Research by WBCCI Number?

[RevRunRegan]

Thanks so much for this information. The couple from LeClaire, IA were the previous owners. I bought the camper in the quad cities and I have info from them being from Iowa. Thanks again.

Regan

Originally Posted by 66Overlander

Hi RevRunRegan,
WBCCI #3770 was first assigned in 1960, but we only need to consider how it has been assigned since 1986 according to WBCCI Membership Directories:

• 1986: Unassigned.
• 1987-89: L R & Patricia Graham, Adrian, MI, no caravans.
• 1990-91: Unassigned.
• 1992-97: Everett & Martha Elliot, Stockton, TX, no caravans.
• 1998-99: Unassigned:
• 2000-14: A couple from LeClaire, IA, no caravans (name withheld due to privacy).
• 2015 Unassigned. Did not check further.

Assuming you found the trailer near Kansas, I cannot hazard a good guess which couple might be the prior owners. All three, seem about equally likely to me, but it mostly likely would have only been one of these three couples, as the unassigned years and distances in between suggest that each owned different Airstreams.

That's all I got. Enjoy your Excella!

P.S. This is the last answer for tonight. I'll get to the remaining requests when I get more time.

[crazycuda]

Thank you Joe (66Overlander) for that info. I think prior to 1992 the number was on a different airstreams. tags on the trailer list a dealer in Burlington Mass. and Brockton Mass.

very cool to have info on the history of the numbers. there are some ghost numbers on the trailer but i need to get out there and see if i can fully read them

[posty]

I found a picture of my Grandfather’s Airstream and was hoping to get more info based on the WBCCI number #14445. Thank you!

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by posty

I found a picture of my Grandfather’s Airstream and was hoping to get more info based on the WBCCI number #14445. Thank you!

Hi posty,
Based upon that photo, your grandparents had a 1965 26' Overlander. Since WBCCI #14445 was first assigned by the club in 1965, it appears that the original owner of that Airstream immediately joined the club, thus first appearing in the 1966 Membership Directory. I am guessing that would be your grandparents. Of course, it can't be ruled out that a later assignee of #14445 might not coincidentally been reassigned a number that was first assigned in 1965. Anyway, here is how #14445 has been assigned over the years according to WBCCI Membership Directories:

• 1966-69: Louis & Whilma Stieler, Algonac, MI, no caravans.
• 1970: Unassigned.
• 1971-72: Robert & Midred McLeod, Delray Beach, FL (1971), Boynton Beach, FL (1972), no caravans.
• 1973-79: Maynard & Janet Wertz, Boynton Beach, FL (1973), Tallahassee, FL (1979), Caravan 88 - Eastern Canada Summer 1972.
• 1980-84: Unassigned.
• 1985-87: Robert & Margaret Skeels, Sacamento, CA, no caravans.
• 1988: Unassigned. Did not check any further.

I stopped checking because the photo looks more like it came from the 1960s or 1970s than the 1980s or later. I am guessing that the Stielers or less likely the McLeods or Wertz's are your grandparents. It seems almost assured that the McLeods and the Wertz's owned the same Airstream, whether it is the 1965 Overlander or something else, based upon being from the same city and no unassigned years in between. Whether these couples owned the same Airstream as the Stielers is a tougher question. It seems unlikely given the distance involved, but since many Michiganders become winter Floridians it can't be ruled out.

That's al I got. Hope it helps.

P.S. The club did not keep records of the Airstreams owned by members, so I cannot tell you the serial number of the 1965 Overlander.

[posty]

Originally Posted by 66Overlander

Hi posty,
Based upon that photo, your grandparents had a 1965 26' Overlander. Since WBCCI #14445 was first assigned by the club in 1965, it appears that the original owner of that Airstream immediately joined the club, thus first appearing in the 1966 Membership Directory. I am guessing that would be your grandparents. Of course, it can't be ruled out that a later assignee of #14445 might not coincidentally been reassigned a number that was first assigned in 1965. Anyway, here is how #14445 has been assigned over the years according to WBCCI Membership Directories:

• 1966-69: Louis & Whilma Stieler, Algonac, MI, no caravans.
• 1970: Unassigned.
• 1971-72: Robert & Midred McLeod, Delray Beach, FL (1971), Boynton Beach, FL (1972), no caravans.
• 1973-79: Maynard & Janet Wertz, Boynton Beach, FL (1973), Tallahassee, FL (1979), Caravan 88 - Eastern Canada Summer 1972.
• 1980-84: Unassigned.
• 1985-87: Robert & Margaret Skeels, Sacamento, CA, no caravans.
• 1988: Unassigned. Did not check any further.

I stopped checking because the photo looks more like it came from the 1960s or 1970s than the 1980s or later. I am guessing that the Stielers or less likely the McLeods or Wertz's are your grandparents. It seems almost assured that the McLeods and the Wertz's owned the same Airstream, whether it is the 1965 Overlander or something else, based upon being from the same city and no unassigned years in between. Whether these couples owned the same Airstream as the Stielers is a tougher question. It seems unlikely given the distance involved, but since many Michiganders become winter Floridians it can't be ruled out.

That's al I got. Hope it helps.

P.S. The club did not keep records of the Airstreams owned by members, so I cannot tell you the serial number of the 1965 Overlander.

Thank you so much! The original owners are my great grandparents and my grandparents will be thrilled to have this info.

[Hiawatha]

RE: 2643

My wife and I were assigned this number with the purchase of our first Airstream, in 2015. We have since sold and recently purchased a new Airstream; we're assigned the same number!

How and where do I go about inquiring, the previous usage of this number?

Thank you,
Robert

[CAVU]

Great thread info, thanks.

Just got # 17001 (1994 Excella 1000, 34 ft.) and would appreciate any and all history.

She's been parked outside, uncared for and unused since 2008. Overall sound condition. Lots of expensive maintenance to do before she's ready to be a road warrior again.

Thanks in advance.

[Reesebug]

I would appreciate any help with history of 9942 and if this number is available. Thanks!!

[SlvrTwinkie]

We bought a '76 AS Ambassador 29' last year. Currently in the process of polishing the trailer and removed the numbers. We would like to reinstall them back on the trailer for the vintage aspect, that and we are thinking of joining the WBAC/WBCCI and maybe the Indiana unit too. Would like to know if the number is issued to someone else or available currently. If it has been issued to somebody else then we won't reinstall them for now. But if available I just might decide to. We are planning on going to the July rally in Bluffton, In to get an idea of what it could/would be like to be part of it. We have already gotten several good comments from neighbors on our trailer and when we have been camping too.

Thank you in advance.

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by Hiawatha

RE: 2643

My wife and I were assigned this number with the purchase of our first Airstream, in 2015. We have since sold and recently purchased a new Airstream; we're assigned the same number!

How and where do I go about inquiring, the previous usage of this number?

Thank you,
Robert

Hi Robert,
I usually do these lookups for the owners of vintage Airstreams that have ghosts of old big red numbers on them, but since you are a club member, I'll provide a little information about the number you were assigned and put on your brand new Airstream. #2643 was first assigned by the WBCCI in 1959. Here is some information about how that number has been assigned over the years according to old Membership Directories:

• 1959-66: Herbert & Pauline Mentall, Webster, NY, Caravan 26 - Mexico Winter 1961.
• 1967-87: Jerry & Frances Butler, Seattle, WA, no caravans.
• 1988: Unassigned. Did not check further, but no doubt #2643 has been reassigned, possibly several times since 1988.

So the short history of that your WBCCI #2643 it that is was used on one early exciting caravan to Mexico, way back in 1961. It has been assigned to members ranging from New York to Washington state.

I hope you get out enjoy your Airstream and maybe take a caravan of your own and write more history for #2643!

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by CAVU

Great thread info, thanks.

Just got # 17001 (1994 Excella 1000, 34 ft.) and would appreciate any and all history.

She's been parked outside, uncared for and unused since 2008. Overall sound condition. Lots of expensive maintenance to do before she's ready to be a road warrior again.

Thanks in advance.

Hi CAVU,
WBCCI #17001 was first assigned in 1966, but we only need to concern ourselves with the years since your 1994 Airstream was built. According to WBCCI Membership Directories #17001 was assigned from 1984 thru 2002 to Fred L. & Rachel L. Caldwell of Marathon, FL (in 1984) to Fred & Mary Lee Caldwell of Decatur, AL (in 2002). It seems that Fred and Rachel first joined the club with an earlier Airstream. I am not sure if Mary Lee was a second wife, or perhaps Fred and Mary Lee was a son and daughter-in-law of Fred and Rachel. At some point the Caldwells upgraded from that earlier Airstream to your 1994 34' Excella 1000. None of the Caldwells are credited with any caravans.

That's all I got. Enjoy your Excella!

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by Reesebug

I would appreciate any help with history of 9942 and if this number is available. Thanks!!

Hi Reesebug,
I normally ask that people confirm the Airstream that the number is on before taking the time to look up the answers, but I see that you are new here, so I will assume that #9942 is on your 1967 Sovereign. #9942 was first assigned by the Airstream Club in 1963 and here is how it has been assigned over the years according to WBCCI Membership Directories:

• 1964-71: Gordon E. & Edith Anderson, Coral Gables, FL, no caravans.
• 1972: Unassigned.
• 1973-80: William & Lelia Penick, Louisville, KY, no caravans.
• 1981-82: Unassigned.
• 1983-98: Alvin R & Audrey A Winslow, Dayton, OH (1983), Beavercreek, OH (1998), no caravans.
• 1999: Unassigned. Did not check further.

What can we guess from this? The Gordons would have joined the club with a 1964 or earlier Airstream and may or may not have upgraded to a 1967 Sovereign during their time in the club, but their distance from KY makes it less likely that they were the previous owners.

Your location in Eubank, KY is reasonably close to both Louisville, KY and Dayton/Beavercreek, OH, so it would seem that either the Penicks or the Winslows (but likely not both) were the prior owner of your 1967 Sovereign. Perhaps a dealer emblem or decal on the trailer will suggest it was at one time sold near one of those cities. Or perhaps you bought it near one of those cities.

That's all I can tell you. I hope it helps. You will have to do the rest of the sleuthing yourself. Enjoy your Sovereign!

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by SlvrTwinkie

We bought a '76 AS Ambassador 29' last year. Currently in the process of polishing the trailer and removed the numbers. We would like to reinstall them back on the trailer for the vintage aspect, that and we are thinking of joining the WBAC/WBCCI and maybe the Indiana unit too. Would like to know if the number is issued to someone else or available currently. If it has been issued to somebody else then we won't reinstall them for now. But if available I just might decide to. We are planning on going to the July rally in Bluffton, In to get an idea of what it could/would be like to be part of it. We have already gotten several good comments from neighbors on our trailer and when we have been camping too.

Thank you in advance.

Hi SlvrTwinkie,
WBCCI #31040 was fiirst assigned by WBCCI in 1976, which could be appropriate for a 1976 Ambassador. Here is how #31040 has been assigned over the years according to WBCCI Membership Directories:

• 1977-82: Howard A. & Marjorie Thuis, Granite City, IL, no caravans.
• 1983-85: Unassigned.
• 1986-97: John & Blanche Ritchie, Granite City, IL, no caravans.
• 1998: Unassigned. Did not check further.

It would thus seem extremely likely that both the Thuis's and Ritchies owned your 1976 Ambassador because they were from the same city and because by 1986 a number as high as 31040 would most likely only be reassigned if it was already on an Airstream when someone new joined the club.

BTW, #31040 is shown as unassigned in the printed 2020 WBCCI Membership Directory which means it is likely available, though the assignee could have elected to not have their information printed in the directory or that number could have been reassigned since the directory was published in January. Both cases are unlikely. The WBCCI Office will have to provide the official answer, but I will guess that #31040 is most likely available.

That's all I got! Let me be the first to give you a welcome to the club, should you decide to join!

[SlvrTwinkie]

Thank you Joe (66overlander), I find this interesting cause the guy we bought ours from a guy in Chicago. That man bought it from someone in Missouri, from what I was told it sat in a field for several years unused before it ended up back in the Chicago area. The PO we got it from bought it around 2012 and only pulled it one time that he told me of to Utah and back. So to see originally was from the Windy City is very interesting to see it end back up there before finding a home here in North Central Indiana.

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by SlvrTwinkie

Thank you Joe (66overlander), I find this interesting cause the guy we bought ours from a guy in Chicago. That man bought it from someone in Missouri, from what I was told it sat in a field for several years unused before it ended up back in the Chicago area. The PO we got it from bought it around 2012 and only pulled it one time that he told me of to Utah and back. So to see originally was from the Windy City is very interesting to see it end back up there before finding a home here in North Central Indiana.

Granite City, IL is basically a suburb of St. Louis, MO, not Chicago, so spending some of it's life in Missouri seems reasonable.

[Baby Zeppelin]

Hi Joe, we purchased out 2018 Airstream nearly three years ago, and instantly joined the WBCCI. We were given number 1297. I was surprised to get such a relatively low number, and am curious to know what previous members had it, and if it went on any caravans. Thanks!

[SlvrTwinkie]

That's right, I was thinking of Granger just north of Chicago. Been through both cities over the years before being forced into early retirement.

[Evaldez]

Just purchased a 1970 Airstream with the number 23693 on it. Looking for history on it if anyone can help. Thanks

[Stephluna]

anyone know how I go about finding any info about the number #24343

[66Overlander]

Stephluna,
You found the thread where I provide answers when I have the time to do the research, but I only answer when the year of the Airstream and the place it is located at or was found at are provided, as these details make the manual search easier.