FOUND!! Wally Byam's '55 Cruiser - 1956 European Caravan trailer

[rmkrum]

It would be cool to dress up in period clothing and take some formal black and white or sepia-tones photos for display in the AS. For routine wear, be comfortable. Nobody’s opinion counts but yours on this subject...

[bweybright]

Now that is a cool idea so Scott could rent the clothes for a bit and re coupe a bit of what he has spent.


And Slowmover can supply the clothing as they are clearly the experts and ones to judge in this area.


A very productive idea in my opinion.

[GMFL]

Scott,
All I can say is that you Sir have done something incredible. Something that most would not take the risk on. You have poured you Time, Heart, Soul, and Cash into this project and it is something to be proud of. You have opened your heart to SHARE THIS work of art with the Airstream World and to that you deserve a THANK YOU. THANK YOU for your hard work, THANK YOU for not giving up, THANK YOU for your commitment to correctness, THANK YOU for your openness to share it with others.
You Sir, are a CLASS ACT, no matter the clothes you wear.
THANK YOU!

[Ken J]

I got to meet Scott at International and I can tell y’all he is a class act who did an incredible job with Wally’s trailer - the way I look at it we do not own these historic trailers we have been given the opportunity to be the caretakers of them - We are soooo fortunate that Scott and Megan found this trailer and have done an incredible job of guarding its future

[goransons]

Thanks everyone. We made it home safe, were home to almost unpack and then were off on the next adventure and treated our kids to 5 days at Disneyland. 2 weeks with no trailer work. I’m tired but feeling better about getting back to work on systems but first to catch up on the yard a bit.

[bweybright]

Enjoy the time with your family and the trailer....that is what it is all about!!

[goransons]

We've been enjoying our summer, including another week camping on the Oregon Coast, then back home to catch up on a month of limited yard work and handling a major plumbing issue at the house.

I received an email from Dale this morning with some awesome pictures. Here's a preview!

We will be getting back to work on things. I'm hoping to start water lines next and Megan is starting on the cushions for the front couch.

[Hittenstiehl]

So glad you guys are having a wonderful trip after all that hard work can't wait to see the exciting new pictures from Dale.

There's a new trailer just posted on the classifieds today that is serial number 252 a trailer made for Stella in case you run out of work.

I posted a nice picture you might enjoy in the what did you get for your trailer today thread.

[Ken J]

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

So glad you guys are having a wonderful trip after all that hard work can't wait to see the exciting new pictures from Dale.

There's a new trailer just posted on the classifieds today that is serial number 252 a trailer made for Stella in case you run out of work.

I posted a nice picture you might enjoy in the what did you get for your trailer today thread.

Ah you got the pics - that’s great !

[goransons]

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

So glad you guys are having a wonderful trip after all that hard work can't wait to see the exciting new pictures from Dale.

There's a new trailer just posted on the classifieds today that is serial number 252 a trailer made for Stella in case you run out of work.

I posted a nice picture you might enjoy in the what did you get for your trailer today thread.

I went and checked it out! Larry Garrison (forgive me if that's spelled wrong) has been trying to sell that trailer for over a year. Joe and others pointed out there was nothing to substantiate the claim it was her trailer, not even a photo etc. I'm disappointed he's still representing it that way, but hey to each their own, I just hope potential buyers do their due diligence to verify the story. Not to mention it's way too much money for me!!


To be honest we are trying to hunt down a trailer that belonged to the grand parents of my wife's childhood best friend. It was on the African caravan with them.


I love the article, the pictures are great in it, and great information. There is more from that caravan and Mexico in Wally Byam's book, Trailer Travel here and abroad. We found ours on Ebay for $25, there's one on there for $100 right now. Joe found another picture sitting on the forums that has great clarity and color, better than most we had! Shows off that great Cadillac and the matching paint job.

[Hittenstiehl]

Have fun on your hunt for thode trailers.

I have that book also. I bought mine off of Etsy from a lady who bought it in the garage sale. It has the name of the owners in it and I was able to track down their family and write the daughter's a nice letter saying I had bought their parents book and we were going to travel with it in our trailer.

There's something about these stories that really tugs at my heartstrings. I feel like there are shoe boxes and photo albums throughout this country full of gorgeous Airstream pictures and the places they've been.

[Hittenstiehl]

Reading the National Geographic article now, there you are together again, in the beginning.

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

So glad you guys are having a wonderful trip after all that hard work can't wait to see the exciting new pictures from Dale.

There's a new trailer just posted on the classifieds today that is serial number 252 a trailer made for Stella in case you run out of work.

I posted a nice picture you might enjoy in the what did you get for your trailer today thread.

As mentioned already by Scott, there is absolutely no evidence that Bubble serial number 252 was made for Stella Byam, but much reason to think this is nothing more than a ploy to try to increase the desirability or sales price. Don't be fooled.

Stella had no need for an Airstream of her own, especially not one built right after serial number 251 that Wally and Stella used to tour Europe in 1955 while scouting for the 1956 European Caravan. Dale Schwamborn agrees.

I wish there was a way to counteract such dubious "we were told" (by who?) claims in Airstream classified ads.

[Hittenstiehl]

Sorry Scott this is the one I meant to add. Not trying to clog your thread.

[goransons]

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

Sorry Scott this is the one I meant to add. Not trying to clog your thread.Attachment 318146

If you posted a picture of Switzerland then you may very well have been trying to CLOG my thread.

No worries, I love the photos.

Joe I agree on 252. Maybe the mods will look at it.

[Slats]

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

Reading the National Geographic article now, there you are together again, in the beginning.

Geez, not a Ford 250 in sight. Imagine that, they actually used '56 Ford station wagons for tow vehicles, with drum brakes, no less. What were they thinking?

[TouringDan]

Originally Posted by Slats

Geez, not a Ford 250 in sight. Imagine that, they actually used '56 Ford station wagons for tow vehicles, with drum brakes, no less. What were they thinking?

Drum brakes in a 56 Ford station wagon, just like you get on a new over $100K 2018 Airstream Classic.

Dan

[switz]

Sadly, drum brakes are stock on all Airstreams still today.

On the less "expensive" models, Airstream still does not spend the extra $5 per wheel for the auto-adjust feature for drum brakes. At least our 2015 23D International Serenity (top trim line for that model) did not have that brake feature.

Our 23D did have another negative feature when we got it of lack of grease in one set of wheel bearings and by the time we traveled the 2,000 miles to get it to our modification center from the selling dealership, that set of bearings were heavily scored and had to be replaced and the other three bearing sets were low on grease. In disgust, we ended up replacing all the bearings with TimKen bearing sets made in the USA versus the apparently no-name bearings that were installed by Dexter.

[66Overlander]

Can we please stop cluttering up Scott's very excellent restoration thread with unrelated banter. Thanks in advancen

[Slats]

Thanks for the gentle reminder, Joe. I completely agree. I am asking the moderator to remove my post (and, for that matter, this one) from this otherwise excellent thread.