N. Franklin Street before relocating to our present location at 4121 N. Nebraska Ave. as Luggage Service Inc.
Source: Google Free E-Book
1930's
214 E. Cass St. Tampa, Florida
1960's
1001 N. Franklin St., Tampa Pinensular Trunk Factory circa 1967
As times changed our modes and style of travel did also. People were traveling by train, bus and airline. Wilson and Lofton did the work for Atlantic Coastline and Seaboard Railroad Systems, Tamiami Trail Ways Bus Co and the Southeastern work for the Airlines.
Here you see vintage images of our shop from this era.
Stock Room 1967
1970's
Construction of Atlanta, Georgia Location. Operated from 1975 until 2006. Presently Closed.
Our Current Location Under Constructon in the 1970's
This is how we used to look in the beginning at 4121 N. Nebraska Avenue.
2017
4121 N. Nebraska Ave Tampa, Florida 33612
In Loving Memory of Jean Long
Jean was instrumental in the history of our company and is surely missed.
Jean Long ran the Atlanta location from 1975 until her passing on August 30th, 1992.
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Jean & Bob
