It’s his fault this time!

[MsRivet]

I just returned from an adventurous solo trip with the ‘04 Airstream. Having met up with 40 other wonderful ladies (in their vintage or retro rigs) to paddle board, kayak, swim with manatees and to get into other mischievous campfire activities. MrRivet calls it my Man Haters Club. Prior to my departure MrRivet was able to remove the first layer of items from the interior of The Hot Mess. Then we both worked on moving it to the backyard.







One more thing we discovered was the fact that the previous owner was a smoker. We didn’t count but there had to of been at least a half a dozen ashtrays and one of the cardboard storage boxes found inside was from a case of cigarettes.



The interior has had somewhat of a transformation just with a little clearing out, removal of curtains and the bulk of what was inside removed. It has really opened up and the layout can be understood. I am hoping to get inside later this week to do a dry sweep of the entire interior then do a light pressure washing being careful of the wood left. MrRivet will need the wood preserved as much as possible to use as patterns.





The move of The Hot Mess to the backyard was a tightly orchestrated event. Since we live on a bike trail we had to make a temporary gate, then tow him down the bike trail at the perfect moment when the coast was clear (dang those cyclists are fast) and then back him in on very soft unpacked Florida sugar sand. We made it happen and he now sits safely in the backyard next to his older sister who is awaiting her shell transfer.

[GettinAway]

I already have too many hobbies, and I realize this is a lot of work, but it’s really interesting. What a cool discovery. Can you share a little on how and where Mr Rivet found him? The previous owner was from MI, and came to FL to hunt? I would have thought just the opposite. Amazing find, and a great story. Thanks for sharing.
Jeff

[Hans627]

Tagging along for the updates.

Sounds like a lot of work but should ultimately bring a lot of joy!

Best wishes!

[dbj216]

Well, you have quite a line up of vintage Airstreams. The hot mess is looking a bit better already. Both of your project trailers are beyond anything I've done so far. I'll just follow along and learn as you go.

David

[MsRivet]

Originally Posted by GettinAway

I already have too many hobbies, and I realize this is a lot of work, but it’s really interesting. What a cool discovery. Can you share a little on how and where Mr Rivet found him? The previous owner was from MI, and came to FL to hunt? I would have thought just the opposite. Amazing find, and a great story. Thanks for sharing.
Jeff

First of all we weren’t ‘looking’ but always have our eyes and ears open. It’s a very complicated story that most won’t believe. This all started when a friend of ours in New York called MrRivet to tell him about a trailer that his friend who lives in Oregon knew about. Our friend called us because he figured it was close to us. Sixty-two miles to be exact.

The guy in Oregon had purchased The Hot Mess from a lady in Michigan sight unseen. The Airstream had belonged to her father. We never saw any of these people but had to meet up with the cousin of the lady in Michigan who lived somewhere in Florida who actually had the title. Every step of the purchase screamed STOP but we somehow pushed through and everything worked out.

Everyone that MrRivet spoke to referred to the property as a hunt camp. It was way out in the forest and surrounded by many hunt camps. However we have yet to come across anything of his in the Airstream that said ‘I’m a hunter!’ Being a Floridian I would have considered him a Snow Bird. He would have come only during the winter months. This caravan had no AC and would have been too hot for our summer months. He loved cooking, smoking and keeping his property cleared.

This is all speculation from our finds inside. Since no one had keys we still have a few compartments to sift through. Also MrRivet found what appears to be an envelope containing the original paperwork from the dealer on its original sale. We have set it aside to dry out and hope to open the packet and go through it together soon.

[GettinAway]

Thank you for the background. It does seem like the time capsule analogy mentioned earlier is appropriate.

[dbj216]

Interesting story on how The Hot Mess came to your back yard. You are right, it is totally MrRivet's fault. There are easier ways to purchase a project trailer.

You do have a very interesting piece of family history from the original owner. My old Trade Wind came from a widower. He worked for an electric utility and didn't trust propane. Those gas appliances were missing from the trailer. His wife died suddenly, and he just wanted rid of the Trade Wind as his found memories of them traveling together were too painful for him. She had made curtains for it, had pretty things hanging on the walls, etc. Tow it away he said. I found her bible in one of those storage cabinets. I drove back and gave it to him. A very sad moment for the both of us.

Airstreams are family.

David

[goransons]

This is the same layout as our 8671 around the world caravan trailer, we love the front twins.

[silver.villa]

Congrats on your new arrival! She was gorgeous even before her first bath. We have a rescue dog and you have a rescue trailer. Fantastic!

[tevake]

Cool story on how the trailer came to y'all.
Nice find, that is the trailer finding you as its next caretakers.

I must say the you clearly have a way with words. From the intreging title of this thread, to the name " Hot mess"
All good fun here, with Mr and Mrs. Rivet.

I will enjoy watching and reading your progress.

Cheers Richard

[MsRivet]

A Word To The Wise Is Sufficient



MrRivet and I finally had time over this past week to go through the envelope he found in The Hot Mess. Here are some more assumptions from what was revealed among the rotting acorns that some poor squirrel is still probably looking for.



The envelope appears to be from a dealer in Michigan on its first purchase. Well before the transformation to The Hot Mess. I’m sure the ‘63 Safari was a looker! All shiny and still sporting that new smell.



Within the envelope was an Airstream brochure showing all the Airstream models from 1963, receipts, information pamphlets, cleaning instructions, the code of ethics, accessory manuals, a document titled ‘A Word To The Wise Is Sufficient’, instructions on how to use the septic tank, price lists and even scribbled notes on the cost of the extra options available. Those options noted are coincidently included on The Hot Mess. Owner Number One really took his time with this big purchase. Mulling it over and comparing notes. Guessing he ordered this coach with the options he felt suited him.



We have confirmed that Mr. Hunter was not the first owner but second. We now know the name of Owner Number One and even know a few things about him. Owner Number One was the WBCCI member and the trailer had even sported caravan stickers. Shadowing of the Caravan stickers are still on both the front and rear exterior above where the red numbers once sat. Owner Number One also kept maintenance records. He even took this coach back to the factory in Ohio from Michigan for repairs. Where Mr. Hunter did not. The best we could tell Owner Number One’s last maintenance receipt was dated November 19th of 1969. We could also assume that the first owner has long since passed.



Mr. Hunter, owner number two, we know placed The Hot Mess on the hunt camp in Florida in 1976. The coach never moved after that. Any repairs needed Mr. Hunter did himself. Those repairs we can say were not done properly to our standards. However they functioned for him. It was the best he could do with what he could purchase locally. We believe Mr. Hunter passed in 2010. Long after his last visit to his hunt camp. Like we said we think he last left it in 1984 with anticipation of returning the next winter.



All the items found in the envelope we will keep. Interestingly we thought we had allowed them to dry out enough but they still need some more dry time. It was an interesting little piece of the time capsule and we could continue to find more. I still have not done the final interior cleaning. Hope to get that accomplished this week, while MrRivet continues work on the ’48 Liner, and before we take off for the Tin Can Tourists Centennial Celebration. It will be like no other!

[dbj216]

Interesting stuff MsRivet. These documents will add value to your Hot Mess, so I hope they dry out without crumbling. Learning the history of a vintage Airstream is a lot of the fun.

I had the original owner's manual for my 66 Trade Wind. The Owner One made copious notes concerning the trailer. We chucked at the note he wrote about the wee little black tank in the trailer. Something like it holds about 22 average flushes, so he and the misses each get 11 flushes a trip. Maybe they trades flush tickets like we do carbon credits nowadays.

David

[GettinAway]

Interesting update. Thanks. Good luck with the interior cleanup. Look forward to pics.

[MsRivet]

How has it come, that I am working on MrRivet’s Hot Mess? I spent eight hours yesterday dry cleaning The Hot Mess. And as I see it will probably spend three more days on it. Two more dry cleaning the interior and one day pressure washing the interior. And now it’s raining today!



So I think I have now removed everything from the interior storage. No surprises. Mr. Hunter had place settings for a lovely dinner party of eight. Enough coffee and drink cups to keep a small cafe in business. New unused pots and pans from the time. I thought it was interesting him being a loner. Guessing the Mrs. sent him off well prepared.



Mr. Hunter also had a well stocked junk drawer. He liked his towel racks in the shower and had perfectly preserved the shower curtain so a pattern can be made.



Mr. Hunter didn’t winterize The Hot Mess. One year winter came either early before he arrived or hit late after he departed for the season or I guess it could have even happened during a stay. It gets down to freezing temperatures up there in the forest. So as one would guess pipes split and damage was done. Mr. Hunter then cut pipes bypassing systems and in the end was only using a direct connection from his well that was on property. And as far as we can tell maybe only had working water in the rear bathroom.



The weather was warm here in Florida yesterday. I had all the windows opened in The Hot Mess while cleaning. There was a really nice breeze flowing through the entire Airstream. Did I hear birds chirping? With my mask and gloves on I could barely smell anything. I then realized all the room it has in it and what a nice layout it has. Our Texas friends say it can comfortably seat fifteen people. Could it be that even through all the hard work I’m doing for MrRivet on The Hot Mess that I could actually be coming to ... nope! Not going there ... yet.

[Hittenstiehl]

Ms Rivet, you already gone there your in love too (two). Your nice write ups, careful work, and willingness with curiosity shows.

Enjoying the updates.

[GettinAway]

Agreed. Thanks for the update.

[dbj216]

I'll bet you would even whitewash the fence for Tom Sawyer. Mr. Rivet is likely working like a madman on the Liner and that's why he is avoiding his Hot Mess.

Well, you are doing a good assessment of all the needs of this old hunter's shack. Plumbing is one. Vintage coffee cups are not. The jalousie window looks like it worked. That's good.

David

[MsRivet]

MrRivet and I have returned from the TCT Centennial Celebration with wind in our sails. Ready to push past current work stages in both our Airstream projects.



The more WE (guess we are in it together now) have thought about The Hot Mess we have decided to wait to pressure wash the interior. The interior is mostly dry now, most of the bad crud gone and we would need to do it again anyway after the interior is removed. So to keep from doing it twice and to preserve what’s left it will wait. At least now one can breathe inside it.





Here are a few interior photos as Hot Mess sits now. He will sit idle for the most part since the 1948 Liner has priority. When time permits we will tinker with what we can on it, like sealing a few leaks and buying a few parts needed when the good deals come along.





Still can’t believe the shower curtain is in one piece and not crumbling. It is very pliable, all hardware intact and I’m told it’s as rare as hens teeth. I’ll need to make a pattern soon!



We will both be flying out to the west coast next weekend for a super fun event. This event should really, really get us jazzed about both projects!!!

[ROBERT CROSS]

That makes us so 'homesick'....Stream Happy.

Bob
🇺🇸

[MsRivet]

Dbj216
Probably why the neighbors are constantly knocking on the door. We are the ones who encourage our neighbors to ask for help. We are always here for them. MrRivet is out there grinding on the frame of the ‘48 Liner as we speak. I think he will update that thread soon. I’ll head out back soon to finish the cleaning of the ‘04 from last weeks trip.

ROBERT CROSS
Since we have a big trip planned for later in the year hopefully we will get to meet you somewhere ‘sailing towards the sun on our way to the Milky Way’

GetinAway & Hittenstiehl
I think you’re right ... I’m in LOVE!