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'58 CA World Traveler: What We Know

Posted 03-05-2010 at 04:44 AM by aircooled4
Updated 03-05-2010 at 04:54 AM by aircooled4 (fix pics)

Here is what we know so far. The WBCCI ghost numbers, 918, trace back to the 60's. The couple who owned this (and most likely bought it new) lived in LA. After contacting Dale "Pee Wee" Schwamborn, we learned that these were friends of his mothers, and therefore, probably at least acquaintances of Wally's. So far it does not appear that the trailer was ever involved in a world caravan, though that's exactly what it was built to do!

Amazingly enough, while looking at the Sierra Nevada Airstream site, what's parked right in front of the parade route but #918!! Seriously, what are the chances?! So we saved every picture from their site that we could, and even contacted the people who posted those pics (grandkids of the photographer) to obtain some high resolution images.

Flash forward to 10 years ago. A young man (yet unknown) inherited the trailer that was sitting on a permanent site at a campground in east central WI. His grandmother had willed it to him; however, he had no interest in the trailer and was behind in the fees. So the current (until later today) owner offered to buy the trailer for the price of what was due on the grounds, which was accepted. So he took it home and set it up in the backyard as a playhouse for his grandkids.

When we approached the current owner last weekend about purchasing the trailer, his main concern was that it would go to someone interested in restoring it; he had previously been offered money to scrap it (AAHHHH!!!). When we indicated that we FULLY intended to restore the trailer to original, he and his son were both happy to hand it over.

So now we wait; another 24 hours or so. The intensity is building!

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	A thrilling history! Best of luck.... Werner
	Posted 03-05-2010 at 07:47 AM by cruiser54

	Most excellent!! Glad you've pieced together a little bit of its history. Can't wait to see more pictures and hear more developments. Brad FF
	Posted 03-05-2010 at 12:38 PM by flyfshr

	My grandparents joined WBCC (later to become WBCCI) in late 1959 or early 1960. They were assigned number 3497. So I suspect that number 918 dates earlier than that by a couple of years at least. Perhaps someone with early membership books can check it out. The trailer looks to be very nice from the outside. I would bet $ that the Airstream nametag above the rear window is not original.
	Posted 03-05-2010 at 04:41 PM by Scott S

Scott,
Fred and I are on top of it:
https://www.airforums.com/forums/f161...tml#post816234
https://www.airforums.com/forums/f161...tml#post816465

The trailer was built in late 1957 and number 918 was originally assigned in 1957, so chances are the numbers are original to the trailer.

Regarding the Airstream nameplates, I believe you are correct. In the 1960 photo the nameplate is below the front window and there is a rectangular red "Wally Byam Caravan" plaque above the window. While we don't have a 1960 rear photo, there is a nameplate both above and below the window today. I fully expect that in 1960 it did not have a name plate above the window and may have had a red plaque there as well. Not sure why the nameplates above the windows were added.

Posted 03-05-2010 at 09:42 PM by 66Overlander 66Overlander is offline

Updated 03-05-2010 at 09:49 PM by 66Overlander