justbill
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Post by justbill on Sept 27, 2013 16:13:40 GMT -8
Hi, My wife and I just purchased our first vintage trailer. We are from northern Michigan. We are looking forward to making it our own and having fun with it. So far we are just in the cleaning up and planning stages. Our biggest mystery right now is to figure out what we have. We only received a bill of sale for the trailer and the PO didn't have a clue as to whom the manufacture of the trailer is. Any help you can pass our way would be just great. Looking forward to reading the threads and hopefully being able to lend a hand to others too. Thanks, Bill Any questions or other photos that I can provide please feel free to ask!!!
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Sept 27, 2013 17:49:47 GMT -8
Im gonna say 56 or 57. maybe even a 58. but it's got lap joints like an early 50s,skin like an early 60s and windows like a late 40s so who knows? It really could be a home built. Look on the tongue on the curb side either top or side and see if there are any numbers stamped in there. Might have to get the wire brush out to see them. Let us know what you find.
Would love to see photos of the interior. Easier to tell the year from the appliances.
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justbill
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Post by justbill on Sept 27, 2013 18:06:09 GMT -8
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Sept 27, 2013 18:18:11 GMT -8
Oh that's a beautiful trailer. Too bad the oven is gone but Im betting no older than a 54 now. I see the windows are crank open. The hardware on the cabinets say no older than a 54 to me. The cap rail on the outside says early to mid fifties as well. The heater is from the early to maybe mid 50s. I don't see a mirror which might have the year on the back. Maybe the underside of the sink?
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justbill
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Post by justbill on Sept 27, 2013 18:45:24 GMT -8
Thanks mobiltec! Actually the windows are odd little buggers. They have a alum. slide on both sides that come through screen from a lower point on the window glass. You grab both side and push out to open. One side has notches in it to hold the windows out at several stops. I have never seen these kinds of windows before and I'm no youngster. Been around campers all my life. If I get a chance I will take a couple pics tomorrow. They are indeed very interesting windows. Thanks again, Bill
I will give the frame a check for a vin # and take a look at the bottom of the sink tomorrow too. Great ideas!
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Sept 27, 2013 19:35:23 GMT -8
I also just noticed the drawer pull on that top drawer. Just like late 50s early 60s Shastas.
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Post by bigbill on Sept 28, 2013 5:58:09 GMT -8
Bill Try researching Trotwood Trailers they were made in Trotwood Ohio from the early 30s to 1981 when the factory burned down. I may be wrong but there is a lot of things about your unit that reminds me of the old Trotwoods. I never owned one but they were considered to be a very good unit the early one were covered with homesote board then they offered either homesote or alum skin then quit using homesote. Some of them had suicide doors and the windows opened as you described. I don't remember them enough to tell you for sure. If it is a Trotwood it should be a heavy well built trailer. Just a guess.
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Post by bigbill on Sept 28, 2013 6:07:12 GMT -8
A little more info from memory Both Trotwood travel trailers and Vindale mobile homes were made it Trotwood Ohio years ago. Trotwood built small trailers up to 40 or 50 ft then later only built smaller units. I don't know if them and Vindale used to be the same company and split apart or not but both were considered high quality units. Trotwood is a small City just northwest of Dayton Ohio in Montgomery County. Don't know if any of this helps or not but it might. What is the emblem by the door? Also a lot of people from Ohio go to Michigan to vacation so it would be very likely for one to be found there.
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shastabear
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Post by shastabear on Sept 28, 2013 11:07:34 GMT -8
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lovnvintage
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Post by lovnvintage on Sept 28, 2013 11:39:56 GMT -8
HI I have a fan and there are some similarities. I joined the fan yahoo group and there are all kinds of pics and info that would help you. the link is groups.yahoo.com/group/FanCoachCompany/photos/recent/list Hope it works of course you might have to join to view all the brochures, pics and files. Also, on mine the vin is on the street side tongue. Probably a 4 digit number, Brian is great at helping ya out with info. Good luck finding your answer.
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justbill
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Post by justbill on Sept 28, 2013 16:26:28 GMT -8
As promised, a couple pics of the window mechanics. We even found a floor under a couple layers. Going to clean it up and seal it up. Retro for sure!! After all the pictures I have looked at in the last day or so I am leaning towards the trailer being a Trotwood. Windows and such seem to be the closest. They also seem to be one of few that don't have wheel wells cut into the side of a lot of there trailers. Might never know. Checked sink and tongue with no results. Might just never know. I will have to put a question mark on it when we get around to painting it some day. Thanks again for all great info you have sent my way. Bill
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Sept 28, 2013 16:46:09 GMT -8
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justbill
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Post by justbill on Sept 28, 2013 17:14:49 GMT -8
Quick question, how to you measure these? Mine is 14 foot of trailer not counting tongue. Is that how you measure, with out tongue?
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justbill
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Post by justbill on Sept 28, 2013 17:18:24 GMT -8
That is a sweet looking little rig! What a deal. Love the vent caps, I need to find a couple of those. The one over where my stove would be is filled up full of leaves and such. Haven't had time to check out the heater vent yet. Don't want them filling up with crap that's for sure.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Sept 28, 2013 17:31:45 GMT -8
You include the entire length of the trailer from the end of the tongue to the back bumper if it has one. The box itself is usually called 'the box length'... LOL Someone called it something else the other day. I forget what it was. You can get the vents from a friend of mine out in the California Mojave Desert. He ships. His name is Chris and he's on the Links page on my website. www.cannedhamtrailers.com
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