1963 Globetrotter

[65CV]

We bought our ’63 Globetrotter last fall from a very nice couple in West Virginia. They acquired it five years ago from the original owners and used it on weekends while building a home in the hills. They put all of 300 miles on it. Luckily, it looks like the original owners didn’t use it much and stored it in a barn. They supplied all the original documentation except the sticker. It was sold on October 3, 1963 in Neavitt, Maryland.

While outside in the last five years, the door and hot water heater leaked, causing floor rot in two small areas. Other than that, it appears that the floor is solid. The long term storage wasn’t good to the axle.

It towed well from central West Virginia to the Connecticut coast. We stored it for about a month in the driveway before discovering that there were several minor leaks. We found a great winter storage deal, but it’s wedged in tightly and we can’t get inside.

As soon as we have access, we plan to fix the leaks, then change the axle. We’ll do the basic safety, water and propane checks, put in new cushions, and try to get out and camp as soon as possible.

Thanks again to all the contributors on this forum! By pure luck, we chose the best plan –- buy a good trailer and store it while reading as many threads on airstreamforums as possible.

Inspired in so many ways by uwe’s masterpiece, we’ll post pix and updates to this thread.

The as-purchased pictures are posted in the user gallery under the 63GT userid. Yes, we plan to remove that interior paint job!

63GT

[aztlanco]

Congratulations on your new toy! Can't wait to see the progress photos.
Ernie
'58 Traveler, 18ft.

[moogie32]

I had the privledge of seeing this beauty in person a couple of weeks ago and it really is a nice coach. Can't wait to see it about and about with you guys enjoying it. You made a great choice and it's so nice to see another vintage trailer up in this neck of the woods! Let's camp! (well, for me that'll take a little while.....!!) Diane

[65CV]

Thanks, aztlanco and moogie for your kind wishes.

Can anyone tell me if these are the original light fixtures? I'm sure the copper paint wasn't!

63GT

p.s. Hope this upload works.

[bjond]

Yes they look like what is in mine, except the ones on each side of the front sofa have some decorative "sticks" attached. See
http://www.nwflorida.net/queenpix3.jpg
http://www.nwflorida.net/queenpix7.jpg

and
http://vintageairstream.com/archives/63GT/index.html

The lights were a cream white color and the front lights were two toned, white and tan.

[65CV]

Herb-

I'm glad the "sticks" weren't original. They're coming right off. Those fixtures have both the 12v and 110v bulbs in them.

Our zolatone was painted with a latex paint -- cream color. Underneath, we found the original and the majority of the speckles were light green. Don't know yet if we can strip the latex easily.

63GT

[65CV]

Didn't realize posting pictures was so easy.

Here are the as-purchased shots.

63GT

[65CV]

interior shots.

like that copper decor?

[65CV]

final set -- both sides

[65CV]

We're starting with leak elimination.

Four of the windows are off, glass removed and gaskets stripped. Many thanks to fireflyinva for the instructions in her blog http://toastertales.blogspot.com/.

When removing the window glass, it broke in to nasty, dangerous shards. We'd like to replace it with tempered glass, but it's only available in 1/8" thickness. The glass shop tested a piece in the frame and says it will work as a replacement for the original 3/32" glass.

Before placing the order, does anyone have a warning against this idea?

Thanks,
63GT

[Wardinbb]

Greetings and have fun!
I re-did all the windows on my Tradewind and broke the first one too! Kept repeating to myself, don't break the glass, and boom, broke the glass.
I used regular glass that was 3mm and readily available from a glass shop. The tempered is a grand idea at 1/8''. My front and rear windows were replaced with Lexon that is 1/8". The butle, glazing seal and t-bulb seal all fit fine with the extra 1/32 involved. They have been in place for over a year and from experience, no leaks have occurred.

Ed

[squrlgurl]

Originally Posted by 63GT

It was sold on October 3, 1963 in Neavitt, Maryland.

I live in Bozman, just 2 miles from Neavitt and everyone knows everyone. If you have the PO's name nad wish to share it, I may know him or her if they are local.


-Tracey

[Ken J]

Temper glass worked great for me when I replaced a window in my old 59 Traveler

Ken

[65CV]

WardinBB and KenJ-

Thanks. That's just the info I was looking for. Would hate to do all that work and have a leak.

BTW - Cost of the tempered glass was about $7.00 per square foot. Based on the way the plate glass broke, it's well worth it. Reglassing the whole trailer will be about $160 for glass and about $130 for glazing strip, bulb seal and bedding tape from Vintage Trailer Supply.

63GT

[65CV]

65-

Thanks. It is really clean, but the Zolatone has been painted with latex paint. It's in good shape, so we're not going to worry about it.

The rockguard and spare cover will be a challenge. Maybe I can liberate them from a trailer on Long Island

63

[Pariscope]

Yea! are they ugly or what?
I just took mine out and if you look between the light and surface you will see asbestos I think it was.
Ours were truly ugly and I thought at first they were Navy replacements untill I saw yours.
Paris

[fireflyinva]

Paris, are you talking about the light fixtures? I've seen very similar lamps in several trailers (including mine!) and period advertising, though none had decorative sticks on them like the one on this trailer. Intead, all the original lamps I've seen have a grill of decorative cut aluminum sheeting (with brass plating) and a liner of fiberglass lampshade paper (not asbestos, thank heaven) riveted to it. You could probably pick up a replacement grill at a rally (lots of folks just don't like these). Alternatively, if you feel crafty at a metal brake, you could probably fabricate a reasonable looking substitute--similar looking sheet metal and fiberglass lampshade goods are still available. I'll try later to see if I have a photo to post. I am weighing whether I want to plate all the brass finishes to chrome--though that's a decision far from my current structural efforts (we have returned to finishing up structural efforts after a two year hiatus--see my blog for the full dirty story).

As for the interior--ours is also repainted with thick layers of latex paint. The thing we've noticed is that the latex retains much more dirt than Zolatone does. The harder smooth surface of the Zolatone sheds dust and is easier to clean. Eventually, when we've progressed through our structural efforts, we're going scuff the latex and get the zolatone reblown. No need to strip, at least according to the Zolatone technical rep I spoke with several years ago (although it will, as I recall, need to have primer applied).