i can see clearly now the .......

Delivering Airstream at the weekend started off wet -

But quickly dried up -

New owner had an amazing farm just outside London -

The 55 Overlander will not be lonely -

New owner with his PA -

Job well done, we took advantage of visiting friends for the weekend who live close by -

I do like front kitchen trailers, the one below will have a slightly adapted floor plan that is taking shape in our workshop at the moment -

Same front bathroom style -

Polished rear end cap and a new dinette with side day bed -

Shortened front kitchen, the  heater spot is extended to make room for a bespoke raised wood burner -

Shortened side wardrobe to make way for folding work desk on right -

Original cabinet style -

is an airstream a white elephant?

Some may suggest  that owning an Airstream is like owning an over valued asset that is not worth the upkeep, in fact it appears most of North America considered them to be white elephants until a recent revival in the past decade or so . 

Well, I think most aluminitus folk will disagree, but perhaps like the one below, they might themselves  be considered a white elephant by others -

Below, a very important message from a very important person, also there's also a letter from St. Jame's Palace........

I can confirm, whale tails look equally as nice from the inside as they do from the outside -

it's a sign

I like Whale Tail Airstreams

But how weird is it when I find one with my name on it -

You can see from the image below it really is an act from above -

Sadly, after close inspection the Harkness Whale Tail was not for me.............

But I did offer to buy the sign.

royal airstreams, to be or not to be that is the question?

after a chilly winter things are starting to warm up again thank goodness.

in the uk we have a big wedding coming up in late April

Corrosion, What Where When Why How?

I'm sure many airstreamers and other aluminitus sufferers worry at times about the condition of their aluminium.

An excellent source of information on Aluminium Corrosion is Aluminium Matter . This is an e-learning website which seems to cover most of the corrosion issues airstreamers will be faced with.

While keeping the outer skin in good condition is one concern, you should not forget about the inner skin.

Exhibit 1 - CA built Airstream, 1956

Alclad supplier - Reynolds

Location - Primarily resided in California

NB - The content of these images may be disturbing or offensive to some aluminitus sufferers. While they may look bad, I would like to mention it's all treatable, it just takes time -

Outer skin, tell tail signs -

Inner skin, the full extent of corrosion is revealed -

Closer look and a slight tap -

Factory sealing of the seams has not help stop the corrosion -

Rear light panel will need replaced also -

Other Isolated patches -

Factory finishing - West compared with the Mid West / The Heartland

I was told that Wally Byams #1 Trailer was made in Ohio but was confused as it had a Californian  Dutchman's cap / Whale Tail but Ohio style wheel arches.

I was later informed that the trailer was actually built in the Los Angeles factory.

The following article in Trail R News September 1955  also confirms the trailer was built in Los Angeles Ca.  -

Since then, I've noticed some small differences between both factories production line finishing in the mid 50's. These are a little less obvious than looking at end panels, wheel arches and s/n's.

Below are a few -

Internal rivet sealing

Out of all the mid 50's CA trailers I've worked on the rivets have been sealed internally.  I first noticed this with Wally's #1 trailer and thought it got special treatment, but I since realised it probably was standard LA practice -

56 CA Bubble interior, complete seal -

55 CA Wally Byam Bubble, rivet stem sealed

56 OH Bubble, no seal

Door Gasket fitting
I've also noticed the CA fitted door gaskets with a blind rivet. Expamples below, first the Wally Byam #1 trailer  and then a 56 Ohio Bubble

jas cunningham