Mexico Caravan, Jones #1867, Northwestern Unit

[rideair]

Not sure how to really start with this post or where it will end-up. The thread will be made up of really “three” different subjects:

1. WBCCI #1867 Dr. Donald and Marcia Jones (In the late 1950’s, early 1960’s)
2. What I believe to be the formation of the “Northwestern Unit” documentation on September 26th, 1958
3. The 1959 and 1960 Caravans to Mexico. (Jan-March of each year)

Please understand, my first and foremost effort is for the family material in my possession to be returned to the family of Dr. Donald and Marcia Jones, the formation documentation of the Northwestern Unit should go to the WBCCI or that Unit, and the 1959/1960 Caravan to Mexico be divided accordingly between the two. A little background, twenty years ago after purchasing my first Airstream trailer and joining the WBCCI, I purchased many of the “Caravanner” newsletters off eBay and pretty much anything “vintage” Airstream at the time. During that timeframe, a leather binder “Air Stream Story” made by Marcia Jones, 1958 went up for sale and was purchased. After looking at all the pictures, reading all the stories, etc.… it was just put away with all the other stuff purchased and was forgotten. Now many years later, my wife and daughter decided it was time to clean, get the attic in order, etc... came across some of my old WBCCI, vintage Airstream stuff purchased many years ago. After once again reviewing the documents, pictures, etc.. It needs to be returned to the family (if possible) and the WBCCI.

I have picture after picture of the Caravans and Unit Rallies. Also advertising documents from places stayed during the caravans, newspaper articles (in Spanish), post caravan write-ups, etc.. and will be posting pictures and scans over the next couple of weeks.

I’ll be reaching out to Joe our Historian for help on this matter. If anyone on the Airforums knows the children, grandchildren or even great grand-children of the Jones, I’d love to speak with them.

Enjoy,

[Hittenstiehl]

Good luck on your endevours. I'm also a big fan of the historical material.

[66Overlander]

Paul, I just saw your PM on this subject. We need to talk by phone. I'll try to call you. There is too much for me to type in this thread.

[rideair]

Joe,

Great speaking with you tonight, always fun learning more about the history of the WBCCI and look forward to getting this material in the right hands.

Before sending everything off to Joe, I plan to share a portion of the material on this thread with pictures, write-ups. It really does show that a simple number #1867 can live long after the one time owners have passed.

The photo's are from the 1959 Mexico Caravan (based on date) showing Dr. Donald and Marcia Jones along with Marcia at the trailer with a young boy. The 12 page write-up is from the 1960's Mexico Caravan starting Jan. 23rd, 1960 with 250 Airstreams and about 475 people under the leadership of Art Costello and report written by Ann Hornung that also attended the 1956 Europe Caravan.

I'm sorry the pictures keep showing up sideways, have not figured out how to fix that.

Enjoy,

[Goin camping]

If you could check your Mexico Caravan photos for #3311 I would be grateful.

My trailer went on that one and I'd love to see a picture of it when new and on the road.

Thank you

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by Goin camping

If you could check your Mexico Caravan photos for #3311 I would be grateful.

My trailer went on that one and I'd love to see a picture of it when new and on the road.

Thank you

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but Caravans to Mexico happened every year, often more than one per year. Unfortunately according to WBCCI records, #3311 (which was then assigned to Bernice Sanborn of Abington, MA) was on the 1965 Mexico Caravan, not 1959 or 1960, so a trailer bearing #3311 won't be found in this set of photos.

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by rideair

Joe,

Great speaking with you tonight, always fun learning more about the history of the WBCCI and look forward to getting this material in the right hands.

Before sending everything off to Joe, I plan to share a portion of the material on this thread with pictures, write-ups. It really does show that a simple number #1867 can live long after the one time owners have passed.

The photo's are from the 1959 Mexico Caravan (based on date) showing Dr. Donald and Marcia Jones along with Marcia at the trailer with a young boy. The 12 page write-up is from the 1960's Mexico Caravan starting Jan. 23rd, 1960 with 250 Airstreams and about 475 people under the leadership of Art Costello and report written by Ann Hornung that also attended the 1956 Europe Caravan.

I'm sorry the pictures keep showing up sideways, have not figured out how to fix that.

Enjoy,

WBCCI #1867 was first assigned in 1958 to Dr. Donald D. and Marcia Jones of Seattle, WA. As of 1967 (didn't check further), the Jones' were credited with the following caravans:

• 19 - Mexico Winter 1959
• 23 - Mexico Winter 1960
• 43 - Alaska Summer 1965

Airstream California Plant President Art Costello is credited with participating on Caravan 23 - Mexico Winter 1960 (among others) according to club records, but I did not previously know that he was it's leader.

As of 1967 (didn't check further), #620 Harry and Ann Hornung of Hemet, CA, were credited with just two caravans:

• 8 - Europe Six Months 1956
• 23 - Mexico Winter 1960

[banderabob]

Commenting simply to say.....how neat!

[1936RoadWarrior]

I have been going to Mazatlan since the late 1960's and the family who own the Hotel Playa Mazatlan remember the Airstream caravans. There is a 1960 book, "Trailer Travel Here
and Abroad" that talks about the first Mexican caravans, later Europe and finally Africa.
IF you can't find the book, email me at viper333@att.net and I will loan you my copy.
Also, one of your photos shows a marlin at Bill Hemple's charter boat location in the old Mazatlan marina. Bill's outfit was called the "Star Fleet".
Gary E
Reno Nevada

[rideair]

A few more pictures what appears to be the home of the Jones, the itinerary for the Caravan, local newspaper and the group from the Washington State Unit holding their Unit flag at the "Las Palmas" Trailer Park located in Mazatlan Sinaloa, Mexico.

[Goin camping]

Originally Posted by 66Overlander

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but Caravans to Mexico happened every year, often more than one per year. Unfortunately according to WBCCI records, #3311 (which was then assigned to Bernice Sanborn of Abington, MA) was on the 1965 Mexico Caravan, not 1959 or 1960, so a trailer bearing #3311 won't be found in this set of photos.

Thank you for looking that up. I'm grateful.

[gregpayne]

I would be interested if there is any information on my grandparents Oscar end Etta Payne, trailer #165

Thanks
Greg Payne

[damonbeals]

Originally Posted by gregpayne

I would be interested if there is any information on my grandparents Oscar end Etta Payne, trailer #165

Thanks
Greg Payne

Hi Greg your parents are well documented! Joe the WBCCI historian has written a few article about this. Here is part of what they accomplished for the club. You should contact Joe for more details (history@airstreamclub.net). And welcome to Airforums:




Oscar and Etta Payne were transplanted Midwesterners who, by the time they purchased an Airstream, were owners of the Fountain of Youth Trailer Park in Thermopolis, Wyoming.
The Payne’s membership number was recently converted to a Heritage Number because they participated in the 1959-60 Cape Town to Cairo Caravan, but they contributed so much more to the club over their 30 years of caravan participation and 40 years of club membership.


The Paynes participated in eleven numbered caravans:
5 – Mexico West Coast Winter 1955
8 – Europe Six Months 1956
16 – Mexico Winter 1958
17 – Central America Winter 1958
20 – Africa Holy Land 1959-60
24 – Europe Summer 1960
30 – Western Canada Summer 1962
48 – Alaska Summer 1966
N6 – Post Int’l Rally Caravan 1977
N8 – Post Int’l Rally Caravan 1979
C1 – China Caravan #1 1985

Etta Payne authored two hardcover books about major Airstream caravans:
• Home Was Never Like This – A Trailer’s Eye View of Europe, about the 1956 Europe Caravan.
• Land Yachting to Central America – A Trailer’s Eye View of our Nearest Latin Neighbors, about the 1958 Central America Caravan.


Oscar and Etta were one of four Airstream couples to travel behind the Iron Curtain to Moscow in 1960 at the conclusion of the 1959-60 African and 1960 European caravans.


The Paynes then continued alone to India and the “Far East” into 1961 scouting a route for the 1963-64 Around the World Caravan. Their travels to Russia and “Round-the-World” were featured as regular reading in the Airstream Caravanner newspaper in the early 1960s.
Oscar and Etta’s last caravan was the first Caravan to China in 1985, during which they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary and Oscar’s 91st birthday!


The Paynes only owned two Airstreams over the years. The first was a 1955 16’ Bubble and the second was a 1957 16’ Bubble. Both were adorned with the image of the Wyoming “Bucking Bronco” on both sides. In 1977, the Paynes claimed their 1957 Bubble had travelled 200,000 miles on only two sets of tires! Imagine doing all of those
miles in one of the smallest Airstreams ever made.


Damon
#4827

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by gregpayne

I would be interested if there is any information on my grandparents Oscar end Etta Payne, trailer #165

Thanks
Greg Payne

Hi Greg,
You can always email or call me directly if you have any questions about your grandparents, #165 Oscar and Etta Payne's involvement in the Airstream club, but here are the caravans they were credited with participating on:

• 5 - Mexico West Coast Winter 1955
• 8 - Europe Six Months 1956
• 16 - Mexico Winter 1958
• 17 - Central America Winter 1958
• 20 - Africa Holy Land 1959-60
• 24 - Europe Summer 1960
• 30 - Western Canada Summer 1962
• 48 - Alaska Summer 1966
• N6 - Post International Rally Caravan 1977
• N8 - Post International Rally Caravan 1979
• C1 - China Caravan #1 1985

For the benefit of other readers, the Payne's did all of this travel in tiny 16' Airstream Bubbles, with one exception. They used a 1955 Bubble for caravans 5 & 8. They upgraded to a 1957 Bubble for caravans 16, 17, 20, 24, 30, 48, N6 and N8. For caravan C1 they were provided the use of one of 11 special 21' "China Clipper" Airstreams that were built exclusively for use and reuse on the series of nine China caravans that were run between 1985 and 1988.

Oscar and Etta used their 1957 Bubble to extend their 1959-60 Africa/Europe trip, first going with a group of 6 or 7 other Airstreams to the Nordkapp (North Cape) in Norway, the northernmost point in Europe in early July 1960. They then continued with three other Airstreams to Moscow, Russia in early August 1960. They then rejoined the 1960 European Caravan to attend the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome before taking off by themselves to pull their Bubble thru the Middle East to India scouting a route for what would eventually become the 1963-64 Around the World Caravan. They eventually shipped home across the Pacific Ocean. They had left for the start of the African Caravan in early-mid 1959 and did not return home until early 1961! Quite the trip!

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by damonbeals

Hi Greg your parents are well documented! Joe the WBCCI historian has written a few article about this. Here is part of what they accomplished for the club. You should contact Joe for more details (history@airstreamclub.net). And welcome to Airforums:




Oscar and Etta Payne were transplanted Midwesterners who, by the time they purchased an Airstream, were owners of the Fountain of Youth Trailer Park in Thermopolis, Wyoming.
The Payne’s membership number was recently converted to a Heritage Number because they participated in the 1959-60 Cape Town to Cairo Caravan, but they contributed so much more to the club over their 30 years of caravan participation and 40 years of club membership.


The Paynes participated in eleven numbered caravans:
5 – Mexico West Coast Winter 1955
8 – Europe Six Months 1956
16 – Mexico Winter 1958
17 – Central America Winter 1958
20 – Africa Holy Land 1959-60
24 – Europe Summer 1960
30 – Western Canada Summer 1962
48 – Alaska Summer 1966
N6 – Post Int’l Rally Caravan 1977
N8 – Post Int’l Rally Caravan 1979
C1 – China Caravan #1 1985

Etta Payne authored two hardcover books about major Airstream caravans:
• Home Was Never Like This – A Trailer’s Eye View of Europe, about the 1956 Europe Caravan.
• Land Yachting to Central America – A Trailer’s Eye View of our Nearest Latin Neighbors, about the 1958 Central America Caravan.


Oscar and Etta were one of four Airstream couples to travel behind the Iron Curtain to Moscow in 1960 at the conclusion of the 1959-60 African and 1960 European caravans.


The Paynes then continued alone to India and the “Far East” into 1961 scouting a route for the 1963-64 Around the World Caravan. Their travels to Russia and “Round-the-World” were featured as regular reading in the Airstream Caravanner newspaper in the early 1960s.
Oscar and Etta’s last caravan was the first Caravan to China in 1985, during which they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary and Oscar’s 91st birthday!


The Paynes only owned two Airstreams over the years. The first was a 1955 16’ Bubble and the second was a 1957 16’ Bubble. Both were adorned with the image of the Wyoming “Bucking Bronco” on both sides. In 1977, the Paynes claimed their 1957 Bubble had travelled 200,000 miles on only two sets of tires! Imagine doing all of those
miles in one of the smallest Airstreams ever made.


Damon
#4827

Damon, were you reading my mind while I was typing my answer? Greg and I have talked by email and phone several times, but it looks like he is a new "participant" here on AirForums.

[Goin camping]

I wonder if anyone knows why the the Paynes bought a new trailer in '57.

It wasn't for size.

Anyone know what the 57's came with the 55's didn't?

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by Goin camping

I wonder if anyone knows why the the Paynes bought a new trailer in '57.

It wasn't for size.

Anyone know what the 57's came with the 55's didn't?

I don't know that we will ever know the answer for sure, but I have some ideas about it, discounting that possibility that the 1955 might have been destroyed in an accident or stolen, for which there is no evidence.

Most Bubbles had a "dry bath" or "toilet room" (i.e. toilet, but no sink or shower), but a few early Bubbles had no bath. I do not know if the Payne's 1955 Bubble had a bath or not, but I do know that their 1957 Bubble had the typical front curbside toilet room and it also had a bath tub that was hidden under the front dinette bench in the front streetside corner. The tub was a rare 1957 only feature/option that needs closer study.

Thus I will specate that they upgraded to get the tub and maybe the toilet since they were planning to travel to remote places with little to no formal camping facilities.