The Shasta Airflyte – History on Wheels! The best businesses understand the history of the tools they use, and as an Austin, Texas, mobile photo boothq, one of Trailer Booth Photography's most important tools is, of course, our trailer! We love our 1962 Shasta Airflyte, which we've nicknamed “Tammy the Hammy,” and the company that made it has a fascinating history. Here's some background information on Tammy and her many, many family members.
The predecessors of Shasta trailers were mobile home trailers built for the United States Armed Forces, beginning in 1941 at a plant in Los Angeles. After World War II, the company sold mobile homes under the name Cozy Cruiser. In 1952 the company changed its name to Shasta, creating vehicles between fourteen and thirty-five feet long. The U.S. economy was doing well in the '50s, and a great many citizens were inspired to hit the road and visit other parts of the country, taking in the sights and sounds along Route 66 and other major highways. Camping became popular as a recreational hobby, and the demand for mobile homes and travel trailers was absolutely booming. To keep up with the demand, the Shasta company opened a second plant in Goshen, Indiana, in 1958. That year, the very first Airflyte was manufactured, originally sixteen feet long. It was around that same time that the distinctive “wings” were added to Shasta trailers, near the back on both sides. They were originally wooden, but they became aluminum by 1960. The outer skin of the
Airflyte was also made of aluminum, its frame was built of three-inch channel steel, and its walls and ceiling were insulated with an inch of fiberglass. The Airflyte's shape has been described as “teardrop” shaped, but it's more commonly referred to as “canned ham,” which is how Tammy the Hammy got her name! Shasta produced several models of trailers and mobile homes over the years in addition to the Airflyte, and the company was the most popular of its kind in the United States, due to its high-quality but low-cost products. The cost of a sixteen-foot Airflyte was $1250 in 1961; two years later, the price dropped to $1195. The Shasta brand was purchased by Coachman Industries in 1976, but the brand name stayed on the products and remained popular. Production was cut significantly in the year 2000, and Shastas stopped being manufactured altogether in 2004, with no goodbye or celebration. Fortunately, production began again in 2008, and Shasta became a division of River Forest, Inc. two years later. Recently, new Airflytes in vintage styles have returned to assembly lines, hopefully ushering in a renaissance of wanderlust and cross-country travel. Trailer Booth Photography is proud to own and operate a living piece of history, one that we've worked hard to restore and repurpose. We love sharing Tammy the Hammy with all our clients and their guests, and they love her right back! If you're interested in bringing a beautiful piece of history to your next party or event, contact your mobile photo booth in ATX today!