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03-23-2004, 04:15 PM
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#1
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3 Rivet Member 
1952 25' Cruiser
Dummerston
, Vermont
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 169
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Airstream tow test - Motor Life, 1955
We've got a reprint of this article. Have other folks seen it?
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03-23-2004, 04:16 PM
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#2
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3 Rivet Member
1952 25' Cruiser
Dummerston
, Vermont
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 169
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page 2 of 4
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03-23-2004, 04:18 PM
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#3
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3 Rivet Member
1952 25' Cruiser
Dummerston
, Vermont
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 169
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page 3 of 4
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03-23-2004, 04:19 PM
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#4
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3 Rivet Member
1952 25' Cruiser
Dummerston
, Vermont
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 169
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page 4 of 4
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03-23-2004, 04:41 PM
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#5
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Moderator
2004 30' Classic Slideout
Fenton
, Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 10,408
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From what I can read they did a "pedal to the metal test" towing the Airstream and got the combo up to 91 mph! They also did a panic stop from 60 mph. Can you imagine Trailer Life doing a test like this today?????
I continue to read this article. The trailer brakes were manually operated by a control lever. Oh my lord its the "Long Long Trailer". Trailer Brakes! Trailer Brakes!!!
Jack 
__________________
Jack Canavera
STL Mo.
AIR #56 S/OS#15
'04 Classic 30' S.O.,'03 GMC Savana 2500
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03-23-2004, 04:46 PM
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#6
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Vintage Alum. Enthusiast
1959 24' Tradewind
Phoenix
, Arizona
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: I currently do not own a 2nd Airstream
Posts: 4,360
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Archive Section?
We need to start an archive section, maybe there already is one. I don't recall seeing one though. All of this info should be available to those owners that are interested. I get a big kick out of all of this stuff. 
FF
__________________
4CU 2699 / AIR 10 / TAC AZ-1
I'm haunted by aluminum.
Charter Member of the 4 Corners Unit.
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03-23-2004, 04:54 PM
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#7
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3 Rivet Member
1952 25' Cruiser
Dummerston
, Vermont
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 169
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Archive Section?
flyfshr,
Great idea to archive all this stuff on the forum. I'll contribute copies of our documents! It'd be nice to be able to upload larger files, too. The ones I posted are so hard to read .
Doug
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03-23-2004, 07:53 PM
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#8
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3 Rivet Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 166
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thanks Doug, I'll get out my bi focals and read that article, Old cars and airstreams, my two favorite passions. Well two of em anyway, drinking beer is right up there too. I remember reading all the Mechanix Illustrated drive reports by Uncle Tom McCahill and his photographer, Brooks Bender. In 1964, the took a new Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Special sedan and picked up a 30 ft Airstream, had it hitched up, installed brake controller, got towing instructions and took off cross country. Would love to find that article again. Why, oh why, did my mom throw out my magazines and baseball cards? Mike
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03-23-2004, 08:04 PM
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#9
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3 Rivet Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 166
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Wow! that ole 55 Merc topped out at 91.6, towing, did 0-60 in 20.1 sec towing, and got an overall 10mpg during the testing! I bet a six cylinder Plymouth with auto was slower than that without towing a 2 ton trailer. Pretty impressive for the time.
'I'm gonna buy me a Mercury' Mike
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03-26-2004, 03:52 PM
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#10
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3 Rivet Member
1952 25' Cruiser
Dummerston
, Vermont
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 169
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61Overlander
Ken's the car buff in the family - and still has a small collection of old car mags. I'll look to see if there's a Mechanix Illus. It'd be great to see that AS article on the x-country trip.
Doug
'Wouldn't you really rather drive a Buick?'
(Our modern version of the old tow cars: '94 Buick Roadmaster)
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03-26-2004, 04:46 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master 
1959 22' Caravanner
Atlanta
, Georgia
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,197
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Quote:
Originally posted by jcanavera
From what I can read they did a "pedal to the metal test" towing the Airstream and got the combo up to 91 mph! They also did a panic stop from 60 mph. Can you imagine Trailer Life doing a test like this today?????
I continue to read this article. The trailer brakes were manually operated by a control lever. Oh my lord its the "Long Long Trailer". Trailer Brakes! Trailer Brakes!!!
Jack
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I'm sure they ment the lever on a Kelsey-Hayes Controler. I have original KH manual dated 1957. I also have some Reese DC paper work dated 1963.
I'll get one of our two scanners hooked up on one of our two computers LOL. It's sad. Our New computer doesn't like our old Scanner (software). We didn't move it with the old computer. I have a new scanner that will work with the new computer but it's still sitting in the box in a closet.
What sort of paperwork would you like for the archives?
I have:
KH
Reese DC
original instructions for the coach on the water system, electrical connections for the tow vehicle, heater, charging plug, Septic tank and I'm sure a couple other things.
__________________
1959 22' Caravanner
1988 R20 454 Suburban.
Atlanta, GA
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03-26-2004, 07:52 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1993 30' Excella
whitewater
, north of cheddar curtain
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,259
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61 overlander...
my dad loved tom mc cahill....must have been something about his literary style...i remember he always had a big guffaw when reading his column......tom was a classic which no one can mimic...
norby
__________________
Illegitimous noncarborundum(dont let the bastards wear you down)
The only true nobility is found through giving good food to your friends- Anton Careme
beauty is in the eye of the beerholder-cosmo fishhawk
if something is too good to be true, its usually gone before i get there-mister boffo
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03-28-2004, 07:55 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2001 34' Limited S/O
Moyock
, North Carolina
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,010
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It would really be fun to capture some of the old Airstream articles that have been printed over the years and put them in an archive post. Thanks Jack for sharing this one with us.
Rick
__________________
Keep the shiny side up.
WBCCI # 348
Past Region 3 President
Past President Tidewater Unit 111
Rick Bell in "Silverbell"
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