Airstreaming: Living the aluminum life
At gas stations, campgrounds and places in between, when I stop with my Airstream in tow, one question gets inevitably asked. The answer:
They still make Airstreams.
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- Ethel, a 1963 Airstream Bambi, parked at Pennsylvania’s Codourus State park. At 16-feet in length, the Bambi has a towing weight of 1,850 pounds, which makes it light enough to be towed without an oversized truck. This makes it a much sought after model. A trailer similar to ours was added to New York’s Museum of Modern Art collection in 2007. This was the first design iteration for the models still made today. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- Ethel, a 1963 Airstream Bambi, parked at Pennsylvania’s Codourus State park. At 16-feet in length, the Bambi has a towing weight of 1,850 pounds, which makes it light enough to be towed without an oversized truck. This makes it a much sought after model. A trailer similar to ours was added to New York’s Museum of Modern Art collection in 2007. This was the first design iteration for the models still made today. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- Rain mixes with the glow of soft daylight off the aluminum skin of our 1963 Airstream Bambi named “Ethel.” The buck rivets are iconic to Airstreams, which are made using techniques used on military aircraft. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- Cooper and Chester keeping the watch from inside “Ethel,” our 1963 Airstream Bambi. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- The first outing with “Ethel,” the 1963 Airstream Bambi, at Cunningham Falls State Park in the Catoctin mountains. Just over a year later we purchased a second Airstram, a larger 1957 Caravanner, that is under restoration. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- The proper campsite is not in place until the lights have been strung form the awning. Though not modeled after Airstreams, these lights are similar to the first factory-produced model, the Torpedo Car Cruiser, made by company founder Wally Byam in 1932. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- We purchased a 1963 Airstream Bambi in June 2013 and christened her “Ethel” in honor of the character from I love Lucy — my wife’s favorite show. The travel trailer, here being prepared to leave for Maryland, had been restored in 2005 by the previous owner soon after he purchased her. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- Chester, the Alpha dog in our pack of three, waits for us to depart for a camping trip to Deep Creek State Park. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- Stopping for gas on the way to Deep Creek State Park. Airstreams are known for the gleaming aluminum exterior, and this was the first trip after we had finished polishing the 16-foot Bambi. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- “Ethel” sits at a Deep Creek State Park campsite. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- The serial number for “Ethel” indicates she was built at the Jackson Center, Ohio, plant in 1963. At the time, Airstreams were also built at an older plant in California. California production ceased in 1978. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- The three dogs relaxing inside “Ethel” while camping in Shenandoah River State Park. Cooper (back of cushion,) Chester (front) and Chloe. The three are natural travelers, and adapted easily to the Airstream lifestyle. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- Coffee on the stove in the small Airstream kitchen. The 1963 Bambi has a three burner gas stove and a mini refrigerator that can run on gas or electric. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- The 1963 Bambi has two seven-panel end caps buck riveted together. Earlier editions had 13 panels until 1958 when they changed to seven. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- Lights glow from beneath the awning as “Ethel” sits parked at Starlite Camping Resort in Pennsylvania. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- Cooper waits for bedtime inside “Ethel,” shielded from the bugs by netting in the doorway. The 1963 Bambi is supposed to sleep three adults, but room is a little tight with two adults and three dogs. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- The 1957 Airstream Caravanner, named “Fred,” sits at Frank’s Trailer Works in Baltimore. At 22 feet, “Fred” is a bit larger than “Ethel.” (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- A toy sheep, crayons of various age, and a 1960 calendar are among the items found after removing the couch from the 1957 Airstream Caravanner. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- Waterproofing, tufts of insulation, wires and masking tape are exposed after removing the inner aluminum skins from the 1957 Caravanner. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- The top piece, made of aircraft-grade aluminum sheets riveted together and covered in layers of paint, after being removed from inside “Fred.” This piece will be stripped and then repainted once riveted into place inside the 1957 Airstream Caravanner. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- Frank Yensan, Frank’s Trailer Works proprieter, used a piece of aluminum to mark the 1957 Airstream Caravanner’s interior measurements. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- “Fred” coming back into the Frank’s Trailer Works shop. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- Clecos are used to hold a replacement piece of aluminum as Frank Yensan buck rivets it in place on the frame of “Fred.” Every effort is made to reuse the original pieces and parts of a vintage Airstream, but not everything can be saved. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- A big moment in the restoration of “Fred” is replacing the shell on the refurbished frame. Frank Yensan pushes the the frame, with a new subfloor and axels, under the 1957 Airstream Caravanner. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- The interior shell of “Fred” is lowered into place by Frank Yensan. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- Lowering the Airstream’s aluminum shell into place is a slow, arduous process, as the rivet holes have to align. Frank Yensan inspects the progress from all fours. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- “Fred” sits near a 1968 Airstream Caravel also being worked on at Frank’s Trailer Works. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- The remains of a running light on an aluminum panels. The Airstream was born in 1932, but did not really get going until after World War II. Founder Wally Byam closed down production during the war and went to work for aircraft manufacturer Lockheed and strengthened his aluminum manufacturing skills. When the war ended he went to Curtis Wright Industries, where he developed the aluminum Clipper trailer before leaving in 1947 and reviving Airstream. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- A piece of shaved aluminum from a panel that will soon be added to the 1957 Airstream Caravanner. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
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- The fading membership numbers in the Wally Byam Caravan Club on the back of 29-foot 1953 Airstream Liner being worked on at Frank’s Trailer Works. Wally Byam, the revered and iconic founder of Airstream, led globetrotting caravans of Airstreams starting in the 1950s. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
By Christopher T. Assaf, Baltimore Sun
Recreation culture flourished after World War II as Americans wanted to hit the road, cruising new Interstates and caravanning around the globe and living the American Dream.
There has been growing popularity for Airstreams old and new. My wife and me, along with our three West Highland terriers, own two vintage trailers — a 1963 Bambi and a 1957 Caravanner we are restoring. The two are named “Ethel” and “Fred” in honor of my wife’s favorite show, “I Love Lucy.”
Wally Bayam, who wanted to build light, streamlined trailers, founded the company in 1931. The modern travel trailers are still made in Jackson Center, Ohio, where the factory is expanding to meet demand as Baby Boomers retire and want to travel the road and live the aluminum dream.
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