Door-Within-A-Door: Why So Coveted?

[fleurdenola]

I searched for a prior discussion around this and didn't find one, but please feel free to point me to it if I've missed it. Why is the door-within-a-door feature available on the trailers through the early 60's such a coveted feature? Is it just because they are rare? Or is there something that makes them advantageous over the regular doors?

From a newbie's--who's doing way more research than she probably should before taking the plunge--perspective, it seems the door-within-a-door would close the trailer off more/not let as much light in than the regular door with the separate screen door when both are open to the screen option?

[aluminitus]

I don't know how coveted they are, but we really like having ours because of the aesthetics and it is nice to have a door that lets in a little light and without cooking us when the sun is shining on that side of the trailer.

[fleurdenola]

Originally Posted by aluminitus

I don't know how coveted they are, but we really like having ours because of the aesthetics and it is nice to have a door that lets in a little light and without cooking us when the sun is shining on that side of the trailer.

Thanks! I've read through your thread on here about Sputnik and have sputnikgoes.com open right now to your first entries. I plan on spending this lazy Saturday reading through the whole thing. I am, like most people, in love with what you did with your trailer. And I am loving reading about the adventures you're now having in it. My also under 30 self who also fell into the "American Dream, not my dream" is living vicariously through your adventures until I start on mine!

[idroba]

Not sure about Coveted, but they do show that you have an old Airstream. The historians can tell us when the last ones were made.

[Lily&Me]

I covet them, and would have one if I could.

They're darned cute and special, is why.


Maggie

[Janet H]

I have one and have to say that while it looks cool, a newer door with the separate screen door is more practical.

[dznf0g]

They're just a unique cool component of ASes in one of the best style eras, IMO.

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by idroba

Not sure about Coveted, but they do show that you have an old Airstream. The historians can tell us when the last ones were made.

I'm not a "historian" but, I can confirm that 1964 was the last year they had D-in-D.

I think one of the reasons they are "desirable" is soon after Wally Byam died (in late '62) - things changed. Several of those changes were toward more mass-produced features in Airstreams - these doors are not mass produced - each inside door has it's corresponding outer door, they fit hand-in-glove. The new-style screen doors are more practical...and easier to replace.

Prior to Wally's death, Airstreams were more customizable from the factory & dealers - after they were trying to grow the brand a bit more and implemented more constant and interchangeable designs. Then then in the late 60's things changed even more with the sale of the company...

Not that any of this was good or bad - just progress. The D-in-D is kind of one of the last things that is iconic with the Wally-era "old school", pre-war trailers.

Shari

[Lily&Me]

I just like them.

Maggie

[indy]

I have one on ours and the darn thing has melted two RV mats befour we figured it out that the shape of the inter panel actually concentrated the sun light into a beam of hot light.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Door within a door was last used on the 1964 models.

Andy

[slowmover]

Silver Streak used it into the eighties. Trouble today is finding a bone yard replacement or even just the complicated hinges.


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