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66Overlander · 02-04-2017, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlinCal

Looks like a great project!

Why does it have no 1 when its a 1955 and first caravan was in 1951 with an earlier trailer?
Excuse my ignorance.

The short answer is that numbers are assigned to WBCCI Club members, not to trailers, so the same number can be applied to different trailers when a club member changes trailers.

The slightly longer answer is that Wally Byam started assigning numbers during his first caravan in 1951, and assigned #1 to himself. He actually reassigned numbers stating at #1 for each of his first 5 caravans before the club was formed, so when the club was formed in 1955, everyone that joined got to keep the number they had been assigned on one of the first 5 caravans. In the early years, this lead to some cases of duplicate number assignments in club membership directories, but over the years attrition eliminated the duplicates. By the late 1950's numbers that became unused when a member did not renew their club membership, were available to be reassigned to a different member.

That said, Wally and Stella Byam were always #1. No one else on a Wally Byam Caravan or within the Wally Byam Caravan Club ever used that number. That number has been protected from reuse in honor of Wally and Stella.

Wally and Stella used #1 on several different Airstream trailers over all of their caravans from 1951 thru their last, the 1959-60 African caravan. I have never attempted to count how many different Airstreams they used #1 on, but I'll guess it was probably between a half dozen and a dozen Airstreams. I know of three such Airstreams still existing, with the trailer for which this thread was created being the most recently discovered one.

AlinCal · 02-04-2017, 02:41 PM

Thanks for the thorough explanation!

Starstream · 02-05-2017, 08:26 AM

What a find

goransons · 02-05-2017, 09:45 AM

We've created a blog where I'm keeping a list of parts we're looking for complete restoration. We are hoping the airstream and airforums communities can help us track down the many missing pieces of the puzzle. The blog is listed in our signature line but also be found here: http://wallybyam1956.blogspot.com

Thank you for all the comments, suggestions, etc!

goransons · 02-05-2017, 10:20 AM

I did find the Zenith Radio online, should have it later this week, also found a vintage trailer plate for our state that has the same first 3 numbers (all trailer plates here are 3 numbers then a designation for trailer then county. Just wish the snow would stop!

goransons · 02-05-2017, 06:55 PM

Joe and I (and others) have been doing a ton of research as we go forward.

Today I spent some time figuring out what the kitchen layout was. I think I've got it figured out, but I need help tracking down the appliances.

I'm pretty certain based on what is there, I need:

Kreft Gas/Electric refrigerator

I stole the picture from user Prairieschooner, his thread here (post 95)
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f106...-122678-7.html

I'm also looking for the small princess stove and a single basin porcelain sink.

If someone has these, even if on another coast please let me know (that's what Old Dominion is for). I promise they will be lovingly restored and given a good home in this trailer.

Ken J · 02-05-2017, 07:30 PM

I think I have that stove - it was rebuilt when I got it but don't need it - so would be glad to sell

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Ken J · 02-05-2017, 07:35 PM

I may have a source for that fridge - if they still have it

reinergirl · 02-05-2017, 07:37 PM

So AWESOME! Glad it ended up with you Scott! As to the sink, looks like it's there, you could just have it reporclained? See here http://retrorenovation.com/2015/04/2...h-steel-sinks/

Then it would be the original!

goransons · 02-05-2017, 08:06 PM

Ken J - please let me know on both!

reinergirl Thanks! We are happy it's here too, but man do we have a lot to do! - only sink you see is actually in the bathroom, haven't even gone there yet, trying to figure out the completely missing kitchen.

Ken J · 02-06-2017, 08:02 AM

I have the stove for sure - I paid 250 for it - I did put a little dent on the side of it - cannot see from front very fixable and cannot see when installed - anyway I think $200 is fair - have a friend headed your way in late May - maybe I can get him to bring it

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Mike1997 · 02-06-2017, 08:29 AM

This trailer is history.......not only will you have interest from Airstream itself, but the new RV Museum in Texas will be watching too. The famous gold Airstream trailer was purchased from its second owner after Wally and restored. Its on display in Jackson Center.

FYI...the smaller bubble trailer {single axle) Wally took to Mexico and Central America in the early 50's was found and sold at a Christy's Auction for $90k...unrestored!! I recently found the last home he and Stella shared in Los Angeles, exterior looks mostly original but house itself was added onto. Neighbors said he always kept 2 or more Airstreams in driveway for house guests. I am sure, yours was one of those units.

goransons · 02-06-2017, 09:05 AM

Ken J, sounds great to me, can you check with your contact on the refrigerator also?

Mike1997 - thanks for the info, wish someone had more interior pictures on this trailer but we're going to do the best we can to match what we can see. It's encouraging theirs sold for that much but we plan to keep this thing for an awefully long time! Do you have pictures of their house?

66Overlander · 02-06-2017, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike1997

FYI...the smaller bubble trailer {single axle) Wally took to Mexico and Central America in the early 50's was found and sold at a Christy's Auction for $90k...unrestored!!

Maybe not the same trailer, but the Bubble Wally and Stella took to Europe in 1955 to scout for the 1956 European caravan sold in an Goodings and Co. auction in Scottsdale, AZ for "only" $55,000 in January 2009.

Mike1997 · 02-07-2017, 07:03 AM

Joe,
My info came second hand so maybe it was the same unit or could be mistaken. However, found a photo of Wally standing next to a bubble trailer that was identified as being in Mexico where the first caravans traveled in early 1950's.

Please correct me if wrong, but I thought this AS recently found was the unit Wally used on the 56 Europe caravan that lasted 6 months. All caravans from 1951 to 55 only went to Canada or Mexico.

Did he or Stella keep any type of trip logs on these caravans showing where they were? If so, those would answer many questions.

66Overlander · 02-07-2017, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike1997

Joe,
My info came second hand so maybe it was the same unit or could be mistaken. However, found a photo of Wally standing next to a bubble trailer that was identified as being in Mexico where the first caravans traveled in early 1950's.

Please correct me if wrong, but I thought this AS recently found was the unit Wally used on the 56 Europe caravan that lasted 6 months. All caravans from 1951 to 55 only went to Canada or Mexico.

Did he or Stella keep any type of trip logs on these caravans showing where they were? If so, those would answer many questions.

Wally's first caravan went to Central America in 1951-52 and he used a little 15' Airstream Cruisette on that one. I am unaware if that Airstream has been rediscovered. Wally then lead annual caravans to Mexico for many years. Annual caravans to Canada started in 1954.

I am aware of a story that on one of the early Mexico caravans, Wally had to cannibalize his Airstream for parts to repair others trailers and he apparently abandoned his trailer in Mexico, but I forget which trip that was, maybe the first to Central America that went thru Mexivo, or maybe a later one.

The 1956 Europe Caravan was about 6 months long including shipping time, 5 months driving around in Europe. This is the trip the recently discovered Airstream was used on.

I do not know if Wally and Stella kept logs on all of their caravans, but I am aware that Wally sent audio recordings home during the 1959-60 African caravan. I think part of his 1960 book "Trailer Travel Here And Abroad" was dictated that way during that trip.

P.S. I can find no evidence online to support your comments about a Wally Byam Airstream selling in a Christie's auction for $90,000 or any other price, but you can find evidence of Goodings auction one I mention if you search for Bubble serial number X251. That Bubble was not even in original condition when it sold. There is a thread here on Airforums that discussed that Bubble at the time. Too hard to look up the links here on my phone as I type this response.

Ken J · 02-07-2017, 09:00 AM

Be sure to check the frame carefully - mine was bent - we think it was either dropped from the ship or was airborne about three feet :-) - when we took the shell off and put it back on it seemed to like the bent frame so we are keeping the frame - we added some stiffening over the wheels and tongue so should be good - also we have some scratch marks on the front of the trailer that we think we're from ship cables - all interesting stuff

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ondaroadagin · 02-07-2017, 10:05 AM

Subscribing to this fascinating thread!

goransons · 02-07-2017, 10:27 AM

Ken, first task once our streamline sells is to have new springs and shackles done and to repair a split in the frame where the axle bottomed out. It's minor but still going to have it commercially welded. I'm trying to track down some 15" stock rims with the hub cap clips because I have 4 good original baby moons but need rims if anyone has some for sale please let me know. The entire frame appears to be boxed and was done so at original build based on remaining paint etc. guessing that was done for the abuse of being lifted etc. rest assure before we put down a new floor it will be leveled and checked.

If course I can't do floor until I find the right jalousie hardware. So I can keep the water out

Ken J · 02-07-2017, 06:25 PM

VERY interesting - sounds like the same thing happened to yours as well - wonder what they hit or if both trailers were dropped - my frame is box as well - only thought is if you straighten out the frame and getting the shell back on - as I said my shell was happy with the frame so we left it and just welded plates over the axles and A frame - cannot tell anything was welded to the A frame

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