FOUND!! Wally Byam's '55 Cruiser - 1956 European Caravan trailer

[goransons]

Wow Frank, I appreciate that, especially from you. I’ve seen your work and have always been in awe, and even more so you getting back on social media!

DDickey, the Magazine rack has one of the two magazines back in it that I have photos of, I still need to figure out which Reader’s Digest.





Today I did tons of yard work, all that yard work I haven’t done this spring. We have an acre of grass and flower beds but it’s looking better!



I built 4 more door slabs for the hollow core kitchen and table base doors. Those will set up over night and I can router out the edge detail and do round two of stain.

[DDickey]

[QUOTE=goransons;2106974]Wow Frank, I appreciate that, especially from you. I’ve seen your work and have always been in awe, and even more so you getting back on social media!

DDickey, the Magazine rack has one of the two magazines back in it that I have photos of, I still need to figure out which Reader’s Digest.

I manipulated the pic every way I knew how to in Photoshop, but I can't make the Reader's Digest out

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by goransons

. . . the Magazine rack has one of the two magazines back in it that I have photos of, I still need to figure out which Reader’s Digest. . .

I believe the Reader's Digest issue is February 1956.

And a little known fact. One of the 1956 European Caravan participants, J.P McEvoy, was a regular contributor to Reader's Digest in the 1940's and 1950's. J.P. and his wife Peggy met up with the caravan in Europe, purchased a VW Camper Van and then continued with the caravan. They are listed in the official 1956 European Caravan roster, but without a WBCCI number. J.P. and his wife then bought an Airstream when they got back to the USA after the caravan and were then officially assigned WBCCI number 647. The highest WBCCI listed in the official 1956 European Caravan roster was 620.

One other related fact. The McEvoy's VW Camper Van was one of two on the 1956 European Caravan. The other was used by the advance scout and interpreter Ben Kemperman. Ben is also listed in the official 1956 roster without a WBCCI number. He worked on several caravans between 1956 and 1960. He was later assigned #40 and was reportedly the leader for the 1960 European Caravan.

[DDickey]

Originally Posted by 66Overlander

I believe the Reader's Digest issue is February 1956.

And a little known fact. One of the 1956 European Caravan participants, J.P McEvoy, was a regular contributor to Reader's Digest in the 1940's and 1950's. J.P. and his wife Peggy met up with the caravan in Europe, purchased a VW Camper Van and then continued with the caravan. They are listed in the official 1956 European Caravan roster, but without a WBCCI number. J.P. and his wife then bought an Airstream when they got back to the USA after the caravan and were then officially assigned WBCCI number 647. The highest WBCCI listed in the official 1956 European Caravan roster was 620.

One other related fact. The McEvoy's VW Camper Van was one of two on the 1956 European Caravan. The other was used by the advance scout and interpreter Ben Kemperman. Ben is also listed in the official 1956 roster without a WBCCI number. He worked on several caravans between 1956 and 1960. He was later assigned #40 and was reportedly the leader for the 1960 European Caravan.

If that's true, here's the complete year of 1956 Reader's Digest on eBay for $25. I'm invested in making this magazine rack right

[goransons]

I think I’ll check our local vintage book shop before I buy the whole year collection!

Today was a hot one but I did get all 6 doors run through the router , sanded and stained.



I do need to make the two small doors for the kitchen roof lockers but those are going to be a solid door since they are only 8x12.

The drawers are all in place. I need to rip down some poplar for the drawer glides and get those in but just set in place it feels good. I need to drill for the knobs on the sliders under the front window.



The refrigerator won’t be repainted before Salem but looks presentable for now.

My goal was to have the cabinets done by June 1, I’ll be close, but likely will be a few more days. I need to do closet rods, shelves in the kitchen, and all the trim (which I have to make on the router table)

I cleaned two window screens for the jealousies and installed screen to help cool it down for working. Some wonderful example of a human being used construction adhesive to glue in the screen instead of spline.

I have 3 screens to build, all that came from VTS. I will work on those as time permits. I also have one more window to clean up, two that I need to make lifter arms for.

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by DDickey

If that's true, here's the complete year of 1956 Reader's Digest on eBay for $25. I'm invested in making this magazine rack right

The photo I provided was from an eBay auction for the February 1956 issue at $6.03 (+ Shipping) "Buy It Now" or "Make Offer":
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Readers-Dig...item489346bb6f

[goransons]

Painting is underway.

Kevin took the photos and enlarged to life scale the script then traced it to the trailer and is painting it in. So cool to see it in color.




More updates soon

[Hittenstiehl]

Super cool!!!!!!

[SteveSueMac]

Oh that's just too cool!!!!

[Slats]

If envy is still one of the seven deadly sins, count me dead.

[goransons]

[SteveSueMac]

Dr. - what will it take to reattach my jaw? [emoji50]

You gotta camp and caravan in that lovingly restored hunk of history!

Having no skills myself, I just deeply appreciate what you've done. Vision, execution, passion. What an honor to follow this thread!

[66Overlander]

Scott, When I go back and look at the beginning of this thread and the "as found" photos, I am amazed at your work to return this trailer back to it's former glory. The transformation is astounding! It is very hard to believe it is the same trailer. And all this done in only about 16 months!

[DDickey]

You might just own the single coolest vintage Airstream there is

[crispyboy]

Originally Posted by DDickey

You might just own the single coolest vintage Airstream there is

I have to fully agree with this statement - there is so much history associated with this trailer!
You are doing an outstanding job! I have been involved in many different jobs on my more modern trailers and I can really appreciated your time, effort, attention to the detals and expense in this project.

[goransons]

Originally Posted by 66Overlander

Scott, When I go back and look at the beginning of this thread and the "as found" photos, I am amazed at your work to return this trailer back to it's former glory. The transformation is astounding! It is very hard to believe it is the same trailer. And all this done in only about 16 months!

Thanks Joe, very sleepless year and half with lots yet to finish. After this is done I’m going in Airstream restoration Hibernation. The pocket book is lint only and the amount of work around the house looks as neglected as our 63 ATW trailer feels.

Others, thank you as well. I’m excited (an nervous) to get this out on the road.

[Foiled Again]

Seriously, I would pay up to $25 to tour your trailer, doing it sans shoes with white socks and also wearing white gloves so that I would leave no fingerprints if I just couldn't resist gently touching something. In addition to roping off the exterior you might consider having disposable paper cups as drool catchers...

I know it might seem crass to charge admission, but what we acquire too easily we esteem too lightly. At the very least you could have a donation jar... and do consider selling a booklet of photos and descriptions of your work, and how to source all the bits and pieces. You will get the itch to do more or find yet another lost treasure; we who have been voyueurs on this build should gladly help replenish the piggy bank. What IS your Go Fund Me address?

Oh, my neighbors have a "Retro" camper they just bought. I won't show them this thread and ruin their "new trailer high".

The off gassing of particle board, adhesives and plastic is only surpassed by the bad fit and finish....

Love your work.

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by Foiled Again

Seriously, I would pay up to $25 to tour your trailer, doing it sans shoes with white socks and also wearing white gloves so that I would leave no fingerprints if I just couldn't resist gently touching something. In addition to roping off the exterior you might consider having disposable paper cups as drool catchers...

I know it might seem crass to charge admission, but what we acquire too easily we esteem too lightly. At the very least you could have a donation jar... and do consider selling a booklet of photos and descriptions of your work, and how to source all the bits and pieces. You will get the itch to do more or find yet another lost treasure; we who have been voyueurs on this build should gladly help replenish the piggy bank. What IS your Go Fund Me address?

Oh, my neighbors have a "Retro" camper they just bought. I won't show them this thread and ruin their "new trailer high".

The off gassing of particle board, adhesives and plastic is only surpassed by the bad fit and finish....

Love your work.

You win the interwebs tonight - not only for the humor but the deep insight as usual. [emoji3]

I too would pay $25 to tour this! I can only hope fate puts this gorgeous trailer at the same site I'm camping at some time in the future. I'm thinking of sending him my camping schedule and paying for his camping fees to be where I'm at [emoji3]

[goransons]

Thanks guys. We will have it on display in Salem, likely without water and gas systems done. We plan to camp in it for the vintage rally in August on the Oregon coast, that gives me a 6 weeks to finish up and test systems and shake downs on it.

We sold our 51 SS Clipper, our 65 Overlander, 49 SS Clipper, and 65 Streamline Duke to take on this one. It is certainly more than I ever imagined doing.

We appreciate the ideas and the compliments but it just wouldn’t feel right to charge admission.

[goransons]

I should add that us posting helped us feel less crazy. It’s always a better feeling that we’re not alone in the looney bin. I mean that in the nicest way. [emoji3]