Has anyone heard this history myth?

[Stefrobrts]

Well, I don't know if it's a myth or not, but a friend mentioned it last night when we were talking about camping and I mentioned my vintage Airstream. He said he had heard that when Airstreams were first built, way back in the day, they all came out of the factory with individual names. Not just model names, and not just the names their owners give them, but that the factory sent each new hand-built Airstream home with it's own name. Has anyone ever heard that one before?

[Melody Ranch]

To bad Pee wee quit for calmer pastures.

[markdoane]

I know if you milk cows, it's hard to find new names for them after the first hundred.
I imagine it's the same with trailers.

[moosetags]

That's very intriguing information. I would love to know if there is anything to it.

Brian

[vswingfield]

Actually, I think it was you give every car you're going to steal a name.

See Gone in 60 Seconds or Gone in Sixty Seconds (the remake. The first was a lot of fun, though.).

[safari57]

Well, I know as I work on mine it has acquired several "names". Some in haste and taken back, others not quite so bad

It will be interesting to find out the answer, if that is possible.

[mistral blue]

Who is your friend? Where did he hear it from? Does he have a special knowledge base?

Originally Posted by markdoane

I know if you milk cows, it's hard to find new names for them after the first hundred.
I imagine it's the same with trailers.

I agree. But by the same token, I wouldn't be shocked at all to learn that Wally named the first dozen or so trailers.

[wasagachris]

Originally Posted by mistral blue

I agree. But by the same token, I wouldn't be shocked at all to learn that Wally named the first dozen or so trailers.

I have number 23 built in 1947. Once I tear into it I'll look for any special names

[Stefrobrts]

Originally Posted by mistral blue

Who is your friend? Where did he hear it from? Does he have a special knowledge base?

Nope, just an average Joe, grew up in Texas. They're good friends of ours, a bit older than us, maybe in their 50's, and own a 35' 5-er, and we were comparing camping stories and it came up. Seems even folks who have never owned an Airstream have stories about them!

[moosetags]

True or not, it's great urban legend material.

Brian

[Tom Nugler]

If I recall there have been some references here where people have found names inside cabinets and walls that are apart for repairs or rehab.
They might be from line workers or repairman who thought they might leave a bit of their legacy.
I've left dates and initials inside furniture I've built.
Most myths, urban legends and tall tails all started with a small fact that was embellished over the years.

Tom

[Beaker63]

Stephanie,
Riveted under the rear AS badge I found the name Pedro scratched in tiny little letters.
Tim

[AWCHIEF]

I don't know about factory given names, but my Bambi II has the name Jerry (something) written inside one of the cabinets. I have heard that was common for the furniture craftsmen to do that as they were rightly proud of their work.

[Chillpoints]

Just trying to recover our gaucho in our 1992 Excella, I was pleased to find this little hidden treasure. I know all the previous owners and none have had any work on the gaucho so we know it is from the factory.

I think I will add mine to the list, and put a date for future reference.

[WK57ABF]

Don't have any hidden names but the factory floor covering guy left a permanent bootprint, in glue, by our entrance door and it won't clean off after five years of ownership!!

John & Carole in the UK

[hissilver]

I love our Airstream, because of the history of the company, the people who have owned Airstreams, and especially the myths, legends, and truths surrounding the brand.

[Sodbust]

I would like to think that true craftsman work at Airstream then and now and take pride in there efforts, even too the point of signing there work..

I think that is why the older Airstreams have value they do.. The balance point I have noticed when we were looking at every AS for sale in a 500 mile area was around 1970 to 1972 when the fit seemed to slip back a level from the 60s models..

Now the 2011 model we looked at this winter at the RV show in Kansas City was just super.. Anyway from a walk in and around.. I would have wanted to pop open some side doors and look in to see what was found there but was so much out of my price range I did not want to make the salesman upset..

Sodbust

[danlehosky]

I have a new AS so I don't think I'll take anything apart to look for signatures. On large commercial construction sites it is traditional for everybody to sign the last beam or column before the area is closed in. It's also traditional for the ironworkers to flag the top beam. In Seattle anyway. My Mom died a couple of months ago and I was down in her basement cleaning out some old clothes and I found a pencil inscription from myslf from 1966. I was jst a kid and don't even remember doing it. People that build things with their hands are generally proud of their abilities and like the recognition. I've met some amazing craftsman.
Dan