Stories of Airstream’s history take you to exotic, far away places as well as unvisited destinations just over the horizon, closer to home.
The old times will tell stories of visiting the Pygmy peoples in the old Belgian Congo, or parking beneath the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Even more amazing is landing in Singapore and traveling overland to Land’s End in Portugal.
Andy Charles reported the Around the World Caravan was on the road for 403 days and 31,000 winding miles before finally arriving at Caba Da Roca in Portugal.
In 1955, Airstreamers were bound together forever when Airstream owners decided to form the Wally Byam Caravan Club. Now there was a way for owners to join in activities with other Airstreamers. But this went beyond being just a club; it gave them opportunities to join with other owners in forming new friendships, unbridled excitement, and using their trailers to have fun with other owners.
The growth of the company and the trailers themselves was directly related to – and dependent on – these early events.
Wally Byam, founder and entrepreneur of Airstream, had spent time during his college years and formative years in advertising.
When Airstream started up after the war, it was a nip and tuck situation financially. Art Costello, future President and Chairman of the Board at Airstream, reminisced on how difficult those early days were. “In the early days, Airstream had practically no working capital and no money to work with. There were many times when various employees would dig up $100 [of their own money] to enable me to purchase a refrigerator or stove to install in a trailer in order to make a sale.”
When Wally conceived the Caravans traveling internationally, his advertising genius kicked in. Soon to follow his first Caravan, which traveled through Mexico and Central America, his travels made headlines in hometowns across the nation. International media even took notice, then National Geographic, Look, and Life magazines. This is the recognition that paid Airstream and Wally dividends in growing the company.
So when Airstream owners approached Wally to form an Airstream owner’s only club, Wally approved and allowed them to use his name. Airstream provided them with staff and financing. With Airstream’s assistance, it was never an “Airstream Trailer’s Club,” it always belonged to the owners themselves. As it was founded, it remains today.
When you look around the web today, you will find groups of Airstream owners talking about their travels, their trailers, their friends, and their future travel plans. This has all grown from a small handful of Airstream owners forming their own club 60 years ago.
And what about Airstream today?
A company that started in a garage, selling mail order blueprints in 1931, it has become a legendary corporation, producing the world’s most iconic recreational vehicle.
The company is a worldwide brand today. There are Airstream dealerships around the world in Europe, Australia, and Asia. To keep up with North American orders and worldwide demands, Airstream is completing a 94,000 square foot factory addition.
What a transition from a person buying one of Byam’s mail order blueprints to Airstream today. Since the beginning the company has changed hands and leaders, but along the way the “caretakers” have never lost sight of Airstream’s contribution to the industry – or, more importantly, its owners.
Dale “Pee Wee” Schwamborn has silver in his blood. Each week, Pee Wee shares one of his many stories, including his experiences on the iconic Airstream Caravans, his time spent working in the Airstream factory, and the many Airstreamers he’s befriended, far and wide.
