[VAC] Airstream History

["Harvey Barlow" <harveybarlow@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Wayne,

I have a copy of a handout sheet which is provided to those who take the
Airstream factory tour at Jackson Center titled: "AIRSTREAM MANUFACTURING
HISTORY."

The entries on the list are:

 "Airstream founded in 1931 in Los Angeles."
 "The Ohio factory was started in August 1952."
 "Airstream was purchased totally by Beatrice Foods in December 1967."
 "The new manufacturing plant was built in August 1971."
 "The service building was built in August 1974."
 "The first Argosy trailer was put on the market April 1971. (1972 Model)."
 "The first Argosy motorhome introduced December 1973. (1974 Model)."
 "Thor Industries purchased Airstream in September 1979."

The list then provides "FIRSTS BY MODEL YEAR" which identifies when various
units such as Argosy, Airstream Classic Motorhome, Land Yachts, B Vans, and
other products were introduced.

The handout is clearly not a scholarly work.  It does not address whether
Airstream was always a corporation or was initially owned by Wally as a
single-proprietorship and later a corporation was formed.  It also does not
mention whether Airstream, Inc. was publicly traded or was owned only by the
Byam family or other close associates.  The answers to those questions would
be interesting.

There is no mention whatsoever of Airstream every being owned by W. R. Grace
and Company.  If it actually occurred, Airsteam is apparently keeping it a
secret.  I have never heard that rumor.   Maybe W. R. Grace simply owned an
amount of Airstream stock at some point

Harvey