Information needed about Old Teardrop!

[Desert Teardrop]

Greetings to all! I have an old Desert Teardrop that was probably manufactured in California in the 30's or 40's. Someone towed it to Alaska in the 50-60's and I bought it in Anchorage in 1975. I appreciate any comments about it's origin and age or resources for further inquiries. Thanks so much! Chico Harkrader.

http://desertteardrop.wordpress.com/2011/11/25/147/

[mvperini]

Desert Teardrop

from the looks of the frame and tounge they have been replaced , from the shape of the door and only having 1 door it looks like a 47 Kit Looks to have a lot of upgrades over the years or it could be a homebuilt, either way kind of hard to find out unless there is a tag on the trailer

Mike

[Gage]

Desert Teardrop
from the looks of the frame and tounge they have been replaced , from the shape of the door and only having 1 door it looks like a 47 Kit Looks to have a lot of upgrades over the years or it could be a homebuilt, either way kind of hard to find out unless there is a tag on the trailer
Mike

To me the shape doesn't even come close to a KIT. It looks more like a home built of the 40's and/or maybe early 50's. What's the axle look like? It could give you an idea of when it was built if it hasn't been replaced. I also noticed that there have been a lot of upgrades.

[grant whipp]

Definitely not a KIT, Chico ... but it looks very similar to a trailer I've seen identified as a Lawrence, built in the late '40s. I've seen a couple and heard of a couple more, but haven't been able to find out any more information ... like today, small-time teardrop builders were everywhere after WWII, and very few of them kept records that have survived all these years (you can't imagine how much time & effort & sometimes $$ that have been spent trying to track down & verify the history of these things ... ...!).

Looks like you've done a fine job of rebuilding the trailer and enjoying it to the fullest ... ...! Good luck with your search for its origins!

As always ...

CHEERS!

[Desert Teardrop]

Thanks Gage and Mike.

I will take photos of axle (original with leaf springs), interior floor (wood) and interior walls (wallpapered) all of which are original-intact. The exterior cabin is %100 aluminum. It was painted white and I re-painted part of it to match my Jeep. The was-is one cabin light.

The original tongue (round-hollow stock) and v-brace broke while traveling through Yukon Territory in 1975. It was repaired with a section of drive shaft until I replaced the front end tongue later.

I will take a picture of the original sink which looks like a vegetable oil can cut in half (circa 30's or 40's) similar to the can shown on this link (only cut in half for sink use).
http://www.hawcreekoutdoors.com/article ... or_two.htm

My philosophy for the 37 years I have owned it was-is to keep as original as possible (replacing only rotten wood, etc.)

The kitchen cabinet facing & drawers are original, but counter-top and kitchenette walls wood interior door wall was replaced (water). Windows, braces, and locks are original. I added the drip guards.

The frame is original as well the exterior undercarriage (wood-tongue/groove). Will photograph.

Huge thanks for more comments if any... Chico Harkrader

[Desert Teardrop]

Thanks Grant. I replace my kitchenette piano hinge and I ordered it from you in 1999-2000...or you gave me the contact for the extruded hinge. I searched for Lawrence teardrop,etc but nothing comes up? Thanks for the tip!!!

[vwbeamer]

Certain looks like you have enjoyed it!

[grant whipp]

Hey, Chico!

I just remembered another possibility for your trailer's I.D. ... Spencer ... and as I pull out even more from my dusty memory banks, it seems that's the most likely name, because now that I've been thinking about it for a while, the Lawrence didn't have the radical sloping back like your's and the Spencers had/have. Like the Lawrence, though, no more info.

CHEERS!

Grant

[Desert Teardrop]

Hey Gage, Grant and Mike! I finally captured a photo of the original undercarriage to see if it may generate other info as to the origin. I appreciate the previous comments thus far. It definitely seems to be at least from the 40's. Would you think it unlikely to be from the late 30's? Thanks totally folks!