hey, were the original/vintage Airstreams Jim Westin bright? I find it hard to belive that they were. To each his/her own, I say. I'm in favor of both philosophies; original or individual.
-----Original Message-----
From: Tom
Walden [SMTP:twalden@earthlink.net]
Sent: Thursday, January 07, 1999 11:20 AM
To: airstream@airstream.net
Subject: [airstream] Remodeling versus Remuddling
There are plenty of Vintage Airstreams out there, but it is a finite
number. As long as some of us work really hard to keep some of each type
in origional condition with origional interior paints, fabrics.
fixtures and flooring; the rest can use their immagionation and creative
skills as they will. We really should award prizes to rally-goers who have
faithfully restored their trailers as they do at antique car
shows. These Airstreams will be a point of reference and inspiration
for everyone in the future ( imagine what an origional Airstream will be
worth in 2059!). To that end we also need a repository of parts, fixtures,
appliances etc. somewhere so that we can replace ruined items and where
people junking something like an early 50's toilet or refrigerator or hardware
could leave it for someone going for an authentic period look. Those of
you who have seen remodeled early homes redone in the 40's , 50's , 60's,
or 70's (talk about avacodo and shag) can readily see what is meant by
remuddling - usually an imposition of then-current bad taste on something
that already has its own design integrity. Ideally, we wouldn't do anything
irreversable in a Vintage Airstream, expecially where it was visable. Usually
a change of curtains, upholstery and paint more than satisfies a need to
make an interior more pleasing to a new owner and those things can be returned
easily to the origional. Try to find a home for parts you are abandoning
as you redo your aluminum babies - let the net know what you are discarding
or put a line in the VAC classifieds if you want to sell it. How I ramble
on! Just one more note: if you have orgional fabrics and are getting rid
of them - I am trying to collect samples for each year so that we can have
an archive of such stuff for future restorers.
Enough!
Tom