A sad end to a wonderful trailer

[rmk110761]

Does anyone know the history of this trailer? It has been offered for sale on ebay several times. If I am correct, it was custom built for Donald and Carolyn Putnam of Ohio. If so, the trailer was the model trailer for the China Clippers used in the 1980's China caravans. They had the trailer custom built as they preferred to tow with a passenger car rather than a truck. The trailer had many one of a kind features. The Putnams sold it to Lloyd and Ruth Kress in 1988 or 1989. There is no current WBCCI # 25960 in the Membership Directory.

[azflycaster]

The number was last seen in the 2006 directory. The Colleys of Belbrook, OH.
Looks like the trailer fell on it's side.

[Stefrobrts]

Whoever had it last was a longtime member, look at all those stars across the front. It's always sad to see one wrecked. Could have been an accident, could have been in a storm, who knows.

[rmk110761]

Thank you very much. I remember the Colleys. They were in the same WBCCI unit as the Kresses. I'll do some checking around, but that is most likely the trailer that was custom built for the Putnams.

[Fyrzowt]

Hitch lock works....nobody has stolen it!

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by rmk110761

Does anyone know the history of this trailer? It has been offered for sale on ebay several times. If I am correct, it was custom built for Donald and Carolyn Putnam of Ohio. If so, the trailer was the model trailer for the China Clippers used in the 1980's China caravans. They had the trailer custom built as they preferred to tow with a passenger car rather than a truck. The trailer had many one of a kind features. The Putnams sold it to Lloyd and Ruth Kress in 1988 or 1989. There is no current WBCCI # 25960 in the Membership Directory.

I noticed that trailer the first time they tried to sell it on eBay several months ago. Then as I was writing a story for the WBCCI Blue Beret magazine about the 1985-1988 China Caravans I tried to contact Airstream Inc. to learn more about it, because it does have the exact interior layout of the China Clipper trailers that were made specifically to send overseas. I wondered if it was some sort of prototype model. Airstream never returned my emails and once the story was submitted (and was published in the December 2010 issue), I stopped pursuing details about this trailer. I appreciate what you are able to tell me about it and prior owners. Is there more?

[mutcth]

Thanks for this thread. I spent a while looking at the last eBay listing, scratching my head, trying to figure it out. It's very similar to my Minuet, just more plush inside. Too bad it came to this end - this one looks $$$ to fix...

Tom

[tlavergne]

Don and Carolyn lived in my community but I don't remember that trailer. I had an opportunity to buy their last Airstream a few years ago, a late 80's model, and didn't...kicking myself. They towed with station wagons. They were wondeful people and Airstreamed with my Grandparents at times back in the day. They lived about 45 minutes from Jackson Center and were involved in designing some trailers I believe. Carolyn died about 8 years ago and Don died about 2 or 3 years ago. I used to go visit them in their later years and listen to their story's. Great folks, that's for sure. They had a lot of A/S knowledge and knew a lot of the history of the company.
Tom

[cruiser54]

This story touches me very much.... How did it probably come that nobody wanted to have the AS of the family?
Now he stands somewhere, defective and sadly.
Werner

[tlavergne]

None of the Putnam kids Airstreamed. It is something that their parents did...they didn't grow up with it. When Mr. Putnam died, their last trailer attached to the station wagon was in front of their house for sale. Car and impeccably maintained trailer was sold for an unbelievably low price. Like I said, I should have bought it.