Before our tour of the factory we walked through the outside lot and saw some of the Airstreams they had on display.
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| Stella's Dream Trailer |
Wally Byam designed a trailer during the 1956 Airstream Wally Byam European Caravan. For the design he collaborated with a consultant who was better in describing an Airstream’s requirements than Wally's wife, Stella. The floorplan that they came up with was christened “Stella's Dream Trailer.”
Wally Byam was one of the pioneer manufacturers of the travel trailer. He founded the company, Airstream Inc. From the 1930s until his death in 1962, Byam was a leader in developing both a romance and enthusiasm associated with the automobile and recreational vehicle culture, as well as product features as the United States became increasingly focused on highways and automobile travel
During the late 1920s, Americans were beginning to take to the roads in greater numbers. Byam's new trailer was a perfect match for the increasingly popular mobile lifestyle. Byam thus began selling sets of his plans for five dollars. He also sold complete trailer kits and finished trailers he built in his Los Angeles backyard. His fledgling business survived the crash of 1929. By 1930, he had abandoned advertising and publishing to become a full-time builder of Masonite travel trailers. The Airstream Company was incorporated in 1931.
In 1934, Hawley Bowlus developed the first riveted aluminum trailer, named the "Road Chief". Wally Byam was involved in sales of these trailers. Bowlus continued to produce his line of trailers, finally ending production in September 1936. William Hawley Bowlus was an aircraft designer who had worked on The Spirit of St. Louis.
On January 17, 1936, the Airstream introduced the Clipper, and a well-known American brand was born. The Clipper was a similar shape and length to the Bowlus Road Chief but with the door now located on the side. With its semi monocoque, riveted aluminum body, it had more in common with the aircraft of its day than with its travel trailer predecessors. It could sleep four, thanks to its tubular steel-framed dinette, which could convert to a bed. It carried its own water supply, had an enclosed galley, and was fitted with electric lights. The Clipper boasted advanced insulation and a ventilation system, and even offered "air conditioning" that used dry ice.
At $1200, the Clipper was considered an expensive travel trailer. However, market response to the product was strong and Byam's company could not build units fast enough to satisfy the deluge of orders. Wally Byam's meticulous attention to quality and design helped guide the firm through tough economic times. Of more than 400 travel trailer builders operating in 1936, Airstream was the only one to survive the Great Depression years.
With the onset of World War II, leisure travel and the materials necessary to build trailers became luxuries the country could not afford and in response to the war effort, Airstream closed its doors. Byam decided that the best way to help America was to use his experience with aluminum fabricating in the aircraft industry. He took positions at Lockheed and Curtis Wright for the duration of the war. When World War II ended, the economy boomed and Americans once again turned their attention towards recreational travel. Byam reopened Airstream; by 1948, the demand for Airstream trailers seemed limitless. Like the Coca-Cola bottle and Zippo lighter, Airstream travel trailers became one of the most recognizable products in the world.
Airstream has been used by NASA when they quarantine facility was home for our returning astronauts coming back from the moon landing. NASA chose Airstream for its remarkable strength, lightness of weight, and reliable self-containment.
“Stella's Dream Trailer” went into production during the first quarter of 1957 to be ready for the first continental United States caravan. It made its debut during the Kentucky Derby and Indianapolis 500 Caravan.
When Stella’s Airstream came off the production line at the Jackson Center, Ohio factory it was far more than a typical Airstream. It is clad in beautiful gold anodized aluminum, and will be forever, “Stella’s Gold Airstream.”
Wally Byam was one of the pioneer manufacturers of the travel trailer. He founded the company, Airstream Inc. From the 1930s until his death in 1962, Byam was a leader in developing both a romance and enthusiasm associated with the automobile and recreational vehicle culture, as well as product features as the United States became increasingly focused on highways and automobile travel
During the late 1920s, Americans were beginning to take to the roads in greater numbers. Byam's new trailer was a perfect match for the increasingly popular mobile lifestyle. Byam thus began selling sets of his plans for five dollars. He also sold complete trailer kits and finished trailers he built in his Los Angeles backyard. His fledgling business survived the crash of 1929. By 1930, he had abandoned advertising and publishing to become a full-time builder of Masonite travel trailers. The Airstream Company was incorporated in 1931.
In 1934, Hawley Bowlus developed the first riveted aluminum trailer, named the "Road Chief". Wally Byam was involved in sales of these trailers. Bowlus continued to produce his line of trailers, finally ending production in September 1936. William Hawley Bowlus was an aircraft designer who had worked on The Spirit of St. Louis.
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| Clipper |
On January 17, 1936, the Airstream introduced the Clipper, and a well-known American brand was born. The Clipper was a similar shape and length to the Bowlus Road Chief but with the door now located on the side. With its semi monocoque, riveted aluminum body, it had more in common with the aircraft of its day than with its travel trailer predecessors. It could sleep four, thanks to its tubular steel-framed dinette, which could convert to a bed. It carried its own water supply, had an enclosed galley, and was fitted with electric lights. The Clipper boasted advanced insulation and a ventilation system, and even offered "air conditioning" that used dry ice.
At $1200, the Clipper was considered an expensive travel trailer. However, market response to the product was strong and Byam's company could not build units fast enough to satisfy the deluge of orders. Wally Byam's meticulous attention to quality and design helped guide the firm through tough economic times. Of more than 400 travel trailer builders operating in 1936, Airstream was the only one to survive the Great Depression years.
With the onset of World War II, leisure travel and the materials necessary to build trailers became luxuries the country could not afford and in response to the war effort, Airstream closed its doors. Byam decided that the best way to help America was to use his experience with aluminum fabricating in the aircraft industry. He took positions at Lockheed and Curtis Wright for the duration of the war. When World War II ended, the economy boomed and Americans once again turned their attention towards recreational travel. Byam reopened Airstream; by 1948, the demand for Airstream trailers seemed limitless. Like the Coca-Cola bottle and Zippo lighter, Airstream travel trailers became one of the most recognizable products in the world.
Airstream has been used by NASA when they quarantine facility was home for our returning astronauts coming back from the moon landing. NASA chose Airstream for its remarkable strength, lightness of weight, and reliable self-containment.
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| Airstream Ranch |
Located on I-4 at Exit 14 next to Bates RV Tampa, Florida. There are 7 large Airstreams and one Bambi, to represent 7-1/2 Airstreams. Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of Airstream. This was here for many years, but has since been demolished to make room for a new Airstream dealership.
Every Airstream is custom-fit with handcrafted furniture that is assembled in their facility in Ohio. They use only high-quality Italian Lite-Ply or hardwood – you won’t find particle board in any trailer – and everything is built as solid-wood assemblies, just like household cabinetry. Touring the factory was really quite impressive to see all the steps involved in putting together just one Airstream. If you are contemplating on buying an RV, I would recommend you download the quality guide and read it thoroughly (you can get it through the link above).
Also, the way the aluminum panels are installed over the frame is of high quality, and that does make a big difference. The riveted aluminum shell is light, strong, and self-supporting just like an airplane’s fuselage. They are aerodynamic and that makes a big difference in fuel consumption. Anyway, the travel trailers can be passed down from generation to generation. We have seen old Airstreams that are still in good condition. And after looking at the prices of the new Airstreams, we would definitely be buying a used Airstream if we ever decide to buy another RV.
The RV we bought and currently lived in full-time is considered the "Canadian Airstream;" called an Award, it was custom built for us by Award in Dunnville, Ontario in 2003. Unfortunately, Award is no longer in business, but I think there is still an Award rally that takes place in Canada, though we have never went to one. But I do have to brag about our RV; we made a few changes to the interior design to fit our lifestyle, and also had the cabinetry built of solid maple wood. Jim wanted maple cabinetry when we were looking for an RV and not one RV company in the United States would build us one with maple cabinetry, so when I found Award and asked if they would put maple in the RV, he said sure "all it takes is money."
Our Award is aerodynamic and with the peaked roof, gives the inside an open and comfortable feeling. In the Facing Forward picture, across from the couch, we had a corner cabinet built where we have our TV and a VCR/DVD player. The couch is long enough for Jim to lay down on, and I have my place at the dinette table facing the front where I have my computer and a bucket full of my "paperwork." I can also sit there and watch TV.
Every Airstream is custom-fit with handcrafted furniture that is assembled in their facility in Ohio. They use only high-quality Italian Lite-Ply or hardwood – you won’t find particle board in any trailer – and everything is built as solid-wood assemblies, just like household cabinetry. Touring the factory was really quite impressive to see all the steps involved in putting together just one Airstream. If you are contemplating on buying an RV, I would recommend you download the quality guide and read it thoroughly (you can get it through the link above).
Also, the way the aluminum panels are installed over the frame is of high quality, and that does make a big difference. The riveted aluminum shell is light, strong, and self-supporting just like an airplane’s fuselage. They are aerodynamic and that makes a big difference in fuel consumption. Anyway, the travel trailers can be passed down from generation to generation. We have seen old Airstreams that are still in good condition. And after looking at the prices of the new Airstreams, we would definitely be buying a used Airstream if we ever decide to buy another RV.
The RV we bought and currently lived in full-time is considered the "Canadian Airstream;" called an Award, it was custom built for us by Award in Dunnville, Ontario in 2003. Unfortunately, Award is no longer in business, but I think there is still an Award rally that takes place in Canada, though we have never went to one. But I do have to brag about our RV; we made a few changes to the interior design to fit our lifestyle, and also had the cabinetry built of solid maple wood. Jim wanted maple cabinetry when we were looking for an RV and not one RV company in the United States would build us one with maple cabinetry, so when I found Award and asked if they would put maple in the RV, he said sure "all it takes is money."
Our Award is aerodynamic and with the peaked roof, gives the inside an open and comfortable feeling. In the Facing Forward picture, across from the couch, we had a corner cabinet built where we have our TV and a VCR/DVD player. The couch is long enough for Jim to lay down on, and I have my place at the dinette table facing the front where I have my computer and a bucket full of my "paperwork." I can also sit there and watch TV.
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| Facing Forward |
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| Couch |
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| Kitchen Area |
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| Dinette Table |
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| Bathroom |
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| Toward the Rear & Bedroom |
We have been on the road since 2012 wandering all over the United States and visiting our national parks and monuments as well as museums and quirky sites that we find. I highlight the places that we visit in my Blog and also reference them in my website, which you can access from the link at the top of the page.
Quote for the Day: Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. ~~ Stephen Hawking
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