Research by WBCCI Number?

[TINMAN69]

hello I am a brand new airstream owner. I just started to do a full off the frame restoration of my 69 airstream didn't know if anyone could give me some information. I am trying to find the history on my airstream. I bought it from a guy in Mississippi, looks like he was part of Wally caravan club his number is 1475

Also If join that club is it possible to keep the same number? would like to continue the history of it. thank you for any information you may be able to give.
I am sure I will be asking a lot of questions in the future about where to get parts and how to move bathroom etc.

Happy travels TINMAN69

[jaguartown]

is there a way to find out about the wbcci number 502? maybe where it was registered or when? is the low number something good? im new to all this and exited to start restoring and camping. also been trying to find any other info on the only numbers i can find on the rig, being the los angeles badge stamped 7719? thank you, tony

[clio4884]

What about 3 digit numbers?

We purchased a 1963 Sovereign that we plan to <slowly> restore to its original beauty, to the best of our ability.

We are curious about what these numbers mean. We are curious about everything about 1963 Sovereigns actually.

This is so exciting 😊

Where can I learn more about 1963 Sovereign and about the 3 red numbers?

Thx so much

[damonbeals]

Originally Posted by clio4884

What about 3 digit numbers?

We purchased a 1963 Sovereign that we plan to <slowly> restore to its original beauty, to the best of our ability.

We are curious about what these numbers mean. We are curious about everything about 1963 Sovereigns actually.

This is so exciting 😊

Where can I learn more about 1963 Sovereign and about the 3 red numbers?

Thx so much

Someone should write a FAQ??? The WBCCI Big Red Numbers belong to a member of the WBCCI, not to the trailer. So any information the club would have would only be for the member. The club never collected Serial Number for trailers in the 60's.



Currently this is how numbers are assigned:



1-100 Belong to Airstream Inc.
101-199 WBCCI Presidents
200-299 WBCCI Region Presidents
300-699 WBCCI Recording Secretary and Int Treasurer
700-799 WBCCI Standing Committee Chairperson after 3 years of service
800-899 WBCCI National Caravan Leaders with min of 5 caravans led
900-1000 Currently unassigned.


1001-32000+ Members of the WBCCI


Damon
#4827

[ChelanTrail]

Looking for status and information on wbcci # 9775 and club registration. If wbcci # 9775 is available we would
Like to join club and get our 24 tradewind #9775 back on the road.
Our records show that the trailer was registered to
Ed and Betty Smith in Washington.
Thank you
Chelan trails

[nvestysly]

Originally Posted by ChelanTrail

Looking for status and information on wbcci # 9775 and club registration. If wbcci # 9775 is available we would
Like to join club and get our 24 tradewind #9775 back on the road.
Our records show that the trailer was registered to
Ed and Betty Smith in Washington.
Thank you
Chelan trails

66Overlander is the official club historian and will research your number when they have time.

Until then, I recently received the 2020 membership directory and noticed 9975 is in use by a club member. However, 19975 is not in use and may be available. Similarly, 29975 is not in use and may be available. Just a thought. Regardless of your choice of number, we recommend joining the club as it will allow you to participate in a number of unique club events.

[Uppla]

Hello Everyone



I have a 62 tradewind with 16513 on it would be cool to know some history on the old girl......Thanks :-)


Up

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by BigBadBob74

Wife & I recently purchased a ‘71 or ‘72 Sovereign Land Yacht. The guy we bought it from didn’t have title and knew nothing about it, he was just settling a grandparent’s estate.

Our plan is to do a complete renovation and file for a lost title but we would love any information on it, as the badges, stickers & other miscellaneous things on it seem to tell us some interesting things.

Could you let us know anything about the numbers 7768 (these look like the ones that were originally on it) and 31154 (these were placed on top of the 1st numbers)? Any info is appreciated!

Thanks, Bobby & Angela

Hi Bobby & Angela, A double number mystery. 7768 was first assigned by WBCCI in 1962 and 31154 was first assigned in 1976 (thus first apearing in the 1977 Membership Directory). Here is how they have been assigned since 1972:

7768:

• 1972: Unassigned.
• 1973-77: A A & Berniece Deville, Houma, LA, no caravans.
• 1978-82: Unassigned.
• 1983-86: Roy E & Burnadine Kohn, El Paso, TX, no caravans.
• 1987-88: Unassigned.
• 1989+: A couple from Massachusetts (did not check further).

31154:

• 1977-2000+: Harold & Bernice Smith, Alexandria, LA, no caravans (ending year withheld due to privacy concerns, unassigned after they failed to renew their membership).

What can we guess from this? First, it is obvious that the Smiths owned your 1972 Sovereign at some point in time, but when?. We can then guess as to whether the Devilles or Kohns owned it before the Smiths, since both are form either TX or LA and you are also in TX.

My best guess is that the Devilles bought the 1972 Sovereign new and immediately joined the club, thus first appearing in the 1973 Membership Directory. I will guess that they sold the Sovereign to the Smiths in 1977, but the only thing I cannot answer is why the Smiths got assigned a new Membership Number 31154 rather than assume #7768 that was already on the trailer. #7768 should have been available to them because the Devilles left the club and did not continue their membership with a different Airstream. Perhaps the Devilles planned to get another Airstream at the time of sale and changed their mind later in the year. I also cannot say if the Smiths owned your Sovereign their whole time in the club. It is possible that they upgraded to a different Airstream at some point in time.

That's all I got. Enjoy your Sovereign!

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by TINMAN69

hello I am a brand new airstream owner. I just started to do a full off the frame restoration of my 69 airstream didn't know if anyone could give me some information. I am trying to find the history on my airstream. I bought it from a guy in Mississippi, looks like he was part of Wally caravan club his number is 1475

Also If join that club is it possible to keep the same number? would like to continue the history of it. thank you for any information you may be able to give.
I am sure I will be asking a lot of questions in the future about where to get parts and how to move bathroom etc.

Happy travels TINMAN69

Hi TINMAN69,
WBCCI #1475 was first assigned in 1957 well before your 1969 Tradewind was built. Here is how #1475 has been assigned since 1969:

• 1969: Unassigned.
• 1970-96: Wayne & Melba Bishop, Benton, AR, no caravans.
• 1997-98: Unassigned.
• 1999+: A couple form Massachusetts (did not check further).

From this we can guess that the Bishops bought your 1969 Tradewind new and immediately joined the club, thus first appearing in the 1970 Membership Directory. We cannot tell if they owned it their entire time in the club or if they upgraded to a different Airstream at some point.

#1475 is unassigned in the 2020 Membership Directory, so if you join quickly it might still be available. Being such a low number, it is likely to be quickly reassigned to someone else if you do not act quickly.

That's all I got. Enjoy your Tradewind!

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by jaguartown

is there a way to find out about the wbcci number 502? maybe where it was registered or when? is the low number something good? im new to all this and exited to start restoring and camping. also been trying to find any other info on the only numbers i can find on the rig, being the los angeles badge stamped 7719? thank you, tony

Hi Jaguartown,
WBCCI #502 was first assigned in 1955, the year WBCCI was formed. Here is how #502 has been assigned over the years:

• 1955-70: Hawley & Velma Burton, Eugene, OR, caravan 6 - Eastern Canada Summer 1955.
• 1971: Robert & Elizabeth Fowler, Savannah, GA, no caravans.
• 1972: Thomas & Alice Allen, Savannah, GA, no caravans.
• 1973-89: Willard L & Juanita Broussard, Savannah, GA (1973), Montgomery, AL (1989), no caravans.
• 1990-Current: Unassigned. (Since the early 1970s, numbers below 1000 have been reserved for special usage for club officers, etc. and thus are not available for general reassignment. #502 has never been reassigned.)

Since you have a California built 1954 Flying Cloud and are from Eugene, OR, it is extremely likely that the Burtons owned it and took it one the 1955 Eastern Canada Caravan during which WBCCI was formed. Given the distances involved, it is extremely unlikely that any of the couples from Savannah, GA owned your 1954 Flying Cloud, though they likely all owned the same Airstream, whatever it was.

The 7719 would be the trailer serial number. While we do not definitively know the exact serial number/model year breakpoints for the California plant in the mid-1950's, this number falls within the range that is generally considered to be a 1954 22' Flying Cloud.

That's all I got. Enjoy your Tradewind!

Sorry everyone else. The three answers tonight have been time consuming enough, so I am done for now and will get to the remaining requests when I again have some free time.

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by ChelanTrail

Looking for status and information on wbcci # 9775 and club registration. If wbcci # 9775 is available we would
Like to join club and get our 24 tradewind #9775 back on the road.
Our records show that the trailer was registered to
Ed and Betty Smith in Washington.
Thank you
Chelan trails

HI ChelanTrail,
WBCCI #9775 was first assigned late in 1963, which could be appropriate for an early build 1964 Tradewind. This number thus first appeared in the 1964 Membership Directory. Here is how #9775 has been assigned over the years:

• 1964-68: Bernard & Margaret Miller, Lombard, IL, no caravans.
• 1969: Unassigned.
• 1970-74: T. Wallace & Erin Hawkes, Albany, GA, no caravans.
• 1975-76: Unassigned.
• 1977-86: Paul F. & Carol Peters, Manson, WA, no caravans.
• 1987-89: Unassigned.
• 1990-2000: Carmen & Lee Vella, Punta Gorda, FL, no caravans.
• 2001+ Unassigned (did not check further).

Given that you are in Woodway, WA it would seem that the Peters are the most likely previous owners of your 1964 Tradewind. Most likely each of the couples that have been assigned #9775 over the years had a different Airstream due to the unassigned years and distances between them. I did not find an Ed and Betty Smith being assigned #9775, so likely they were non-club members owners.

As previously noted, #9775 is currently assigned to another club member. You can request something similar, like a leading 1 or 2 as already suggested, or something like 9773, 9776, or 9778, each of which it unassigned in the 2020 Directory and would hide the 5 pretty well. These numbers are unlikely to have been assigned since it was published.

That's all I got. Enjoy your Tradewind!

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by Uppla

Hello Everyone



I have a 62 tradewind with 16513 on it would be cool to know some history on the old girl......Thanks :-)


Up

Hi Uppla,
WBCCI #16513 was first assigned in 1966, thus first appearing in the 1967 Membership Directory. Here is how #16513 has been assigned over the years:

• 1967-80: Floyd C. & Beatrice Huggett, Battle Creek, MI, no caravans.
• 1981-84: Unassigned.
• 1985-87: Frank J. Willms, Essex, Ontario, Canada, no caravans.
• 1988+: Unassigned, but only spot checked a few directories.

Since you are in Switzerland, it is hard to guess whether the Huggets or Mr. Willms was the more likely prior owner. If it was imported for the USA, the Huggetts seem most likely. If from Canada, Mr. Willms seems most likely. Maybe a dealer emblem or decal on the trailer suggests it was sold in Michigan or Ontario, Canada at some point in its life. If you don't know any of this information, I will guess that the Huggets are more likely to have been the prior owners are their ownership period is closer to when your 1962 Tradewind was first built, but that is definitely not a reliable factor to base a guess upon.

That's all I got. Enjoy your Tradewind!

[KenNSabine]

We have just got a 2007 Classic 25ft - it has the ghost numbers 3855 on it - can anyone assist with info on the numbers
Thanks
KennSabine

[Dirk G]

Hello All...
Wife and I just got out first AS and cant wait to get started on renovations.
Got a 1978 Sovereign 31'. Ghost number is 15758. We would love to know any information available.

Also...apologies if this is the wrong thread...I'm a noob. Long story short is my wife's Great-Grandparents retired to an Airstream community called Travelers Rest in Dade City Florida. We have some pictures but none show a WBCCI number. Family stories have it that they did attend a caravan or two in the 80s (maybe 90s). We would LOVE to know if they were members and what their number was!
Wife is trying to research through the RV resort.
...any way to research through a name?

Darren K

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by KenNSabine

We have just got a 2007 Classic 25ft - it has the ghost numbers 3855 on it - can anyone assist with info on the numbers
Thanks
KennSabine

Hi Ken N Sabine,
I can tell you that WBCCI #3855 was first assigned in 1960 to Rosell & Vera Herrick of Navarre, Ohio.

Due to privacy concerns for current and recent members, I do not provide information after about the year 1999. Since your Airstream was built after that, I cannot help and it really does no matter if and when, and how many times #3855 may have been reassigned between 1960 and 1999 since you do not own an Airstream from that time period.

I am sorry I cannot do more. I hope you understand. I do hope you have many enjoyable adventures with your 2007 Classic!

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by Dirk G

Hello All...
Wife and I just got out first AS and cant wait to get started on renovations.
Got a 1978 Sovereign 31'. Ghost number is 15758. We would love to know any information available.

Also...apologies if this is the wrong thread...I'm a noob. Long story short is my wife's Great-Grandparents retired to an Airstream community called Travelers Rest in Dade City Florida. We have some pictures but none show a WBCCI number. Family stories have it that they did attend a caravan or two in the 80s (maybe 90s). We would LOVE to know if they were members and what their number was!
Wife is trying to research through the RV resort.
...any way to research through a name?

Darren K

Hi Dirk/Darren,
Last question answered first. Yes, I can look up information based upon peoples names. It is best to provide a suspected year range and a spouses name and possible home city if it is a popular name like Smith, or Jones, etc., as sometimes there were quite a few members with similar names.

Travelers Rest was definitely and "Airstream only" park in the past (though it no longer is "Airstream only"). I do not know of residents at Travelers Rest were once required to be WBCCI club members, but it is quite possible that it was required, and even if not required, likely most residents were club members. But as I already noted, I can look up names in old WBCCI Membership Directories if you provide them and the requested additional information.

Regarding WBCCI #15758 on a 1978 Sovereign, I can tell you that this number was first assigned in 1966, but we really only need to check the years 1978 and after:

• 1978: Unassigned.
• 1979-86: Jack L. & Lena Arvidson, Concord, MI (1979), Post St. Lucie, FL (1986), no caravans.
• 1987+: Unassigned, but only spot checked a few years.

From this we can be pretty sure that the Arvidsons did own your 1978 Sovereign, but that's about all I can tell you. Good luck restoring it! Hope you make some great memories in it! Check our the club when you get it back on the road.

[Dirk G]

Originally Posted by 66Overlander

Hi Dirk/Darren,
Last question answered first. Yes, I can look up information based upon peoples names. It is best to provide a suspected year range and a spouses name and possible home city if it is a popular name like Smith, or Jones, etc., as sometimes there were quite a few members with similar names.

Travelers Rest was definitely and "Airstream only" park in the past (though it no longer is "Airstream only"). I do not know of residents at Travelers Rest were once required to be WBCCI club members, but it is quite possible that it was required, and even if not required, likely most residents were club members. But as I already noted, I can look up names in old WBCCI Membership Directories if you provide them and the requested additional information.

Regarding WBCCI #15758 on a 1978 Sovereign, I can tell you that this number was first assigned in 1966, but we really only need to check the years 1978 and after:

• 1978: Unassigned.
• 1979-86: Jack L. & Lena Arvidson, Concord, MI (1979), Post St. Lucie, FL (1986), no caravans.
• 1987+: Unassigned, but only spot checked a few years.

From this we can be pretty sure that the Arvidsons did own your 1978 Sovereign, but that's about all I can tell you. Good luck restoring it! Hope you make some great memories in it! Check our the club when you get it back on the road.

Thanks so much for the information and the quick reply. If my wife's Great Grandparents did have a number and its available that would just be amazing! I'm seeing some family this weekend and hope to get some dates nailed down...for now, here is all i know:

Edgar and Doris Jean lived at Travelers Rest for about 10 years until Edgar's passing in 1992. The trailer my wife has pictures of from this time looks to be a late 70s / early 80s - 31ft and was semi-attached to a mobile home in the park. It may have been on the road prior to her visits.

Thanks in advance for your detective work!

-Darren

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by Dirk G

Thanks so much for the information and the quick reply. If my wife's Great Grandparents did have a number and its available that would just be amazing! I'm seeing some family this weekend and hope to get some dates nailed down...for now, here is all i know:

Edgar and Doris Jean lived at Travelers Rest for about 10 years until Edgar's passing in 1992. The trailer my wife has pictures of from this time looks to be a late 70s / early 80s - 31ft and was semi-attached to a mobile home in the park. It may have been on the road prior to her visits.

Thanks in advance for your detective work!

-Darren

Quick answer because I happen to be online right now. Edgar and Doris Jean were WBCCI members from 1976 thru 1980 and were assigned the membership number 6815. They had a Dade City, FL address, which is where Traveler's Rest is located. They were credited with a 1976 Post International Rally Caravan, though we don't know which one. The 1976 International Rally was in Louisville, KY.

WBCCI #6815 is currently unassigned in the 2020 Membership Directory and is unlikely to have been assigned since it was published, but the staff at club HQ would have to confirm it is still available if you wish to join the club with that number.

[Dirk G]

Originally Posted by 66Overlander

Quick answer because I happen to be online right now. Edgar and Doris Jean were WBCCI members from 1976 thru 1980 and were assigned the membership number 6815. They had a Dade City, FL address, which is where Traveler's Rest is located. They were credited with a 1976 Post International Rally Caravan, though we don't know which one. The 1976 International Rally was in Louisville, KY.

WBCCI #6815 is currently unassigned in the 2020 Membership Directory and is unlikely to have been assigned since it was published, but the staff at club HQ would have to confirm it is still available if you wish to join the club with that number.

Thank you SOOOO much. Gonna go sign up and get that number! Then off to a rally as soon as she is road worthy!

[Dirk G]

Just was told that number is not available. So bummed. I guess that means someone did register it after the directorybwas printed. Terrible timing...