Research by WBCCI Number?

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by A Duece 28

Hi, I'm new to the site, but I have enjoyed 5 airstream trailers over many years. I currently own a 69 globtrotter ( no wbcci #) and a 57 flying cloud, wbcci # 41. This trailer has decals inside the small door, showing many sites visited. It appears to have gone on many early trips with the club. There are WB plates and spots where some have been removed, inc. a large square shadow on the rear. and round spots front and rear. It's a dutchmans cap trailer. It is currently in poor untouched shape, hole at the door etc. Interior is complete except for the toilet and bath sink. Exterior is very good. I would love to know, at your convenience, any history of the trailer with the club.
Thank you Sir, Bruce

Hi Bruce,
Well, this is an interesting case. #41 is such a low number and 1957 is so early, that initially #41 was shared by two WBCCI couples, as for the first few caravans before the club was formed they reissued number starting at #1 for each caravan. It was not until the 5th caravan (1955 Mexico) that they no longer reassigned numbers, but those that had been assigned an number on any previous caravan were able to keep that number when the club was formed in 1955 this resulting in duplicate assignments. Here is how #41 has been assigned since 1955:

• 1955-62: John R. & Edith Corkery, Baker, OR, Caravan 1 - Central America Winter 1951-52 (Edith only in 1957-62).
• 1955-79: Earl M. & Gladys Smith, Ventura, CA, Caravans 4 - Western Canada Summer 1954, 5 - Mexico, West Coast Winter 1955, 12 - Kentucky Derby-Indy 500 Spring 1957, 54 - Trans Canada Summer 1967 (1979 Gladys only).
• 1980-86: Unassigned.
• 1987-2000+: Larry Huttle of Airstream.

Either of the original couples assigned #41 would have had originally had an older trailer (possibly even a non-Airstream), though they would have had to upgrade to an Airstream by about 1957 to remain listed in the Club Directory. My guess is that, given the badges, etc., it is more likely that the Smith's owned your 1957 Flying Cloud than the Corkery's. If that is correct, they may have taken it on their 1957 and 1967 caravans.

Since approximately 1970, numbers below 100 have been given to Airstream Inc. to assign with them typically going to employees and anyone else the company wants to recognize. Larry Huttle rose thru the ranks at Airstream reaching the Chairman position in the 2000s before he retired. There is an approximately zero chance he owned your 1957 Flying Cloud.

Have fun with your Flying Cloud!

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by skucera

The trailer I took delivery of today has "3873" on it in red numbers, and the marks below it of "7150" where numbers had been pealed off front and rear. I haven't read all 62 pages of this thread, but I haven't seen if there's anywhere on-line where I can consult old WBCCI directories to see if my numbers were issued between 1982 and now, and who owned them. If anyone can point me to such a resource, I would be appreciative. It just seems like a quaint bit of history to investigate.

Thanks,
Scott

Hi Scott, A double number case where we know #7150 was on the trailer before #3873. Here is how those numbers have been assigned since 1982.

7150:

• 1982: Unassigned.
• 1983-2001: Ken & Athleen Deckman, Auburn, WA (1983), Kent, WA (2001), caravans N11A - Best of Montana 1982, 147 - Stampede & West Canada Summer 1983, R53 - Ya Shure Duluth Caravan Region 10 1983, R85 - Region 11 1986.
• 2002: Unassigned. Did not check further.

3873:

• <=1982-1989: Paul E & Julie Newman, Leesburg, FL, caravans 62 - Olympic East Coast Mexico Summer Fall 1968, O10 - Great Britain 1978.
• 1990-91: Unassigned.
• 1992: Gerald & Yolanda Wroe, San Diego, CA, no caravans.
• 1993-94: Unassigned.
• 1995-2002: Thayer R. & Thelma L. Dickey, Junction City, OR, no caravans.
• 2004: Unassigned. Did not check further due to privacy concerns.

So it is pretty much a surety that the Deckman's owned your 1982 Exella. It would seem they bought it and immediately joined the club in 1982, thus first appearing in the 1983 Directory. It seems likely that they took it on most or all of their caravans. We cannot know how long they owned it, though. They may have owned it the entire time they were in the club, or they may have upgraded to a different Airstream at some point while they were still members.

However, since the Dickey's are the only assignee of #3873 that were from Oregon, I will guess that the Deckman's sold the 1982 Excella to the Dickey's in or shortly before 1994, but since the Deckman's remained in the club (having upgraded to a different Airstream), the Dickey's were forced to get assigned a new WBCCI #.

That's all I got. Enjoy your Excella!

I am done for tonight. Sorry to everyone else (for now). I will answer some more when I have more free time.

[skucera]

Originally Posted by 66Overlander

Hi Scott, A double number case where we know #7150 was on the trailer before #3873. Here is how those numbers have been assigned since 1982.

7150:

• 1982: Unassigned.
• 1983-2001: Ken & Athleen Deckman, Auburn, WA (1983), Kent, WA (2001), caravans N11A - Best of Montana 1982, 147 - Stampede & West Canada Summer 1983, R53 - Ya Shure Duluth Caravan Region 10 1983, R85 - Region 11 1986.
• 2002: Unassigned. Did not check further.

3873:

• <=1982-1989: Paul E & Julie Newman, Leesburg, FL, caravans 62 - Olympic East Coast Mexico Summer Fall 1968, O10 - Great Britain 1978.
• 1990-91: Unassigned.
• 1992: Gerald & Yolanda Wroe, San Diego, CA, no caravans.
• 1993-94: Unassigned.
• 1995-2002: Thayer R. & Thelma L. Dickey, Junction City, OR, no caravans.
• 2004: Unassigned. Did not check further due to privacy concerns.

So it is pretty much a surety that the Deckman's owned your 1982 Exella. It would seem they bought it and immediately joined the club in 1982, thus first appearing in the 1983 Directory. It seems likely that they took it on most or all of their caravans. We cannot know how long they owned it, though. They may have owned it the entire time they were in the club, or they may have upgraded to a different Airstream at some point while they were still members.

However, since the Dickey's are the only assignee of #3873 that were from Oregon, I will guess that the Deckman's sold the 1982 Excella to the Dickey's in or shortly before 1994, but since the Deckman's remained in the club (having upgraded to a different Airstream), the Dickey's were forced to get assigned a new WBCCI #.

That's all I got. Enjoy your Excella!

I am done for tonight. Sorry to everyone else (for now). I will answer some more when I have more free time.

Thank you for looking this up! I agree with your analysis. Fun that the more recent number was a couple from Junction City; that is only four miles from Harrisburg.

I applied last week to use either number for our own WBCCI number. We’ll see if any are currently used.

Thank you again,
Scott

[skucera]

I heard back from WBCCI today and both of the numbers on my trailer are currently in use. I'll be getting a new number.

Scott

[wagvan]

Originally Posted by wagvan

Could someone search the history of 8125? Is there a way to check and see if it is still available? Were they always red or did they used to be white? What do the stars mean? It’s too bad they go by owner and not the rig. Thanks in advance for spending the time to look this up.
Thanks, Katie

I couldn't figure out how to edit my original post, but since it appears that you are using location to figure out which of the owners go with this particular Airstream, we bought our Sovereign in Tennessee. (We are in Northern Michigan near TC, now.)

Thanks for spending the time to do this, Joe!

[MTDSilver71]

Hi
I would like to honor my wife on our anniversary with the number 7119 or 71109 if it is available. If so, where do I need to go and register and so forth?

Thank you for looking into this!

Ted

[azflycaster]

Originally Posted by MTDSilver71

Hi
I would like to honor my wife on our anniversary with the number 7119 or 71109 if it is available. If so, where do I need to go and register and so forth?

Thank you for looking into this!

Ted

One call to the club's headquarters will get everything started. 937-596-5211

[jdcamp]

I have an airstream with the number 1826 on it. It’s not a ghost no. and is in red letters front and back in good condition. I know it had belonged to a previous owner but have been told in campgrounds that it is a low (early) number. Can anyone tell me about what period it came from? Thanks. I doubt that it is available if I wanted to join the club.

[azflycaster]

Numbers get recycled after a couple of years after a member drops out of the club. 1826 may have been assigned numerous times over the years of the club. A call to the club office will let you know if the number is available or will be soon. 937-596-5211

[Jollytinker]

Hi Joe

I see that you do great work researching numbers, I was hoping you had time to do one more.
I recently purchased a 2004 31’ classic from CanAm RV in London Ontario, we are the second owners, the original owners unfortunately aged out of trailering.
There are presently no numbers on the trailer, but there is a ghost outline of 6208. I was wondering if this number was free and if there was a history beyond this trailer.

Thank you

Wayne

[CBLJAZ67]

My Wife and I recently purchased a 67 24' Tradewind that has the ghost number 13015. We're in the process of renovating and were interested in seeing if the number is available and it's history.


Thanks for any help you can provide


C

[TSlothrop]

Hi - I recently came across a collection of slides from the 1950s and 1960s, featuring various caravan treks through Mexico and the US. This has had the simultaneous effects of rekindling my interest in Airstreams and getting me wanting to know who the caravaners were. I can make out 4120 on the front of the Airstream. Is it possible to determine who the owners were in the 1950s?

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by TSlothrop

Hi - I recently came across a collection of slides from the 1950s and 1960s, featuring various caravan treks through Mexico and the US. This has had the simultaneous effects of rekindling my interest in Airstreams and getting me wanting to know who the caravaners were. I can make out 4120 on the front of the Airstream. Is it possible to determine who the owners were in the 1950s?

WBCCI #4120 was first assigned in 1960 at which time it was assigned to Loren and Emilie Gannon of Port Huron, MI who were on Caravan 23 - Mexico Winter 1960.

[AirStreamMar]

Hi there,

Just purchased a 290 Classic MoHo and see traces of WBCC # 9227 on the roof. Would be interesting to know where it was based in 1990/2000s. PO was purchasing it in 2010 but before that?

Thank you,

Mario

[Bill_H80]

Curious if 517 is currently assigned or is available?

[damonbeals]

Originally Posted by Bill_H80

Curious if 517 is currently assigned or is available?

Any number lower then 999 is reserved for officers and committee chairs. General membership starts at 1000.
What does this mean? Even if 517 is available those numbers are currently only assigned to Region officers.


Damon
#4827

[Bill_H80]

Originally Posted by damonbeals

Any number lower then 999 is reserved for officers and committee chairs. General membership starts at 1000.
What does this mean? Even if 517 is available those numbers are currently only assigned to Region officers.


Damon
#4827

Got it, thanks.

[cocoman]

we recently purchased a 96 28' Excella that has the ghost number 4465.
We're in the process of renovating and were interested in seeing if the number is available and it's history.
thanks
phil

[LVChris]

Just purchased a 1972 Sovereign It has the number 22410 on it i think. I have no idea what this means? Can anyone help?

[BRRanger]

Greetings,

I've just retired, and I'm planning to join the Airstream Owners family on two fronts ( one new Basecamp 16x, one a very old potential project ).

I'm looking at a 1969 Land Yacht Sovereign 31' field find that has a legible VIN that provides some of the appropriate data for its original source/configuration.

It also has a faded WBCC number 18458 that I was hoping could provide some information on the ownership at the time they registered this old beauty. I'd really appreciate any information on this one that you might be able to find, and also appreciate your time providing the research and feedback. Thanks!

Regards,
David