[VAC] Re: ARGOSY, BEATRICE, AIRSTREAM

[Charlie/Betty Burke <cbburke@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The quick and dirty is this.
The Argosy was built from approximately 1972-87. It was built as a
test/economy unit in a separate facility. The first version was in the classic
Airstream shape with several experimental variations. The Argosy had one piece
steel front and rear top end caps. It also had the 30" wide front windows that
did not appear in the Airstream until 1979.
In it's second version that appeared in 1986 in was a metal skinned square
shaped coach. This was the prototype for the infamous squarestreams of
1988-89. It gave them the experience to built composite wall units that became
the Airstream Landyacht series that started in 1991 and continues to this day.

Beatrice Foods in the diversifying climate of the late '60's bought Airstream
in July 1969. They sold Airstream to a group of industry executives under the
name of Thor Industries in July 1979 which owns Airstream to this day. Thor
offices are just down the street from Airstream in Jackson Center.
Much is said about the time Beatrice owned Airstream both good and bad. The
good include the illustrated service manuals and similar production
documentation. They often get the blame for the engineering that brought on
the "rear end droop" problem. They also often get the blame for the first
major style change in 1969. The service bulletins indicate the problems had
started prior to Beatrice foods. Beatrice did not take over the company until
after the newly styled 69 was introduced.

Charlie