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HiHoSilverGirl · 11-14-2011, 09:49 PM

I know very little about the make/models. I have a 1958- no registration information is available from the person I got it from. The "DMV lady" giving me the run-around- telling me that I need a 17 digit VIN when I don't have one! All i have is the numbers from the side. I could use some advice. I could send someone photos/info ive got for anyone knowledgeable and with the time to help me out. Thanks

wkerfoot · 11-14-2011, 09:55 PM

Please post a few pictures or the serial number from the plate in front of the door.

Or take a look here at the 1958 trailers and see if there is anything familiar: http://www.vintageairstream.com/archives/index.html

Bill

Quote:

Originally Posted by DebbyDiamond

I know very little about the make/models. I have a 1958- no registration information is available from the person I got it from. The "DMV lady" giving me the run-around- telling me that I need a 17 digit VIN when I don't have one! All i have is the numbers from the side. I could use some advice. I could send someone photos/info ive got for anyone knowledgeable and with the time to help me out. Thanks

Mr.Bill · 11-14-2011, 10:02 PM

The 17 digit VIN is a Federally-mandated standard, but it didn't take effect until 1980. Prior to that auto, trailer and truck manufacturers put on whatever number they felt like - if I remember right, Peterbilt's numbers were only 5 or 6 digits. The dash-top VIN plate and door/lock pillar VIN decal are part of the same Federal law. On anything from the 50's or 60's it's anybodies guess where the number might be - it was probably on a plate attached to the tongue or to the side of the trailer that fell off years ago.

**azflycaster** · 11-14-2011, 10:17 PM

Post the number that you found on the side of the trailer, it might be the VIN. The VINs in the 50s were only 4 or 5 digits with the Ohio made units having a O- as part of the number.

HiHoSilverGirl · 11-14-2011, 10:28 PM

I didn't see an exact match and I do not yet have pics ready to post...but I can tell you that on the side of trailer it says 24T0108...Dott 1373....9-3-58 . I know the 18' is too short and the 26' looks too long. I guess it could be 22' (it doesn't look like there is a 24' available for the '58?). The windows are all just one-piece rectangle-shape. the closest i have seen in similarity was in a 1959 Airstream UTube video I found recently.

wkerfoot · 11-14-2011, 10:43 PM

My guess is a 1959 California built Tradewind with twin beds. 59Tradewind

Bill

Quote:

Originally Posted by DebbyDiamond

I didn't see an exact match and I do not yet have pics ready to post...but I can tell you that on the side of trailer it says 24T0108...Dott 1373....9-3-58 . I know the 18' is too short and the 26' looks too long. I guess it could be 22' (it doesn't look like there is a 24' available for the '58?). The windows are all just one-piece rectangle-shape. the closest i have seen in similarity was in a 1959 Airstream UTube video I found recently.

**azflycaster** · 11-14-2011, 10:48 PM

The VIN plus the build date point to a 1959 California built TradeWind with twin beds. In fact Brad (flyfshr) has one that is only a few numbers off (24T0114).

You can see pictures of Brad's trailer here: 1959Tradewind24T0114

1959 was the first year for the TradeWind. It is a great find.

HiHoSilverGirl · 11-14-2011, 11:19 PM

I really appreciate the feedback...and yes, after vewing some more photos and information- I believe it is a '59 TradeWind. It is unfortunate that the people who had it before me did not make any effort to take care of it. The twin beds and the dining area stuctures removed/destroyed (among lots of other damage)...the outside went through two forest fires but survived well though! Originally, this trailer was purchased by my grandfather- and someday I hope to make it nice to stay in. It needs just about everything re-done! This will be a long-time project! Thank goodness for this wonderful internet forum! I need all the help I can get! I also learned (from this forum) that no manuals exist before '64. Wow, thank goodness for all the experienced people on this site though! ;-)

flyfshr · 11-15-2011, 12:55 AM

WOW!!! Debbie - that sounds like a nice find and an extremely early California built TradeWind. Although the date stamp says the date of 9-3-58, it is still a 1959 model. Mine has the date of 8-58 on the ID tag. That's the one with the serial nuber on it as well. I'll bet that you got your date from the DOH tag and not the ID tag. I'll post a picture of mine in the next post once I go find it. I would love to see pictures of this beauty. TradeWinds are the bomb.

Brad
FF

flyfshr · 11-15-2011, 01:17 AM

OK, a bit of computer problems but I'm back. Here's a poor quality photo of my ID tag by the door. It is the one with the round corners and the Airstream type on a wave. My number reads 24T0114 at the top right and 858 on the bottom right. The 24T0114 is the serial number but in most cases, the DOT adds the date to the serial number which in my case makes it 24T0114858. I'll decifer this for you:

24 = 24 feet long, making it a TradeWind
T = signifies a twin bed floorplan
0114 = is the sequential number from the factory, making it the 114th one made in the CA plant
and
858 = the month and year of manufacture

Can you share with us the number in the lower right corner of your ID tag. I'm dying to know the date of manufacture. BTW, the Dept. of Housing tag has square corners and really doesn't signify anything regarding the date of manufacture. Its to the left in my picture with the black background.

Let me know if I can provide any additional assistance, I'd be glad to help another early TradeWind owner. I can share with you that yours is the lowest serial number in my registry from the CA plant. Previously, mine held that distinction.

Brad
FF

Mark Wiltrakis · 11-15-2011, 08:40 AM

Brad -
My Ohio-built trailer's ID tag has my S/N (249114) in the upper left, like yours. But there is no date stamp. I'm guessing that the date stamp appeared only on California-manufactured trailers.
Mark

flyfshr · 11-15-2011, 11:22 AM

Mark ~

From info gathered for the registry, that appears to be the case in all instances but one. I have one Ohio built trailer with a date stamp. Maybe a transferred employee from the CA plant before he knew better. There always seems to be no set standards in the earlier days of the factories.

Brad
FF

HiHoSilverGirl · 11-16-2011, 07:58 AM

Well I have a lot to learn, dont I? :-)
I also will try to post photos/info by weekend or so. I have to get more comfortable with this site- including posting things up here. And thank you flyfshr for the detailed info you posted. Wow- this poor airstream left abandoned for years...and I get to adopt this "early TradeWind" and hopefully someday have the necessary funds to make it useful as it was always meant to be!