[VAC] Re: early 50's

[Agrijeep@xxxxxxx]

Toby:

   The 1953 Airstream catalog contains line drawings of pipe frame trailers 
with a flat 13 panel (Wonder bread) front end and a round (french bread loaf) 
rear end.  The catalog states trailers can be ordered with two round ends, 
one round and one flat end, or two flat ends.  Though shown in drawings in 
the 1953 catalog, I'm not sure pipe frame trailers were still being 
manufactured that year.  Pipe frames may already have been replaced by ladder 
frames notwithstanding the catalog illustrations, which  may have been 
carried over from earlier years without updating.     

   My 18' pipe frame Clipper s/n 5077 has a round rear end and a flat front 
end with two casement type windows.  It is titled as a 1953 but that is not 
determinative.  We are unsure of the year of manufacture, but think it may be 
1950.   I have seen photos of one other trailer with a flat front and round 
rear end.   They were made but probably in small numbers.  

Fred Coldwell
VAC Archive Historian