Wayne,
Thanks for all this info. I had no idea about all that.
When touring the plant in Ohio a few years ago, I noted to the tour guide
that one of the trailers out front was not an Airstream, but rather a Curtis
Wright that they had riveted a newer Airstream nameplate to. He had no
comment. I would have expected (and certainly hoped for) an answer as
eloquent as your explanation here.
Thanks for finally clearing that up for me.
~Wally (no, not that one)
> Hi Hunter,
>
> Technically you are correct, however the 46 and 47 tube frame
> Curtis Wrights were built under the direction of Wally Byam at CW before
> he
> restarted Airstream in mid 47. The VAC/WBCCI recognizes them as Airstreams
> and
> their owners are allowed to join the club.
>
> 48 and 49 Curtis Wrights were
> not modified from that design and were built under the direction of
> Wally's
> successors at CW and are also candidates for membership.
>
> In 1949 CW sold the
> aluminum Trailer rights to Silver Streak!
>
> However we had to draw the line
> somewhere so 49 and later Silver Streaks, which went nearly unchanged for
> another 4 years do not qualify for membership in the club!
>
> We tried to argue
> that many of the aluminum trailers of that period were inspired by
> Wally's Airstream design and should be allowed to join, but the Big
> Kahunas at
> WBCCI squashed it.
>
> Seems odd that some 10 years later in an effort to expand
> the membership they were trying to get non Airstream products into the
> club.
>
> How do they say it?? "What's good for the goose....."
>
> WAM
>