Tag Archives: Vintage

Historical Airstream: “Building Dreams Is Our Business” 2

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Thanks to TrailerChix for sharing this really nifty video today on Facebook.

“Southwest Coaches takes you back to another era, giving you an inside look at the care, design, and craftsmanship that goes into each and every Airstream product. This vintage documentary was filmed at the Airstream plant over 40 years ago; rare footage which is a must see video for anyone interested in Airstreams, Airstream’s roots, or any Airstream enthusiast. These same construction ideas, techniques, attention to detail, and craftsmanship are still utilized today. This video shows what separates Airstream from the rest of the travel trailer pack; and the ingenuity that makes Airstream the American icon that it is today.”

Throwback Thursday, Part 2 ~ Vintage Airstream Photos 2

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Once again I would like to share more vintage Airstream photos. Thanks goes out to Airstream, Inc. for posting “Throwback Thursday” pics on Facebook. My first post on Throwback Thursday has some pretty nifty vintage shots as well. You can check those out here.  Tomorrow I will be driving to Jackson Center, Ohio to tour the Airstream factory and I just can’t wait. Hmmm, maybe I should write a post about that, what do a think? Enjoy!!

Photo source: Airstream, Inc.

Airstream and Astronauts 4

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Having grown up just outside of Washington, DC, I was a privileged child to have had the ultimate experience of touring some of the nations prized possessions ~ museums and national monuments. You could probably deduce that we took these treasures for granted at the time. But, I cherish these monuments now! And the added bonus, the museums and monuments are free, which is a gift to us all. Worth a bucket list trip just to experience all that Washington, DC has to offer including: American Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian, National Gallery of Art, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Gardens, National Museum of the American Indian, Washington Monument, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, National WWII Memorial (one of my favorites since my Father is a WWII veteran) and Arlington National Cemetery ~  just to name a few.

A couple of years ago I toured the newer Smithsonian, National Air and Space Museum,  Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA. And now, I can’t wait to make a trip back so I can view this Airstream myself.

“This Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF) was one of four built by NASA for astronauts returning from the Moon.  Its purpose was to prevent the unlikely spread of lunar contagions by isolating the astronauts from contact with other people.  A converted Airstream trailer, the MQF contained living and sleeping quarters, a kitchen, and a bathroom.  Quarantine was assured by keeping the air pressure inside lower than the pressure outside and by filtering the air vented from the facility. This MQF was used by Apollo 11 astronauts Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins immediately after their return to Earth.  They remained in it for 65 hours, while the MQF was flown from the aircraft carrier Hornet to the Johnson Space Center in Houston.  They were allowed to emerge once scientists were sure they were not infected with “moon germs.” NASA transferred the MQF to the Smithsonian Institution in 1974.”

Quote and photo source: Smithsonian, National Air and Space Museum

Timeless Travel Trailers ~ Part II 5

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Back in March of this year, I was honored to have been able to tour the Denver facility of Timeless Travel Trailers. You can read my first post on Timeless here.  Since our visit, Timeless has completed the gut renovation of this iconic and extremely rare 40′ Airstream. The photo above was taken during my visit in March. I am thrilled to share with you the final results of this magnificent renovation in the photos below, all courtesy of Timeless Travel Trailers. Since this Airstream isn’t towable, the “Mona Lisa”, privately owned, will be moved to her new home in the west where she will be cared for by an owner who truly has brought her to back to her glory and then some!

“The Western Pacific Railroad Company commissioned only ten of the 40′ Airstream trailers in 1962. They were used for Maintenance of Way Foreman. The design of these Airstreams was different from others of the same model year in that they were symmetrical from end to end rather than having the sloping tail. They were created by riveting two 20′ trailers together in the middle. The trailers were mounted on 50′ railroad flatcars when new and spent the rest of their working days on the rails. Most railroads used their retired passenger equipment for MOW work. The Western Pacific had very modest passenger operations and ran a very tight budget. This kept almost their entire passenger fleet in revenue operation until the 1970′s with the inception of Amtrak. For Western Pacific, the investment in the Airstreams made good economic sense. The Western Pacific was acquired by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1989. The Airstreams were dismounted from their flatcars for the first time in 27 years. One unit went to the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, CA. Another unti went to the California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento, CA and the remaining units were sold in various auctions. It is noted that two were destroyed while in railroad service.” That would leave five of the units in private possession in addition to this fine example that Timeless completely renovated.

Photo source: Timeless Travel Trailers