I do not recall ever reading of Airstream having much of their own Engineering Dept.
Once Thor took over maybe Thor has a in-house Eng.Dept.??anyone know? But I am more interested in pre-Thor.
They may have well used a consulting firm.
Perhaps on components they used the suppliers engineers.?
I wonder if they made or paid for specs on parts and then shopped bidders, or otherwise.?
Take their aluminum wheels for instance, we can safely surmise they bought them from outside source. Did they just shop for one on a vendors inventory list, or did they design and have one specially built? If the latter were they (AS) fickle and switched suppliers for the best bid? (Same wheel specs different maker).
As a vintage owner/refurber the knowledge of AS procurement habits might be an important clue in searching out "trivial" parts.
Such as door glides, cabinet latches, gadgets & gizmos that even Andy doesn't have.
Much of the furniture and case goods in the 70 era seem to have been shop-built (in AS factory) but the design work of these items, who knows, and the suppliers for the plastic moulded parts I am guessing was outsourced.
As for the more structural engineering I have never seen much discussed either, oh lots of conjecture, but I wonder if a windtunnel was ever used, just curious how much engineering was actually used...or needed.? Regardless it seems that things worked out pretty well. Except for the rustability of the frame. And that may or may not have ever even been considered. After all marketing probably came first engineering at best second.
Linear Mode
