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Ron Wiebe · 10-01-2007, 11:32 AM

Hi all, I just purchased a 1948 liner #1118. anone got any info about this one? I have some pictures if I can find out how to post them.
Ron

Boondocker · 10-01-2007, 11:37 AM

Sounds NEAT! To post a picture click on the little box on the reply box that has the mountian and sun icon.

ScrapIrony-2 · 10-01-2007, 12:37 PM

Fred is the historian for vintage Airstreams. He's a fountain of information. If he's not on the road, he'll be responding. His forum handle is "Wee Wind"

Tracy

**azflycaster** · 10-01-2007, 01:06 PM

Check this link out:
48Liner
Your Airstream may have been made at the Van Nuys airport. It is a pipe frame and a real classic!

We want pictures!

Ron Wiebe · 10-01-2007, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azflycaster

Check this link out:
48Liner
Your Airstream may have been made at the Van Nuys airport. It is a pipe frame and a real classic!

We want pictures!

it has 1755 North Main street Los Angeles on the tag, with model number 4311 and serial number 1118.

I can't seem to find out how to post pics to this forum. I do not have a web page , just pics on my hard drive. Not sure how to transfer them from my hard drive to the forum. Any help?

InsideOut · 10-01-2007, 01:23 PM

Try this: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f138...eds-31829.html

Shari

47WeeWind · 10-01-2007, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Wiebe

it has 1755 North Main street Los Angeles on the tag, with model number 4311 and serial number 1118.

Hi Ron:

On a closer inspection it's probably model number 4811, meaning it was built in January 1948. The "8" may have been stamped off kilter and so might look like a "3" at first glance. RJ's web site noted by Azflycaster is the best source of online information, but a recent back issue of the VAC's "Vintage Advantage" magazine has an article about the 1947-50 Liners (round ended pipeframe Airstream trailers). Congratulations on a neat find!

Ron Wiebe · 10-01-2007, 01:54 PM

It does look as if it could be an "8". What does the 11 after the 48 mean? is it the month and day? When did they move to this location? Any idea of the serial number that started at the 1755 north main street location?
I'd post pictures but still can't figure out how to do it. It says my photo's are too big. not sure how tomake them smaller.

InsideOut · 10-01-2007, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Wiebe

I'd post pictures but still can't figure out how to do it. It says my photo's are too big. not sure how tomake them smaller.

Try this: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f137...res-35871.html

Shari

47WeeWind · 10-01-2007, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Wiebe

It does look as if it could be an "8". What does the 11 after the 48 mean? is it the month and day? When did they move to this location? Any idea of the serial number that started at the 1755 north main street location?

Hi Ron:

Model number 4811 decodes are follows:

"48" = year of manufacture.

For 1948, the 1st "1" = apparent place holder with undiscovered and unknown meaning.

For 1948 , the second "1" in your model number = month of manufacture. 1948 went through "3", or March, then Airstream ceased using the "model numbers" which, to me, indicate the year and month of manufacture.

For 1947, the meaning of the 3rd and 4th place digiits appeared to have been switched, with the last digit "1" being the placeholder. See here: 47Liner

Airstream moved from the Van Nuys Airsport to 1755 No. Main Street around December 1947 or January 1948, and at least by January 1948 as your VIN tag shows. I don't know which serial number first revealed that address change. We need more data points, so keep looking for more Liners.

Mark Wiltrakis · 10-01-2007, 03:50 PM

Fred -
The '47 Liner I recently saw had the original tag next to the door:

Model 4791 Serial 1035
Built by Wallace M. Byam
Metropolitan Airport
LA, California

So they were still at the airport in Sept 47.
Mark

47WeeWind · 10-01-2007, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Wiltrakis

Fred -
The '47 Liner I recently saw had the original tag next to the door:

Model 4791 Serial 1035
Built by Wallace M. Byam
Metropolitan Airport
LA, California

So they were still at the airport in Sept 47.
Mark

Mark:

Thanks for that data. Your example illustrates the model number third digit was the month during 1947, but I'm pretty sure during 1948 the month moved to the last or 4th digit, such as in model number 4813 for "March 1948".

Ron Wiebe · 10-01-2007, 05:31 PM

thanks for the pictures lesson. hope these upload .

InsideOut · 10-01-2007, 05:35 PM

Looks like you figured out the pictures and I'm glad you did...nice trailer!!!

Shari

Ron Wiebe · 10-01-2007, 05:37 PM

Fred , Thanks for the info, The serial number is sequential starting from 1000? So mine is the 118th airstream liner made since the beginning? Has someone been keeping track of the trailers found so far?

Ron Wiebe · 10-01-2007, 05:38 PM

thanks Shari.

Alumatube · 10-01-2007, 05:55 PM

AAAAUUUUGGGGHHH that is so dang cool!

Hi, I'm Susan. You will soon see I am attracted to things that are unique and unusual (my poor hubby puts up with me, what a sweetheart!), and yours sure is! What a neat trailer. Thanks for posting the pics!

Good luck with it, and post pics of the things you do to it. We all love pictures here.

Susan

Sugarfoot · 10-01-2007, 06:07 PM

Oooo! Thanks for taking the time to figure out picture posting.

Ron, that is so TOTALLY awesome!!! Congratulations on your find, it's just so cool that it's hot! It looks to be in remarkable shape for a '48.

47WeeWind · 10-01-2007, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Wiebe

Fred , Thanks for the info, The serial number is sequential starting from 1000? So mine is the 118th airstream liner made since the beginning? Has someone been keeping track of the trailers found so far?

Hi Ron:

The serial numbering is sequential for each different length model during the late 1940s. The 22 foot long Liners began at serial number 1000 or 1001, I don't know which. So your 22' Liner is the 119th or 118th 22' long Airstream Liner built after WW II. The 28' long Whirlwinds had the 2000 series serial numbers, the 16' Wee Winds had the 3000 series serial numbers, and the 19' (then 18') Trailwinds had the 5000 series serial numbers. Each X000 series is numbered sequentially.

I'm not aware of anyone keeping a close count of all different length Liners, but I have written down all the 16' Wee Wind serial numbers I've come across only because I own one. Maybe someone has done that for the 22' Liners. Many, but certainly not all, 22 foot Liners appear on R.J Dial's web site cited earlier.

Great trailer, have fun with it!