I Found The Original Owners!!

[centennialman]

I am so proud of my Vintage Airstream and have been searching for the original owners for almost two years. Yesterday I finally found them via a link on the internet and sent them an email. Today they answered and they have volunteered lots of information.

I was particularly interested in finding them because their last name, their children's names, a city in florida and palm tree are painted on the side of the trailer as well as their initial is in a large letter in the middle of the screen door. I have always know that this was a special trailer to someone at some time.

I am currently corresponding with one of the sons of the original owner and he has started sharing stories. I am printing each one out to put in a scrapbook and carry in the trailer to share with others who are interested in the history of these wonderful trailers. I can't wait for the pictures to start arriving so I can see the earlier life of my trailer.

As part of my restoration, I plan to keep their name and art painted on the side of the trailer. It's part of the history of the trailer and it wouldn't be the same without it.

I will continue to add to this thread as I learn more.

Can You tell I am excited???

[streamer23]

Congrats on a successful end to your search and to what the future reveals.

[clancy_boy]

Very Cool, and a great story to read. I bet they have lots of fond memories to share. It would be great to have their take on why they did some things to the trailer, the art, the mods, etc. Sounds like a good time for all.

[centennialman]

I am so excited.....can't stand it!! I feel so lucky to have found them!!

I can tell that they are happy I contacted them and am blessed that they are willing to share information. This all makes my passion for this trailer stronger.

I love all things vintage....for example, I have a 1929 Frigidaire restaurant refrigerator in my kitchen. It's the refrigerator that was in the drug store from my hometown and my mom remembers it from when she was a child. I restored it and people always want to buy it when they see it. I also have a 1952 Vulcan restaurant six burner that I restored in the kitchen.

So....you can see why I am so excited to have found the original family that owned my Airstream....It makes me feel like I have something precious that deserves extra care as I learn more and more about her past.

[InsideOut]

Very cool Steve! Can't wait to hear the stories...

Shari

[centennialman]

Thanks Shari!

I will keep posting updates and, of course, can share pics etc... with you at a rally

[Jimandrod]

ALthough I'm not a vintage owner, stories like this are totally cool! I'd love to hear more

[SilverToy]

Steve -

Just kinda thinking out loud here, but perhaps that are other AS's that this original owner remembers, knows about, can share about (caravans, campgrounds, owner or trailer names/ numbers, places, times, problems, etc.....) and perhaps that is a way to pass all that out into the AS ether, for others that might have an interest similar to yours..... Afterall, maybe they have a trove of photos that could offer illumination to lots of others.

Heck, the WBCCI was a really swingin group back then, right?

Just sayin'

Axel
SilverToy

[centennialman]

Thanks Jimandrod!!!

Axel/Silvertoy.....thanks also for your input! I will definitely ask them for any information they can provide. They have agreed to dig out their old photo's and share them. I will be sure to post any that have other Airstream trailers in them as well as pass on information that they may share about rallies etc....

I am so excited about this today.....I need to slow down and get some sleep.

[tlavergne]

This sounds like a great story for Airstream Life magazine. You ought to get a hold of Rich.
Tom

[centennialman]

Tom....that's so funny that you just posted the Airstream Life idea. I was just on the phone with a friend sharing all the news I am learning and she said the same thing.

My mind has been whirling around lot's of ideas on how to document the history of this trailer since I have been so lucky to find these folks.

Thanks for suggesting that!

I will be posting more as soon as I receive more details from this gracious family.

[Tom Nugler]

Have to second that! Preserving the history of the trailer has got to be as rewarding as preserving the coach itself.
Sharing it with the community just makes it all the more interesting.

Tom

[centennialman]

Thanks Tom!

It makes me feel even more respect for the trailer, it's history and the good times these people must have had in her. If the trailer could talk what stories she could tell. The next best thing is learning from this family and sharing in their memories.

I feel so lucky.....you can be assured I will share the story, pics and whatever else I can with everyone.

Steve

[jdalrymple]

Very cool work. Nice story!

[centennialman]

Thanks!

I have literally googled these peoples names for nearly two years almost every Sunday morning. I hit the jackpot this weekend and they answered me right away. We are communicating via email right now and hope to talk on the phone by this weekend.

This is so much fun!!!!!!!!!

[SharonIvey]

I can't wait to hear more. I'd also like to hear more about your motivation. I'm sure many vintage owners have seen and perhaps kept changes made by previous owners and may have even wondered about them but would not have gone on a quest to locate them spanning two years.

A wonderful story....

[centennialman]

Hi Sharon,

My motivation revolves around wanting to know everything possible I can learn about the trailer. I am a sentimental person and am very fond of "vintage" things. I love history and know that all vintage items have stories to tell.

When I first started reading posts on this site, it struck me how much passion there is amongst owners of Airstreams for their wonderful trailers, the comraderie we share with each other and the generosity we all have in sharing ideas, stories, "how to's" etc.....

I knew, when I first saw my trailer and the name of a family and their children painted on the side that someone just had to have loved this trailer very much. I made up my mind to start looking and there were many frustrating dead ends. It finally paid off and I am going to embrace everything they share with me, document it and feel even closer to this piece of aluminum that I have fallen in love with.

Steve

[Stefrobrts]

Congrats Steve! That's great that you found them and that they are so eager to share with you too. What a wonderful turn of events!

[Smokin Camel]

I should try this?????????? I have the original owners manual and the name on the first log line...this thread gives me an idea to try it sometime.

[ibgl6]

I also have the orginal owners manual with the names It was purchased in Tallahassee Florida I gought it from a guy in Mo. so there is a story of it travels somewhere It would be interesting to track it down...SAM