Contemporizing 1976 Argosy D - opinions please

[utee94]

Originally Posted by SmokelessJoe

Utee:

Yes, Dimmer’s rig ( #489 above) is more or less exactly what I am doing.

My ramps, deck and tool chests are all aluminum and my lines are more aerodynamic. Dimmer’s is a little more BRUTALIST, shall we say.

That’s OK. Dimmer sometimes sounds like the Evel Knievel of the Airstream Forums. The Big Rig suits his style.

(I knew Evel Knievel. I presented him in his last public appearance before the famous Snake River Canyon jump. That’s when he jumped 15 MACK trucks at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto, in August of 1974).

Sergei

Good stuff Sergei. You've done some very interesting things and met some very interesting people in your life. Evel Knievel and Three-Ring Circuses, I wonder what else?

Looking forward to meeting you sometime in the future, as I said before, the beer and BBQ is on me.

-Marcus

[SmokelessJoe]

I didn’t think the request for a hat, and not even the references to Mexicans and Canadians, was necessarily too political. From the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave we expect outspokenness and admire your freedom of expression.

Black hats are apparently on their way from Michigan and Indiana so I guess I’ll wear one in the truck and one in the car.

How cool is that?

Sergei

[biggoofball]

Very cool. AirForum people are quite a generous lot.

[Happycampers]

Sergei, They beat me to it. I am going to the U.S. next month and was going to bring you one back and will still do that if you want a third one.

Marvin

[SmokelessJoe]

Marvin, thanks. Three might be too many but I hope you’ll get one for yourself. Or Annie.

Sergei

[SmokelessJoe]

Yes, Marcus, when I reach AUSTIN again we’ll have to do a tour of some of the joints I remember: The Continental Club, the San Jose Motel across the road, the Broken Spoke and the Victory Bar and Grill in East Austin. (Imagine the ghosts – perhaps T Bone Walker, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy – that must be in that old Juke Joint!).

We’ll have beers and Texas BBQ and find out what you’ve been doing in life too.

Actually CIRCUS TIVOLI was a ONE RING CIRCUS, Canada’s first.

It failed but we introduced the Italian styled self-rising vinyl tent to North America. The tent and seating were made in Italy by different companies and the sophisticated portable washrooms in England, then shipped to WILTSIE TRUCK BODIES in Aylmer, where the rest of the show was built. And where, 25 years later, they painted the ARGOSY!

This type of advanced equipment is now regularly seen on CIRQUE DU SOLIEL.

I began as General Manager to Canada’s famous ROYAL WINNIPEG BALLET then moved to Toronto to become an impresario.

It’s been an interesting journey, from Evel to Cleo Laine /Johnny Dankworth, even Leonard Cohen - with the MOSCOW CIRCUS and the GREAT CIRCUS OF CHINA seeded in along the way.


Sergei

[rrbrinkley]

You state several times "you cleaned it with TSP." I'm sure I'll feel dumb when you tell me - - but what is that short for !?!? WHAT IS TSP ??
Thanks

[cameront120]

Trisodium Phosphate. You can get it at most grocery stores in the cleaning supplies aisle.

[sierrajb]

Do I dare ask? Just curious....

[cameront120]

Originally Posted by sierrajb

Do I dare ask? Just curious....

A box of TSP usually runs a couple of dollars

[sierrajb]

Cheaper than a pint of gas! Thanks.

[sierrajb]

Do you have any idea how much $$$ (not counting your endless hours)you will have invested in this transformation project? Your trailer looks absolutely PERFECT! Thanks for setting the bar so high for the rest of us. Now we know the impossible can be achieved.

[SmokelessJoe]

Brinkley, if you can’t find it at the grocery store, hardware and paint stores always carry TSP. However, the product I found worked best on cleaning the interior is called KRUD KUTTER, widely available.

Sierra, I knew you were asking about the trailer, not the TSP.

There was a thread here were people ‘fest up and posted their spending. But that was some time ago. I’ll search in my shoebox and give new details on this thread soon.

Meanwhile, I know that the cost will exceed that of a brand new Airstream. Then again, this is a brand new ARGOSY!

Best,


Sergei

[vajeep]

Wow!! Thanks for all the photos and ideas!!!
Hope to see you on the road some day!!

[SmokelessJoe]

BILL BERKELMANS began work on the Sprinter at his place just north of Aylmer, Ontario this week.



The deck runners and “headache bar” are already in place.

Next Bill will build the tool chests that fit below the platform while we consider how we want to mount the electric winch and the generator behind the truck cab.

.

Born into a Dutch immigrant family of 16, Bill has run his family business with wife Lisa for 20 years. They have 5 children, four of them boys that work after school and Saturdays around the shop.



Here’s Tyler and Eric. Brent was in another part of the plant.


The family builds all manner of tuck bodies, dumpsters, trailers and agricultural equipment as well as repairing farm machinery.

Bill will custom make the tool chests using the hydraulic sheers and breaks in the shop. That’s my plan for the car carrier taped to his machine.



Meanwhile, out at Red Oak, completion work on the trailer is going smoothly.

Sergei

[biggoofball]

Thanks for the update Sergei!! looks like all is going well.

[utee94]

Hi Sergei,

I tried to send this via PM, but the system tells me your mailbox is full, so I hope you don't mind if I post it here, wanted to make sure you saw it:

"Hope all is well and that the Sprinter is coming along. Looking forward to perhaps meeting you when you begin your Southern trek this Winter.

I also wanted to let you know that my Search is over and I've finally found one! It's a 1963 Overlander, the exact length and era I've been Searching for.

It's actually the one that used to belong to Terry aka Overlander63, and then came my way after another owner had it for a year. It still requires work as will any 40+ year old trailer, but a lot of the restoration work has already been begun by Terry, so I've got a head-start!

I've enjoyed reading your thread so much that I wanted to invite you to read up on mine, and also my blog, if you're interested.

Here's the blog:
http://austinaluminitus.blogspot.com/

The thread is the one Terry started over three years ago, and you'll see my meager contribtions on the last few pages.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f109/new-challenge-1963-overlander-rehab-project-16692.html

Hope all is well with you, and take care!
-Marcus

[SmokelessJoe]

Marcus,


We have a very spotty connection here but I did manage to find your new blog tonight. You are off to a well researched, flying start by the looks of things.

Thanks for passing on the news.

I’ll try to follow your progress as best I can. Good luck with everything.



Sergei

[SmokelessJoe]

We’ve had the wettest spring and summer in recorded history in Southwestern Ontario this year so I really miss my old weather shed.

Nevertheless, things keep moving ahead. Here Vince helps with getting the trim back in place.



More photos of the finished work later.

Sergei

[SmokelessJoe]

The unit is covered with shop grime and lot dust at this juncture but we’ll post shined up photos later. This is just an update.

Ramps are stowed beneath the Mini in aluminum/nylon slides.

Winch and Onan Cummins 4300 series generator behind the cab, at the “headache bar”



Tool chests or “possum bellys” along both sides for stowage.


The generator rides right behind the cab but slides forward when access for servicing is needed.



This is portable inverter model entirely made in Japan by Sabaru. They have a marketing alliance with Onan for North America.

I have had the wheels removed and the plant permanently monted to the truck bed. It wil also be painted black. Both measures are to discourage “unwanted portability”.




Note the T leg which Bill built into each ramp. It drops down automatically as you pull the ramp out. This strengthens the ramp when it is tested by weight.



Bill reminds me of a young Norman Mailer. Being a farm boy, he may not know Norman Mailer. I will ask him sometime.

Next week we will get the car up on the deck, complete the exhaust stack and install tie-downs for the auto.

Then it’ll be done. When everything is shined up nicely I’ll submit a better picture.



Sergei