ISSUE 40 WINTER 2018
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® ON R ALLY UE G THE RO n
Orego
Her She Shed 1969 Camp-Mor
Pretty Polly
1966 Cheltenham Waterbuck
1966 Aloha
Vintage, Classic, Retro Style & Nostalgia P L U S
R O A D
T R I P
E V E N T S
G U I D E
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S E R V I C E S
D I R E C T O R Y
Inside Charlene’s 1966 Aloha “Ruby”. Photo by Lisa Mora
Vintage Trailer Magazine | Issue 40 Winter 2018
contents Special Features
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Cover Story: Red Hawaii
Feature Trailer: Her She Shed
Charlene Finlay’s 1966 Aloha “Ruby”
Lori Helke’s 1969 Camp-Mor “Beatrice”
Regular Features 2 . . About Vintage Trailer Magazine 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Editor’s Rave 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . Letters to the Editor 5 . . . . . . . . VTM Subscriptions Form
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Feature Caravan: Pretty Polly
Special Feature: Looking Back in History
Daniele Howe’s 1966 Cheltenham Waterbuck “Polly”
Post-War European Caravan Exports
32 Feature Trailer: Beyond the Sea Janet Mekech’s 1958 Oasis “Miss K.T.T.”
38 Event Review: Rally on the Rogue, Oregon
24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Centerfold 46 . . . . . . . . . . . . Services Directory
About Vintage Trailer Magazine Vintage Trailer Magazine is the world’s first magazine solely dedicated to vintage, classic, retro-styled and custom trailers and those who love them.
V
intage Trailerites come from all walks of life and are drawn to vintage trailers for a variety of reasons. Some have nostalgic memories of childhood seaside holidays spent in trailer parks, some choose a retro camper because it looks good behind their prized classic car on its way to a car show campout. Along with a sense of classic style, lovers of retro trailers take delight in life’s many wonders – they enjoy adventure, travelling to new destinations, appreciating nature’s beauty and living a life less stressful. Vintage trailerites often also share a passion for classic cars or hot rods and will happily devote countless hours looking after their “toys”. They also have a very keen sense of aesthetic style and an eye for making small spaces look absolutely adorable. So, Vintage Trailer Magazine is about all of these things; an eclectic collection of stories, pictures, input and ideas from sources who all share so much more than a passion for camping. To the vintage trailerites out there living the dream, taking their rescued older trailers back out on the road, this magazine is for you! To those of you who wish you had one, or have one in restoration, I hope Vintage Trailer Magazine will inspire and motivate you to make your dreams come true and join the growing number of vintage trailer enthusiasts enjoying the wide-open spaces, dramatic scenery and fellow friendly travellers out there on the road.. Vintage Trailer Magazine always welcomes submissions from its readers. If you have a story you’d like to share, an amusing road trip photo or a trailer restoration you’d like to share: write to: editor@vintagetrailermagazine.com
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Vintage, Classic, Retro Style & Nostalgia
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Vintage, Classic, Retro
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Style & Nostalgia
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PUBLISHER & EDITOR Lisa Mora EMAIL editor@vintagetrailermagazine.com EDITOR’S ASSISTANT Alex Bouchet DESIGN & LAYOUT Kelsey Adams (www.kelseyjdesigns.com) Printed in U.S.A. CONTRIBUTORS Charlene Finlay, John Gunnell, Lori Helke, Daniele Howe, Janet Mekech ADVERTISING EMAIL ads@vintagetrailermagazine.com CONTACT Vintage Trailer Magazine PO Box 509, Oakland OR 97462 USA www.facebook.com/vintagetrailermagazine @vintagetrailermagazine
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COVER PHOTO Charlene Finlay’s 1966 Aloha “Ruby” at Rally on the Rogue in Grants Pass, Oregon. Photo by Lisa Mora WWW.VINTAGETRAILERMAGAZINE.COM
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Vintage Trailer Magazine is a Registered Trademark
Vintage Trailer Magazine is published four times per year by Lisa Mora. UPC 07447029041. Vintage Trailer Magazine is a Registered Trademark. All rights reserved © 2018. No part of this publication can be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher/editor. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information in the publication, however the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions or consequences in reliance on this publication.
EDITOR'S RAVE
It is now 8.30pm and I have a three-hour flight ahead of me. I couldn’t watch a movie because I left my headphones at home (and they apparently don’t give them out on planes any more). I’m rather hungry after rushing from the laptop fiasco to my connecting fight and haven’t eaten since I left home at 2pm today, but I now have to wait until they decide to roll the food cart down the aisles. This journey has made me realize something important: Airline travel sucks! Anyone who thinks otherwise and thinks that traveling is somehow glamorous and exciting, just hasn’t done it often enough in my opinion. My advice to anyone contemplating an interstate adventure is this: If you have to get from point A to point B and you’re not in any great hurry and you have the choice between making a road trip of it towing your rolling little trailer home behind you or flying there, DRIVE! I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and I guess I needed this realization right now. I’ll be honest,
I did get kind of burnt out after this past summer of non-stop events and road trips that took me thousands of miles over several state lines through Oregon, California, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Nevada, Washington and all the way north again to Canada and back. It was hard work, and after my last trip my health took a turn for the worse. I took some time off, pondered my life choices, then pulled myself together to finish this issue. So now here I am, on a plane, comparing the two ways of travelling and realizing that all those times I exhausted myself driving from event to event across the country in that big old heavy Hudson, even with the break downs and all, was worth it. The RV, road tripping life is still the best way to travel, by far! Despite the challenges it is still what brings me the most joy. For starters, how good is it having everything you could ever need at any given time easily accessible at any moment? Being able to stop whenever you want, to eat whenever (and whatever) you want, to sleep (comfortably in your own bed) any time you want without screaming babies and the pervasive drone of jet engines in your ears? Utter bliss! And don’t even get me started on the joys of changing scenery and amazing views and historic sights and tumbled down old wooden barns… (sigh) Autumn is my favorite time of the year and my home town in Oregon is looking particularly spectacular at the moment. We never had these dramatic changes of the seasons back in Australia, so I find this season the most mesmerizing of all. I don’t like the heat of summer - it makes me cranky!
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Photo by Teresa Schmidt
I
’m writing this from the seat of a plane bound for Texas on my trusty laptop that only hours ago was in the hands of a thief. The lady who had been sitting next to me in my previous flight from Oregon to L.A. stole my computer and was already on the shuttle bus to her connecting flight to Las Vegas with my computer in her hands before I realized it was gone. I am forever thankful to my amazing aptly named American Airlines steward “Treasure” (yes, that really was her name!) who ran like a bolt of lightning in hot pursuit and managed to catch up with the thief on the bus and get my computer back to me. Thank you Treasure!
But in Fall, the temperatures are perfect with crisp cool evenings and sunny mild days and the changing colors and falling leaves just lifts my spirit and reminds me of the marvel of nature and its ways of renewal and growth and makes me realize that this life I have created for myself is the best way I know to honor that. As my season of road tripping comes to an end and I pack my little trailer away for the winter I can give myself permission to relax for a while, just like nature is doing. And that little voice in my heart reminds me that a little bit of down time is OK, because it means we’re still growing. We all have a springtime’s worth of color and vibrancy budding within us even if we can’t see it as winter approaches. Happy Holidays everyone!
To follow Lisa’s adventures visit the Vintage Trailer Magazine YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/vintagetrailermagazine vintagetrailermagazine
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Letters to the Editor that is more than 30 years old, so yes, your Argosy is perfectly vintage enough! Have fun with the restoration and best of luck! Lisa
Hi Lisa,
Hi Lisa,
Our camper may not be vintage enough...it’s a 1986 Airstream Argosy. We pulled it out of tall grass next to an old building. It needs some TLC. The pics (above) are of my son Shane and my granddaughter Reese starting the first Demo Day Remodel. I’m also a member of Sister on the Fly, Sister #11019. PAULA SHADBURN – CUMMING, GEORGIA Hi Paula, Too cute! Love the tool belt! Imagine what memories she will have of her camping adventures in the Argosy when she grows up? And, for the record; in my books a vintage trailer is any trailer
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Will you be getting any more of your books in stock? I wanted to order one for my daughter. She purchased a vintage trailer to renovate and has talked her dad and I into purchasing one too. We have a lot of work ahead of us. We are all such a huge fan of yours I know your book would be a great Christmas present. Thanks CHRIS FUERST Hi Chris, Unfortunately, the U.S. distributor of my book Vintage Trailer Style (Vintage Caravan Style in the U.K) has increased the “author discount”, wholesale price they sell it to me for, to more than you pay for it on Amazon, which doesn’t seem quite fair does it? It is available on Amazon and several other bookstores though if you do a search for it online you should hopefully be able to find a copy. Thanks for the love! Lisa
Hi Lisa,
I received my first issue and found it beautiful and interesting - however it was not helpful to me in decorating my RV. I do not have a caravan or vintage trailer. I have a 24’ Rialta - class B. I want to do the interior retro and thought I would find some ideas in this magazine. U nfortunately, I found mostly exterior photos - not helpful when you do not have a vintage trailer. There is no way we could carry and display all that outdoor décor. We travel and stay most places one or two nights. So for
us it’s all about the interior. I will continue to rely on Pinterest. It is fun to see what others are doing and the trailers are amazing. BARBARA BEZUB HAMPSTEAD, TEXAS Hi Barbara, Thank you for getting in touch with your feedback, I appreciate you taking the time. Naturally I am disappointed that you found that the contents of the magazine were not inspiring to you for retro interior ideas for your Rialta. Rest assured I do feature plenty of interiors as I know that is what most of our readers want and with such a wide variety of expressions of individuality in each trailer, and therefore, each issue of the magazine, it is not unusual that you were unable to find what you needed in just one issue. So, I am going to send you a few back issues free of charge that will hopefully help you and do hope you are able to find what you need. Just remember, your trailer, whether old or new, can be all about YOU. So choose what colors YOU like and what features YOU want and although pictures in magazines and on Pinterest etc. are great sources for concepts and ideas, in the end it needs to be what makes you happy more than anything! And should the pictures fail to inspire you, I hope at least that the great stories from other women out there on the road will! In the meantime I will take your feedback on board and try to make sure to have more interior shots for future issues. Kindest regards, Lisa
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Cover Story
WORDS & PHOTOS LISA MORA
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met Charlene Finlay when she was parked next door to me at the Rally on The Rogue this year. With her brightly decorated and Hawaiian pinup girl and Hibiscus-adorned red and white trailer complete with bedazzled red flamingos out front, it was clear that we were going to get along. How often is it that your never-before-met trailer rally neighbor so often becomes a great friend? I guess
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camping together you get to know each other pretty quickly. You laugh and let loose and see each other all messy haired and pyjama clad in the mornings. And there’s no doubt that there is something about these cozy little vintage trailer dinettes that just seems so conducive to “deep and meaningfuls”… but maybe that’s just the wine! We ended up caravanning together to Hot August Nights in Reno, just after
the terrible storms swept through the Shasta and Redding areas. I don’t travel with others very often as I tend to slow things down too much for most people, but we were great travel mates and are now great friends. Charlene lives in Talent, Oregon which is about halfway between Ashland and Medford and not far from the border of California. When I asked her how she got into vintage trailers, she told me that she had always been intrigued by the shape of the “canned ham” style of vintage trailers. She had owned a newer RV in the past but was never really happy with the odd interior layout and said she always felt cramped in it, so she decided to sell it and pursue her dreams of vintage trailer ownership. Her search saw her hitting up the usual online sites and before long she found one nearby in Medford for $4,000. She told me that the couple she bought it from had done a really nice job of restoring the interior, but that the outside still needed some work. Charlene quickly got stuck in,
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polishing the exterior aluminium around the windows and prepping the exterior for paintwork. “This proved to be a lot more laborintensive than I anticipated!” she recalls. “I kept thinking of the karate kid and the scene where he was taught to ‘wax on, wax off!’ I definitely put a lot of elbow grease into the prep work! I used an electric sander in the beginning and then finished by hand with fine sandpaper until it was really smooth. I went on the Internet and searched through various ‘how to’ videos to find the appropriate way to paint the trailer. I decided to use Rustoleum paint after I completed the sanding. (I wasn’t prepared to invest a large amount of cash to have her professionally painted.) I started with a primer and then finished with a gloss white. I then used the same process for the red stripe. I primed it first and then finished it off with a red Rustoleum 2X spray paint. But I couldn’t stop there as it really didn’t feel like it had my personal touch, so the next step was to paint the flowers on one side of the trailer while my daughter completed a painting of a retro style Hawaiian woman sitting by the ocean using oil paint on an aluminum piece for the canvas. I finished it up with two coats of UV protective sealant. Now she felt like my ‘Ruby’! Bright red and beautiful!”
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“I decided to decorate the interior in a Hawaiian theme to honor her Aloha model name. This part was extremely rewarding! I collected Hawaiian prints, pillows and vintage memorabilia and began transforming her. Every time I went to an antique store, I would look for something that would work for my interior décor. My first trip out was to our local reservoir at Emigrant Lake. She was such a hit! Everyone that walked by had to stop and ask what kind of trailer she was and share their delight at such a unique trailer. Now I participate in Vintage Trailer rallies thanks to one of those passers-by who educated me on this fun get together of like-minded, retro loving, vintage trailer fanatics! See ya out there on the road or in a cozy spot in a trailer park or, better yet, at one of those crazy vintage trailer rallies!”
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Feature Trailer
Her She Shed WORDS & PHOTOS LORI HELKE
It all began with a dream of having my own retreat. A place I could write, read, and collect my thoughts. vintagetrailermagazine
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am a 55-year old part-time travel and lifestyle blogger and Rural Postal Carrier from Wisconsin. My husband Rick runs two businesses from our home, so our home office is his business center. This left me with two places in the house for me to write my blog; the kitchen table or our bedroom. These places would not offer me the peace and quiet I needed when I write. In August of 2017 Rick offered to build me a ‘she shed’ in our backyard. I was over- the- top excited to finally get my
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own space! We explored all our options and started looking at plans. Luckily Rick is a handy guy. He can build almost anything, and I knew he was up for the task. Unbeknownst to him at the time, I was secretly pinning vintage camper ideas and pictures on Pinterest. I just fell in love with the idea of a she shed on wheels. I had seen a picture of a vintage camper converted to a backyard she shed in a book called She Sheds. My friend Barbara’s writing cottage (which is where this idea all began) was also
Unbeknownst to him at the time, I was secretly pinning vintage camper ideas and pictures on Pinterest. I just fell in love with the idea of a she shed on wheels. featured in the book. I thought to myself: “How cool would it be to re-do a little camper and use it as my she shed/ writing retreat?” All I had to do was mention this idea to Rick and he ran with it. He began looking on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace for old canned ham campers. It didn’t take long before he found the perfect (or not so perfect) camper just three hours away near Chicago. It was a 1969 CampMor and when Rick showed me pictures, I was excited. It was ten feet long with the perfect canned ham shape. The next day Rick and our daughter Megan set off to pick her up. I sadly could not go to meet my new camper since I had to work. When they picked her up and saw her exact condition, Rick knew this was more than a little project. As they made their way down I-94, the side began flapping in the wind! They pulled off at the next exit. Stopping at a home center, they
temporarily fastened her side together, so they could make it home. That day I raced to get home from work. When I took my first look all I saw was the possibilities. This was going to be my creative space. Rick, on the other hand was thinking he was in way over his head. Never having done anything like this before, it sure was going to be a learning experience. Demolition began immediately. Everything was removed. The only thing I wanted to save was the turquoise sink and stove top. Once that was completed it was time to look at the underlying damage to the frame. Probably about seventy percent of the framing would need to be replaced. Luckily the floor was in excellent shape. The roof on the other hand would need total replacement. One of my favorite memories was watching our neighbor come over and help Rick roll out that huge roll of aluminum on the roof. The side aluminum was fine except vintagetrailermagazine
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for some dings and a couple holes, but we decided to just patch then. After all a few dents show character! Rick spent hours poring over YouTube videos and Facebook groups such as Tin Can Tourist to learn how to go about rebuilding the interior. Everything was trial and error, and many things needed to be done twice. We soon realized taking on a huge project like this is not for the weak! While Rick was doing 99.9% of the outside and inside rebuild, I was busy working my mail job and planning the inside and gathering decorations. I had no desire for a restoration. I wanted Beatrice to be uniquely mine. I knew she was going to have a Paris theme, so I found cool Paris fabric from Michaels and sewed my own draperies. Every time I saw something that would work, like my shabby chic window/mirror, I bought it. I found many ideas through Pinterest. The designing and decorating was deďŹ nitely my favorite part! I wanted plenty of shelves to display books, my Paris treasures, and my other personal items that make me happy. I found pictures to explain the ideas I had for building the shelving, and cupboards. Since I was also going to eventually take her on camping trips, I needed a functional space. Sleeping areas, an eating area, and storage were priority. I decided to put in the original sink but opted out of the stovetop to have more counter space.
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I had no desire for a restoration. I wanted Beatrice to be uniquely mine.
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Eventually Rick finished rebuilding the interior and I began painting the inside. After the new cushions were finished, and the waterproof laminate flooring was installed, it was time to paint the outside. Luckily, we have a neighbor who has a huge pole shed that we could use for the exterior painting. My favorite day was the day we moved Beatrice back home and into her new spot in the backyard in July of 2018. We were on a bit of a time crunch as we had an open house to introduce her to our family and friends planned for the end of July. We made it and on July 21, 2018
Beatrice was christened with a bottle of champagne. After some more tweaks and with the installment of her new removable picket fence, Beatrice is now finished, and I have been working, relaxing, and occasionally sleeping in her. It is my happy place and I am so in love with her. Even after all the hard work and money (it’s not inexpensive to do this), I would do it all over again. Maybe Rick would not agree! She sits proudly in our backyard for everyone that passes by to see. We have had many people stop wanting to take a look at her.
Why did I pick Beatrice as a name? Since I’m a Francophile, I wanted a French name. After researching names and meanings, I found Beatrice. In French her name means “voyager” How fitting for a person who loves to travel and is a travel blogger! I am looking forward to many happy hours writing in Beatrice in my backyard. Whenever I’m looking for more travel adventures to write about, I can just hook her up and go! To follow Lori’s blog go to: lorilovesparis.com vintagetrailermagazine
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Feature Caravan
Pretty Polly WORDS LISA MORA
PHOTOS DANIELE HOWES
Nobody does “shabby chic� quite as well as they do in the United Kingdom. As far as styles go, the retro features and tiny spaces of a cozy little caravan are ideally suited to the nostalgic and whimsical feel of this particular look.
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D
aniele Howes says that she had always had an interest in all things vintage and had been inspired to get a vintage caravan after seeing one while they were travelling. “We were taken by the gorgeous look and the shape of these caravans. They looked so elegant. As soon as we returned home, we set about researching”, she tells us. “We looked at many types and sizes, deciding that the Cheltenhams were ideal for us. Their shape and design seemed to be very well thought through for their era. We were particularly impressed with the one-piece fibreglass roof which eliminates any risk of water leaks”. About six months later they found the 1966 Cheltenham Waterbuck caravan in Bristol, U.K; about four hours’ drive from where they live in Wales. The caravan measured 12’ 9” long, 6’ 6” wide and was 6’3” high inside. It had been kept in a barn where it had sat for a very long time and had not been used for several years. Thankfully much of her interior was still in very good condition, albeit a bit dull with its boring brown colour scheme, but there were no obvious signs of leaks or rotting to be found, thanks to the fibreglass construction. Daniele told us that it was those sleek curved roof lines and the position of the large windows that made this particular caravan so appealing to her. vintagetrailermagazine
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“The whole exterior looked so cute, and when we ventured inside, she was full of light, and felt so warm and friendly. Her whole character was just what we were looking for, so after finding no signs of leaks, damp or rot and the chassis to be in good order, we arrived home with Polly! Her interior was in excellent condition, so we set about refreshing the paintwork, adding new seat covers and curtains, bringing her back to life with some colour to keep her cheerful but remaining true to her era. The toilet room we decorated with a collage of vintage magazine pages which makes for an interesting read when you are doing your business!” A few updates were made to Polly’s 22
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The whole exterior looked so cute, and when we ventured inside, she was full of light, and felt so warm and friendly. appliances such as the gas cooker, fridge and the heater to ensure that they all worked properly, and a new electric water pump was installed. To make towing smoother and to avoid the bit of sway they had experienced whilst towing her home, a stabilizer bar was also fitted. When Polly was ready for
her big debut, she was towed to a local summer fayre where she proved to be quite the star attraction. “Being located in rural Mid Wales UK, we were overwhelmed by the many people who asked if they could hire her for a holiday! As a result of this interest we gave it some thought and decided to commence providing her for hire to people at their chosen camp site/ venue”, says Daniele. Since then “Polly” has proved popular with not just holiday makers. She also has been used in several events to add a special touch of nostalgia to vintage themed weddings, festivals, birthday parties and vintage afternoon teas. But it was her recent role in a television commercial starring David Hasselhoff that really made her a celebrity. The filming took place in a Country Park near Cardiff in South Wales. The caravan was positioned next to a large lake whilst the film crew set up special effects for
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TRAILER
Daniele Howe’s 1966 Cheltenham Waterbuck at Clywedog Reservoir, Llanidloes, Powys in Wales
Photo by Daniele Howes
a rain storm, with numerous cameras and lighting set ups all around her, but Daniele assures us that Polly took it all in her stride and has not let fame go to her head. She is, after all, still just a country girl at heart. “When you enter Polly, her interior helps you feel very nostalgic, cozy and warm”, says Daniele. “She just gives off very relaxed vibes, like she’s giving you the urge to put the kettle on for a cup of tea”.
To book Polly for your next U.K adventure or event go to: www.vintagecaravanholiday.com 26
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Special Feature
The Countess (for 1953) Kingscott Bowen Heath
Looking Back:
Post-War European Caravan Exports
T
he men and women of the American military made tremendous sacrifices during World War II, as did their counterparts who worked in Homefront factories. But Americans in the Continental United States did not have to deal with their country being bombed or their national economy being in tatters. There were parts supply problems in 1946 through 1948 and there were union actions that affected industry,
WORDS JOHN GUNNELL
but by 1949 American business was humming along on its way to a record year in 1950. It was a different story in war-torn countries such as England and Germany. Businesses in those nations
Businesses in Germany and England were anxious to sell their products in the United States so they could bring American dollars home to boost their economies.
were anxious to sell their products in the United States so they could bring American dollars home to boost their economies. English auto maker Austin Motors designed the A90 Atlantic Convertible, a car that was specifically targeted at United States buyers. On January 8, 1948, in Rotterdam, Holland, brothers Ben and Wijnand Pon loaded two of the cars they had been selling onto a ship called the Westerdam. Nine days later, the vessel pulled into New York Harbor vintagetrailermagazine
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carrying the first Volkswagens to come to the United States. Both the Austin A90 and the Pons’ effort to introduce the Volkswagen to America were failures (at least initially), but that didn’t keep foreign companies from trying to sell goods here. Two trailer manufacturers—Berkeley Coachwork Ltd. of Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, England and Berger Caravan of Rotschwaige-Dachau Vor Munchen (American Zone), Germany—were among the interested exporters. Berkeley produced the largest-sized caravan in the English market in 1949 and also produced England’s largest number of trailers. It typically turned out thirtyfive units per week. One of the most popular models the company produced was the “Consul”. Berkeley advertised it as the “all-roads, all-climates trailer of your dreams.” Superior road-holding and
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superior braking were two of its heavily promoted features. The Consul included spacious luxury lounges, cozy bedrooms, a houseplanned kitchen and an acoustically insulated toilet room with a shower. Advertisements for the Consul showed the exterior, as well as two illustrations detailing its design and construction features. Incorporated into the Consul’s floor plan was a dressing table, a closet, an airing cupboard (it had a stove-pipe type air vent into the cupboard), space for a heating stove, a concealed pull-down bed, a fixed divan, a writing bookcase,
Berkeley produced the largest-sized caravan in the English market in 1949 and also produced England’s largest number of trailers.
a bureau with drawers and a divan that could be converted into one double bed or two single beds. In addition, the design included a rear handling bar, ventilation blinds with y screens, a roof ventilator, a sliding interior door, a food cupboard, another ventilator, a cooker vent, an ice box, a front handling bar, a plastic kitchen sink, a gas stove, a water tank, a butane gas bottle, a toilet, a plastic toilet wash basin and a shower room with a shower unit. Berkeley also produced a model called the Ambassador which was pictured in a publicity photo being towed by an Austin Sheerline sedan near Delamer Forest near Cheshire, England. The chassis hitch depicted in the photo was factory-approved by the Austin Motor Company of England. However, you did not have to go to England to buy a vintagetrailermagazine
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Berkeley trailer, the company had five agents in the United States: Carl Mathey of Robbinsville, New Jersey, Herbert Jahn of Toledo, Ohio, George Sharp of Newton, Kansas, Nordquist Trailer Sales of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Herman Metzger of East Peoria, Illinois. Hans Berger of Germany had a smaller manufacturing operation, since he did not do display advertising in trailer trade magazines of the day. Instead, he would write to the magazines and promote his own products. Berger produced a smaller model than either of Berkeley’s offerings. He would send publicity photos that showed one of his trailers being pulled on Germany’s high-speed
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Autobahn, another driving below an air-lift airplane and a third being towed along a mountain highway. During this time, another English company called Countess Caravans made by Car Trailers Ltd. in Harpenden, Herts were also building and exporting their caravans overseas. It seems regally inspired names were all the rage when it comes to early caravan and trailer manufacturers! This great collection of old original photos in a scrap was kindly donated to VTM editor Lisa by the relatives of the original builders who were keen to preserve this history for future generations.
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Feature Trailer
Beyond the Sea
WORDS & PHOTOS LISA MORA & JANET MEKECH
A coastal themed makeover of this 1958 Oasis was just what was needed to give this 69-year old full-time carer her own special retreat. 32
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J
anet Mekech and her husband Patrick live in Springfield, Oregon. She is retired and takes care of her disabled in-laws in who live with them. She tells me that her passion for vintage trailers started when her friend JJ stopped by all excited about this old trailer she had seen, telling Janet that she just had to check it out. She promptly got onto the net and began researching everything she could about vintage trailers and joined several different trailer groups. Having previously remodeled three small homes, Janet says she wasn’t afraid of hard work and getting
her hands dirty. When she discovered that there were no hard and fast rules about what she could do with a trailer, and that she could just do it in whatever style she loved, the hunt was on for her dream trailer. The first trailer she bought was only $900 but she soon realized that it had way too much damage and that she was in over her head, so she sold it and kept looking. About six months later she found the seventeen-foot trailer she describes as her “girl” on Craigslist.
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“It was love at first sight. My husband thought I was crazy, but as soon as I saw this one I knew it was right for me”, she says. As soon as she got the trailer home, she realized was going to need some help checking what lay under the skin of the old trailer as she suspected there would be some rot. “My brother and niece’s husband referred me to Rick Orr. She was there for about six months. He tore into everything and sent me many pictures. He also suggested I come and look for myself. So off I went and yes, she did have lots of rot”, Janet recalls. “He proceeded to continue on with the repairs. After the skin was removed my husband, a retired electrician, went through and rewired everything. Thank goodness he did! There were several burnt wires. Had we not taken her apart I would have had a fire for sure. It was just a matter of time. At the time I got a little frustrated because it took so long but I am very pleased now because I know everything was done right”.
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I got a little frustrated because it took so long but I am very pleased now because I know everything was done right. During that six months Janet says she thought a lot about they styling she wanted in her trailer, but she kept changing her mind. “It was tough. But then it dawned on me that the most relaxing place to be is at the coast. So, I took out a pencil and paper and started writing ideas. I didn’t
Finding the rot
like the counter tops or table, so that needed to change. My friend Mary took me out to a wood collector. At the time was looking for curly maple, but what he had I didn’t like. I started looking through his other stuff when I found the English black walnut and fell in love with the pattern. In my mind I was all set, right? vintagetrailermagazine
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Wrong! There was still so much to do but at least I had an idea to go on”. Having decided on a coastal theme for the interior, the next stop was deciding on the exterior color scheme. Janet says that it was very important to her to stay within the original lines of the Oasis’ original paintwork. “I wanted an ocean and fish and all sorts of things you would see if you were snorkeling painted on her”, she tells us, and was referred to a painter named Ed Hubbs to transform the previously housepainted pink and white exterior of the Oasis into an under the sea mirage. “Oh my! I told him to use the photos I had given him as the main idea but let him do his design. It was so fun and so exciting seeing what he did. It was his first vintage trailer and he was just as proud as I was”. With the necessary repairs and exterior paint complete, it was time for Janet to get busy on the interior. Firstly, she primed everything, took all cabinet doors off, soaked all the hinges in a crock pot and cleaned them all up before painting
with stripes and plaids and a little glitter. On the kitchen splashback she used a 3D Wainscoting wallpaper and has a tip for anyone using wallpaper in their trailers: “When doing wallpaper, I always paint under it the same color as the background” she tells us, “Even if it says “pre-pasted” I still add more paste. That
I felt so proud to have her all done. Everyone who saw her said she was like a breath of fresh air. Light, bright and with lots of windows. way if you haven’t cut it perfect it will never show”. She went on the hunt for lamps that looked like they’d belong right at home in a seaside cabin but says that she had a hard time deciding on what to put on
the floors until she found the sanded rock tiles that she instantly knew were just right. “It just all went together. But boy, was it messy!” she laughs. Once the trailer had been fitted out with all the modern conveniences such as a new fridge, microwave, a toaster oven, coffee pot and portable induction units she took her newly christened trailer “Miss K.T.T.” (For the first letter from each of her grandchildren’s names) on her first outing to a beautiful secluded park in Riverbend just outside of Foster, Oregon. “I felt so proud to have her all done. Everyone who saw her said she was like a breath of fresh air. Light, bright and with lots of windows. The reactions I have received have been outstanding. Both women and men have told me how much they love seeing her and that makes my heart very happy. I know it’s not vintage in decor, but I grew up with all that stuff so this time I just wanted something to please me. My trailer is my happy place. She was a pleasure to do and I love her”.
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Where We Went
RALLY ON THE ROGUE WORDS & PHOTOS LISA MORA
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R
ogue River in Grants Pass, Oregon is one of those spectacularly beautiful places that comes as a welcome oasis after travelling north through the arid stretch of the I-5 from California. As you cross the border with the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it “Welcome to Oregon” sign tucked away on the hillside, the scenery changes from the dry, drought-stricken plains of northern California into mountainous acres of forests and Cottonwood trees that can create a snow-like effect when they bloom. It’s like a sweet sigh of relief from Mother Nature. Ah Oregon! You are so very, very pretty! vintagetrailermagazine
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The location for the three-day rally was in the secluded Riverside Park in Grants Pass right on the banks of the Rogue River, about one hour north of the California/ Oregon border. It was super-hot on the day I arrived, and I got a bit lost trying to find the camping area, as it is tucked away down a small side street, so when I got there that river was looking mighty tempting! Our host Jon Bowen works to promote the area to travellers in the Grants Pass Chamber of Commerce: “Experience Grants Pass”, who were a major sponsor of the event along with our co-hosts; the SOGGy Bottom Girls (Southern Oregon Glamping Girls). Boy did they make everyone feel welcome! I was greeted with hugs and smiles (and a much-needed bottle of ice-
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cold water!) and guided into my camping spot. The trailers were arranged in a big circle around the circumference of what is normally a soccer field. By the time I arrived on Friday afternoon there were lots of trailers already set up as the gates had opened at noon, so latecomers were shown to our places within the circle. There was a big marquee set up near the entrance and a fire pit and on Saturday night after the open to the public display from 10am – 4pm and the pot luck dinner and awards ceremony was over, Jon brought in a movie screen where we watched “Grease” from our deck chairs and blankets. The wake-up call that morning to raise us from our heavy slumber, was a hilarious pots and
I was blown away by the creativity and effort everyone had put into really glamping out their trailers and outdoor displays. pans band that paraded around the park in their pajamas, dressing gowns and slippers whilst clanging on pots and pans with wooden spoons. Normally it would probably be an awful way to wake up, but it was so funny to watch that it made everyone’s day start with a smile! I was blown away by the creativity and eort everyone had put into really glamping out their trailers and outdoor displays. Those Soggy Bottom Girls sure vintagetrailermagazine
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do it right! Not all of the trailers were vintage, there were a couple of modern ones including Kathy’s glamped out modern RV that had been painted with black and white polka dots and trimmed in pink roses to ensure it stood out from the crowd. Our Camp Hostess Tina stayed in her converted old yellow school bus complete with a megaphone that she obviously enjoyed using to make announcements across the campground to us all weekend. Honestly, I’ve never laughed so much at a rally, ever! The whole experience kind of brought back
memories of that Resort in the film “Dirty Dancing”! Even the sadness we all felt after everyone packed up and left on Sunday afternoon was reminiscent of the farewell anthem sung at the Kellerman’s Resort: “What we’ve shared won’t be forgotten, old friends are the best”. This was by far my favorite rally of the season where I made forever friends and I can’t wait until next year’s event.
To find out more about Rally on the Rogue go to: rallyontherogue.com
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On the Rogue Vintage Trailer RallY June 21 23
Fun along the River For More Information and Campsite Registration, go to:
RallyOnTheRogue.com
Services Directory
Welcome to the Great Indoors!
Our little hotel has all the fun of camping, minus the bugs & unpredictable Texas weather. We house 9 vintage glampers and 8 teepees at our indoor “glampsite.” Plan your next girls’ weekend, bachelorette party, family reunion, or workshop weekend at one of the most unique lodging experiences in the US!
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Whether you call it a vintage trailer, a camper, a coach, or a caravan, it just isn’t complete without a custom awning from Pink Flamingo Awnings. Our custom awnings reflect your personal style and enhance the personality of your vintage trailer.
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4212 S. St. Hwy 237, Round Top, Tx 78954
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Unit 3/14 Hilldon Crt Nerang, Queensland 4211, Australia Phone +61 0414 944 850 Email woodycaravans@hotmail.com Find us on Facebook and Instagram!
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Thom Thumb Trailers are handcrafted in limited production in the Pacific Northwest. Dedicated to the style and spirit of the early Trailer Craftsmen, Thom Thumb Trailers are made for those who appreciate a simpler time.
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2.5 inch whitewall on left. 15 X 6 inch Gennie Chrome wheel above.
It is never safe to run passenger car tires on your trailer. We offer Extra-Load Trailer Tires in Load Ranges C-D-E. Tire sizes: 13, 14, 15 and 16 inch diameters. Let us build you a set of new wheels for your trailer to go along with your new tires. We also supply whitewall tires to match your tow vehicle. Friendly advice is a phone call or email away
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310-686-9152 | www.wanderlustvintagetrailers.com vintagetrailermagazine
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Services Directory
Tin Can Tourists is an all make and model vintage trailer and motor coach club. Rallies, trailer information, thousands of pictures, Facebook group and free classified ads
www.tincantourists.com
RENT THIS SPACE! VTM oers great value online and print advertising packages giving your business access to our 30,000+ customers. For your copy of the VTM Media Kit email ads@vintagetrailermagazine.com
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