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Old 03-22-2004, 08:18 PM   #1
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Wally Byam Caravan Sticker

I'm curious about the usage of the Wally Byam sticker and what it signified back in the 60's. My 61 Overlander has a ghost image of the Wally Byam Caravan sticker just below the ghost numbers of the WBCCI. Does this mean my Airstream was a member of one of the international caravans? Or was it just an additional sticker received when they attended some club function? Mike
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Old 03-22-2004, 08:29 PM   #2
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Wally Byam Sticker

When you join the WBCCI you get a set of red numbers and the Wally Byam round emblem to stick on your Airstream. It means the previous owner was a member of the WBCCI.
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Old 03-22-2004, 09:37 PM   #3
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thanks, but I'm interested in the usage of the old rectangle Wally Byam Caravan sticker, what it was used for and what it signified back in the 1960's
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Old 03-22-2004, 09:43 PM   #4
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i hope this works, here's a pic of the sticker
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Old 03-22-2004, 09:56 PM   #5
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Brief sticker history

The first Wally Byam Caravan originated and was run by Wally himself from December 1951 to March 1952 when he led about 55 trailers to Central America. The company sponsored Wally Byam Caravans until 1955, when the Wally Byam Caravan Club (WBCC) was formed in Halifax, Nova Scotia, during the Eastern Canada Caravan that Summer. It became an International club (WBCCI) in 1962 when units were organized in Canada and later in Mexico.

The first "Wally Byam's Caravan" plaque was an aluminum oval made and distributed to participants after the 1951-52 Central America Caravan ended. By late 1954, Wally was using the rectangular "Wally Byam's Caravan" sticker, most likely to identify trailers participating in his Caravans. See Bryan Burkhart's Airstream book at page 48. Notwithstanding the photo caption, I believe that photo was taken on the Winter 1954 East Coast Mexico Caravan, not the winter 1956 Mexico Caravan. The Nash car towing 839 that was driven by Gertrude Vasel and Barbara Schmidteller is the basis for my belief. The Chevy to the far left appears to be a 1955 model introduced in Fall 1954.

The rectangular decals were used on both the 1959-1960 Capetown to Cairo Caravan (see generally Burkhart pps. 102 to 112) and on the 1963-64 Round the World Caravan (see Burkhart generally but particularly at page 108, red decal). These rectangular decals are now available as reproductions in blue or red from Airstream Dreams. They are appropriate for 1950's to 1962 (and maybe slightly later) trailers. If your old Airstream has evidence of a rectangular decal, a new reproduction would certainly be the correct vintage decal.

The round WBCCI decal did not exist before 1962, but was probably designed and first used shortly(?) after 1962. It is the current WBCCI decal.
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Old 03-22-2004, 10:03 PM   #6
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hmmm, thanks, very informative. Now I'm wondering if my trailer was indeed part of one of the early caravans.
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Old 03-22-2004, 10:12 PM   #7
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Post your ghost numbers and I'll see if my 1973 or 1974 WBCCI Directories list the former owners and any Caravans they took. The rectangular decals might, or might not, have become WBCC "membership" decals by 1961, but that's just pure speculation by me with no present basis in known fact.
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Old 03-22-2004, 11:03 PM   #8
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Hi Fred,
Since you offered, I'd like to know about mine too. I had the ghost image of that rectangular decal and the ghosted numbers on mine were 2699. I applied for these numbers when I joined the WBCCI and they were available so they're mine now.

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Old 03-23-2004, 06:48 AM   #9
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Old Red Numbers

Hi FF:

2699 is the old WBCCI number for James and Alene Despain, 7604 Hwy. 111, Memphis, IN. 47143. No Caravans are listed for them in the 1973 Directory. They are not listed in the 1974 Directory.
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Old 03-23-2004, 07:06 AM   #10
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Way To Go

Thanks Fred. It would be great if the Membership Directory also mentioned info on the owner's trailer. A couple of month's back, Ken J. said he saw an old Airstream sitting somewhere that had my numbers on it. Does the OH plant have a copy of all of the directories ever made?

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Old 03-23-2004, 07:39 AM   #11
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I don't know if they have them all, but there is a library of old directories are Top Of Georgia. There may be someone who could do some research for you on the forum that lives close or is a Georgia unit member.
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Old 03-23-2004, 07:43 AM   #12
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I don't know. The WBCCI Directories are people Directories, not trailer Directories. But if I had ruled the world back then, they would have contained detailed information on member's trailers, too.
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Old 03-23-2004, 09:24 AM   #13
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Re: Brief sticker history

Quote:
Originally posted by 47WeeWind


The rectangular decals were used on both the 1959-1960 Capetown to Cairo Caravan (see generally Burkhart pps. 102 to 112) and on the 1963-64 Round the World Caravan (see Burkhart generally but particularly at page 108, red decal). These rectangular decals are now available as reproductions in blue or red from Airstream Dreams. They are appropriate for 1950's to 1962 (and maybe slightly later) trailers. If your old Airstream has evidence of a rectangular decal, a new reproduction would certainly be the correct vintage decal.

Fred:

Are you positive that some of these were not aluminum plaques?
The reason I ask is yesterday I noticed this picture in the Post Shari had about the Denver paper.



To me that looks like a aluminum plaque and not a sticker.

Now here is the thing. Our 59 has an aluminum plate screwed to the coach in the same location as in that picture. It is blank and I find no ghost's from any WBCCI number. I know the history back to 81 ( it was in my wifes family since then and we think it was bought from the original owner). It is possible that the coach had been polished and the ghosts removed around that time and the plaques polished blank is my thought.

I have what I think is the original owners name at home. Would you mind if I send you that name and see if you can find it in your material?
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Old 03-23-2004, 09:40 AM   #14
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A little number history, too

Originally only trailers that went on the factory sponsored caravans had numbers. These numbers were assigned by the factory and were for use on the caravan only. This number did not have the now traditional round seal over it. Based on the Directory, some of the numbers were duplicated between 10 and 80 due to the fact that Wally had reissued them on subsequent caravans.

Understand, it was Wally's idea to issue numbers to help maintain order on his early caravans which would have up to several hundred in numbers! The reissue of numbers was later stopped and the Directory shows no duplicated numbers to different families after the number 80.

In order to have a method of showing membership in the club, besides participation in the caravans, club members placed the round seal on their trailers - as the company still at this time owned and controlled the issuing of the red numbers.

Originally written by Brett for our Unit Newsletter
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Old 03-23-2004, 12:06 PM   #15
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Decals or plaques?

59Toaster: No, I'm not sure that they are decals as opposed to aluminum plaques; my statement is simply a guess based on the small photos and personal experience. I've seen the remains of Wally Byam's Caravan decals on old trailers, but I've not yet seen one in the form of an aluminum plaque. They very well could be aluminum plaques, but until I see one in person I'll not state they came that way. They also could be decals applied to aluminum plates cut to the size of the decal and then riveted to a trailer. I've seen that done with red numbers. I hope to view the above 1957 Overlander in the near future and will report my findings. In the meantime, has anyone actually seen a Wally Byam's Caravan aluminum plaque?
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Old 03-23-2004, 12:35 PM   #16
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Thanks Fred!
Look foward to hearing what you find with the sticker or Plaque.

Eric
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Old 03-23-2004, 02:47 PM   #17
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I just realized that we have two of these caravan plates! They came with our '52 Cruiser - never used - together with a letter and installation instructions. They were sent to the owner in MN from Bakersfield, CA, on Feb. 5, 1958. They plates are aluminum with a red! painted background. I'll post pics FYI.
Enjoy,
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Old 03-23-2004, 03:01 PM   #18
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My plate pic posted oddly; never had that happen before. If folks can't open it, I'll try to post again.

The letter and instructions were illegible at the required file size, so I'll try to upload to my photo section. The instructions in part are as follows:

"On a Wally Byam Caravan everyone MUST have a trailer number...

"...Each trailer must also have one of our standard Wally Byam Caravan plaques. This plaque will be furnished to each trailer without cost and goes above the front and rear windows. It is 4" high, so leave room for it under your number.

"We have found that the best place for the Wally Byam Caravan Club insignia is just above the number -- front and back.

"In other words, directly over the front and rear window will be the Wally Byam Caravan plaque. Directly over the plaque will be the number. Directly above the number will be the Caravan Club decal."

Yes, maam!
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Old 03-23-2004, 03:34 PM   #19
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Thanks for hard facts, Cruiser!

Cruiser: Great post with the photo of the Wally Byam's Caravan aluminum plaque and the installation Instructions. Now we're getting somewhere with solid molecular evidence and unassailable historical documentation. Lovin' it!
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Old 03-23-2004, 03:42 PM   #20
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Fred,

Could you look up "Charles & Lottie Rector" in one of your pre-1975 Wally Byam directories? They lived in Pendleton, Oregon. If you find them, what were their numbers? Thanks!

- Charlie
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