Trunk stays are a necessary part of the hardware that makes up a well-constructed trunk. They are necessary for holding open the lid for you and they stop the lid, once it's open, from flopping all the way over and ripping the lid hinges out of the wall of the trunk.

Trunk stays are necessary as safety features on the trunk, holding the lid up so that it doesn't come crashing down on someone's head by accident.

Trunk stays work with one end attached to the base of the trunk and the other to the lid. They are available in a range of sizes depending on the type of trunk they will fit. You can also buy specific trunk stays for a particular brand of trunk, too.

Look for scissor lid stays made of nickel-plated steel or antique brass plated stays for an older trunk.