Grandparents' (1958 8mm movie) Old Camper & Cars

[Alfred]

Hey Gang,

I just found out there is a history in my family of folks working on campers!

I recently converted some old family 8mm movies to digital. Found this clip from probably 1958, of my grandparents and a camper. These were my Grandfather's movies, they've been packed away. I hadn't seen them before. I'm like, "Wow! Look at that, he had a camper"!

I am advised now that my Grandfather had bought it used, refurbished it. Regret there are not interior shots, as I am told by my Mother that the interior was beautiful.

I uploaded a clip here: It is about 45 seconds. This is my Grandmother and my Grandfather (and their camper!).

Added stills from the video here:









Any experts tell me anything about the camper?

AL in Asheville

[Cliffmeister2000]

Very nice! Judging by the palms, I'm guessing they were in Florida?

[Alfred]

Very nice! Judging by the palms, I'm guessing they were in Florida?

Yes, these would have been in the Tampa Bay area.

AL in Asheville

[Rlowell]

With that 'strut' he was mighty proud of the camper and it looks like a very nice one.
Rod

[Alfred]

:lol: With that 'strut' he was mighty proud of the camper and it looks like a very nice one.
Rod

Hey Rod,

I was thinking the same thing, he looked like he was really proud of the camper!

Al in Asheville

[TheBizMan]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

[48Rob]

Hi Al,

Your Grandpa's trailer is/was a late 40's American.

Because of the trolly top design, the doors were very short (5').
The early models were Masonite.
The company used a painted canvas roof into the early 50's.
The coach had a separate bedroom, but no bathroom until the early 50's.

<img src="http://www.allmanufacturedhomes.com/html/assets/images/1947_American_013104.jpg">

Photo courtesy of Juergen Eichermueller's Altas museum.
http://www.allmanufacturedhomes.com/htm ... _homes.htm

If you'd like more detailed info, check here
http://www.allmanufacturedhomes.com/htm ... ctions.htm


Rob

[robertaw]

Thanks really cool! Thanks for putting it up for us to see.

[Alfred]

Hi Al,
Your Grandpa's trailer is/was a late 40's American.
Rob

Hey Rob!

Thanks for the info - That is so cool that you were able to recognize and identify it. The brochure gives me an idea of what the interior would have looked like, too.

Thanks!

AL in Asheville

[BrwBier]

It is always nice to have something like that movie from the past. You wished you had some interior shots, well, make sure your grandchildren dont say the same thing. Take pictures and movies of your camping and use the best way of storing them to pass down.
Brwbier

[kirkman]

That's so cool! Thanks for sharing!

[aggie79]

Al,

Your grandad's trailer is amazing!

As coincidence happens, I've been thinking about what to build after my teardrop is finished and came across this picture of an American trailer:



It is a different model than your grandad's, but it shows the beautiful lines of the American trailers.

Take care, Tom

[Alfred]

Al,

Your grandad's trailer is amazing!

As coincidence happens, I've been thinking about what to build after my teardrop is finished and came across this picture of an American trailer:



It is a different model than your grandad's, but it shows the beautiful lines of the American trailers.

Take care, Tom

Hey Tom - Thanks for the great picture! The old movie is so grainy, this gives me a much better idea of how it might have looked! Thanks, AL.

[BILLYL]

Al-

Thanks for sharing. I always like to dig through old stuff to find the hidden treasures. Do you know what he towed that "LAND CRUSIER" with? It looks pretty big and probably weight a TON

Thanks

Bill

[Alfred]

Al-

Thanks for sharing. I always like to dig through old stuff to find the hidden treasures. Do you know what he towed that "LAND CRUSIER" with? It looks pretty big and probably weight a TON

Thanks

Bill

Hey Bill,

Thanks for the feedback - I don't know if this was his tow vehicle, but later in the movie he is driving this car (I don't know much about the old cars either, so maybe someone recognizes the car):



The camper had two axles, so maybe it wasn't too bad to pull.

Also, same movie - A picture of Grandfather with an old work truck - He was a whiz with tin, we still have some of the things he made. Must be an old truck, has the split windshield.



Also, not that it has to do with the camper - But here from the same movie is my Mom and Dad, what they were driving in 1958:



AL in Asheville