espo Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 2 minutes ago, misterNNL said: They were indeed the first. Mr. Curtiss was quite wealthy and built the first Aerocar for his own personal use with no intentions of ever offering them to the public. Those who did buy them paid about 10 times what an average American car cost at the same time. A new Chevy was about$ 800.00 while and aArocar was $ 8,000.00.These did not have a steel frame. They were built from wooden oak lumber. The side uprights were tensioned together with steel aircraft cables tightened with eyebolts. The fabric for the exterior was called Fabricoid and was then painted as an attempt at waterproofing. Interior furniture was commonly made from wicker to keep the weight as low as possible. Obviously a lot of those details were based on the experience he had with building aircraft in that pioneering era. Thanks for the information. They don't sound like they were very sturdy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldcarfan27 Posted February 17, 2021 Author Share Posted February 17, 2021 23 hours ago, Oldcarfan27 said: Here's another one from Tom Woodruff to "wet your whistle" I can't wait to see this one finished, Tom! He also teased me with a caption on the tow vehicle (but no pics😯). I'll post them as soon as Tom sends them to me. 23 hours ago, Oldcarfan27 said: Here's another one from Tom Woodruff to "wet your whistle" I can't wait to see this one finished, Tom! He also teased me with a caption on the tow vehicle (but no pics😯). I'll post them as soon as Tom sends them to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misterNNL Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 On 2/16/2021 at 11:33 AM, espo said: Thanks for the information. They don't sound like they were very sturdy. You should know that Glenn Curtiss was using state of the art aircraft construction materials at this time. Most very early aircraft were made this same way. Remember his company was the one that built the Spirit Of St. Louis plane that Lindberg flew across the Atlantic ocean. His company had plans to use this Aerocar concept to build commercial trucks for haul freight and bulk fuel. I have a huge file of their engineering drawings that are available on-line for those geeky enough to search for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldcarfan27 Posted February 20, 2021 Author Share Posted February 20, 2021 (edited) More from Tom Edited February 20, 2021 by Oldcarfan27 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misterNNL Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 On 2/19/2021 at 9:37 PM, Oldcarfan27 said: More from Tom The curtains for this model were made from paper towel material saturated with a mixture of white glue and water,wrinkled to look like hung curtains, dried and cut to size then glued in place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominik Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 A W E S O M E !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misterNNL Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 7 minutes ago, Dominik said: A W E S O M E !!! Thank you Dominik! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldcarfan27 Posted February 25, 2021 Author Share Posted February 25, 2021 More from Mister NNL. Tom I'm really liking this one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misterNNL Posted February 26, 2021 Share Posted February 26, 2021 Thanks Patrick. This was a three day quick build while solving some design issues on another project. The basic shape was done in styrene sheet and shape then covered with real cherry wood veneer. The lighter wooden parts are basswood. Exterior is satin varnished with acrylic Zip Guard. Wheel and tires are refugees from a classic car glue bomb. I have more tear drops to post as time allows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldcarfan27 Posted March 10, 2021 Author Share Posted March 10, 2021 More from Mister NNL... Airfloat trailer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted April 30, 2021 Share Posted April 30, 2021 What Fun! I've always had a fascination with metal trailers, and Deco Liners though they aren't in my line of builds. Thanks for all the shares. Here are a couple of inspirational subjects that have caught my fancy. First is a trailer I saw at the LGS Historic races. I don't really think it is a Bugatti buy who knows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted April 30, 2021 Share Posted April 30, 2021 This second I just chanced upon while surfing the net. This guy found the original and is or was restoring it. What I want to know is what is involved in the Puppet Rodeo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Austin Posted April 30, 2021 Share Posted April 30, 2021 (edited) The puppet Rodeo was a gimmick for promoting Levi Jeans. Initially installed for the Golden Gate International Exposition in 1939 it was later mounted in the van for a road tour. Wooden puppets moved in sync with the recorded soundtrack. Of course, they were wearing miniature Levi Jeans. The puppets were lost over time, but a couple of pairs of the little jeans apparently survived. https://www.levistrauss.com/2014/10/09/throwback-thursday-meet-me-at-the-fair/ (Image via Pinterest) Edited April 30, 2021 by Brian Austin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Austin Posted April 30, 2021 Share Posted April 30, 2021 This is a fun thread. I don't have one of my own to share at the moment, but I was reminded of an eBay listing from several years ago of a '40s salesman's sample model. IIRC it was 1:24 scale or thereabouts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Austin Posted April 30, 2021 Share Posted April 30, 2021 BTW, the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport, NY has an Aerocar on display. I got some reference pictures, including what I could of the interior. The museum itself is highly recommended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldcarfan27 Posted May 1, 2021 Author Share Posted May 1, 2021 On 4/29/2021 at 7:43 PM, Brian Austin said: This is a fun thread. I don't have one of my own to share at the moment, but I was reminded of an eBay listing from several years ago of a '40s salesman's sample model. IIRC it was 1:24 scale or thereabouts. That's cool! I've Never seen anything like that before in real life. Maybe the salesmen couldn't sell anything but the "samples". 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted May 2, 2021 Share Posted May 2, 2021 Sweeet that is Wonderful it would be so much fun to travel in! Just hope it is under 14'. The presentation box itself is just treasure too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Austin Posted May 2, 2021 Share Posted May 2, 2021 As I was posting, I was wondering if it was supposed to be more of a mobile home than a travel trailer. It's a pity I didn't save the text of the auction to go along with the pictures for context. Here's a fun historical look at the evolution of the mobile home. Also note they point out the Pierce Arrow's Touring Landau trailer of 1910, with a gooseneck hitch. https://mobilehomeliving.org/the-history-of-mobile-homes/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted May 2, 2021 Share Posted May 2, 2021 It does have a hitch but that would you tow it with? Certainly not your average IH pickup, maybe a Chrysler Town and Country? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldcarfan27 Posted May 3, 2021 Author Share Posted May 3, 2021 8 hours ago, Big John said: It does have a hitch but that would you tow it with? Certainly not your average IH pickup, maybe a Chrysler Town and Country? Pretty sure it wasn't unusual in the 50s and 60s to use full size sedans and wagons to pull those rigs. Has anyone ever seen the "Long, Long Trailer" with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz? They simply used a Mercury Convertible to pull it. Now that would be a cool project to build! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatz4u Posted May 3, 2021 Share Posted May 3, 2021 10 hours ago, Oldcarfan27 said: Pretty sure it wasn't unusual in the 50s and 60s to use full size sedans and wagons to pull those rigs. Has anyone ever seen the "Long, Long Trailer" with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz? They simply used a Mercury Convertible to pull it. Now that would be a cool project to build! It towed it well & quickly... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misterNNL Posted May 3, 2021 Share Posted May 3, 2021 22 hours ago, Big John said: It does have a hitch but that would you tow it with? Certainly not your average IH pickup, maybe a Chrysler Town and Country? This style was known as a "barrel back". The wooden section above the rear bumper is divided into two halves,hinged on the outside edges. Those opened and swung outward allowing access to the interior. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misterNNL Posted May 3, 2021 Share Posted May 3, 2021 22 hours ago, Big John said: It does have a hitch but that would you tow it with? Certainly not your average IH pickup, maybe a Chrysler Town and Country? This is based on a Chrysler chassis . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misterNNL Posted May 3, 2021 Share Posted May 3, 2021 On 4/29/2021 at 9:45 PM, Big John said: What Fun! I've always had a fascination with metal trailers, and Deco Liners though they aren't in my line of builds. Thanks for all the shares. Here are a couple of inspirational subjects that have caught my fancy. First is a trailer I saw at the LGS Historic races. I don't really think it is a Bugatti buy who knows? These appear to be Curtiss-Wright trailers from the early '30's. The entry doors were over the hitches for two reasons. The technology for opening the side sheet metal had not been developed yet even on longer units, and some like the one shown here were simpler too short. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misterNNL Posted May 3, 2021 Share Posted May 3, 2021 3 hours ago, misterNNL said: These appear to be Curtiss-Wright trailers from the early '30's. The entry doors were over the hitches for two reasons. The technology for opening the side sheet metal had not been developed yet even on longer units, and some like the one shown here were simpler too short. Correction: a closer look at the photo and in particular the cover over the wheel and I spot the words "Bowuls Papoose ". That is a super rare trailer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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