|
1911 - 1920
|
In
this decade, campers continued to adapt their own
vehicles and made house cars. We can find a wide range
of equipment, from cars with rolled-up tent and storage
boxes attached to the rear, to first travel trailers,
fifth wheels or buses converted to motorhomes and
home made motorhomes.
Wood was the principal material. For outer coverings
and tents they used dust-proof, bug-proof and waterproof
materials. These cars had bedrooms, kitchenette, water
pump, wash basin, shower bath, chemical chamber, wardrobes,
box spring and mattress, refrigerator, wicker chairs,
window awnings, curtains, screens and shades, and
other typical motorhome features.
Some of them were equipped with electric lights or
had communication capabilities. A person could hook
into a telegraph line and send a message.
|
Source:Unknown
|
|
Tent
mounted on one side of the car. |
1912,
Photo Courtesy of
Atlas
Mobile Home Directory
|
A unique 1912 model "trailer" made out of a large spruce log. |
1913,
Earl Travel Trailer
Photo Courtesy of Yuriko Sasaki,
Lee Export Company, Japan
|
1913
Earl Travel Trailer with a Ford Model T Runabout is
believed to be the worlds oldest non-tent travel trailer.
It was custom-built in Los Angeles and restored in
1980.
|
1915
Lamsteed Kampkar,
Photo Courtesy of Peter Kable, Australia
Source: www.mtfca.com
|
The
Lamsteed Kampkar was invented by Samuel B. Lambert
(the same Lambert Family of Listerine fame). It
was advertised as the only practical and complete car for touring and camping ever devised. The Kampkar shell fit perfectly on a Ford chassis. The sides of the car folded down, in the fashion of aa Pullman berth, and the seat and side cushions combined to make a bed 42 inches wide on each side of the car.
|
In
1915, August Fruehauf invented the concept of the
fifth wheel.
In 1917, aviator Glenn Curtiss built a fifth-wheel
camping trailer, he called "motor bungalow".
The trailer was plywood over a spruce frame, and fairly
spacious, with canvas tilt-out beds In 1928 (see 1921-1930),
he revamped his design and called it the "Aerocar
Land Yacht".
|
1915,
Conklin's Gypsy Van
Source: Motor Magazine, 1909
|
|
1915,
Roland and Mary Conklin's Motor Bus Company from Huntigton,
N.Y., built the house car Gypsy Van for family travel
experience. It was 25 foot and weighed eight tons.
It had a homelike interior, modeled after English
manor houses. |
1916,
Telescoping Apartment, property
of RV historian, David Woodworth
Source: www.showspan.com
|
1916,
San Francisco businessman, Gustau de Bretteville,
designed and manufactured the "Telescoping Apartment".
The Telescoping RV sits atop a Ford Model "T"
Runabout. It was only 40 inches long and 54 inces
wide. The back dropped down and then expanded to 76
inches to provide a bed large enough for two people.
The camper featured a pantry about the size of cardboard
box, a chest of four drawers that pushed out on one
side and stove which mounts on the engine. A portable
shower used hot water from the engine.
|
1917,
Packard
Photo Courtesy of www.RVFunTrips.com
|
1917,
25 feet Packard bus converted to a motorhome. It was
built by Earl C. Antony Shops, from Los Angeles. It
has a bedroom at the rear with convertible sofas,
storage, a small galley area, a kitchen with two burner
gasoline cook top, ice box and sink, a toilet in a
tiny closet and some communication capability - it
could hook into a telegraph line to send a messages.
|
1920,
Source Motor Magazine 1920
|
1920
camper with slide outs. The sides dropped down to
make two canvas-covered sleeping compartments for
four persons. |
1920,
Photo Courtesy of
Atlas
Mobile Home Directory
|
Two-wheeled
wooden trailer from 1920. |
|
|
|
SELECT
ONE OF THE CHAPTERS BY DECADE:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1961-1970
COMING SOON
|
1971-1980
COMING SOON
|
|
1981-1990
COMING SOON
|
1991-Present
COMING SOON
|
|
|
CLICK
TO SELECT
AN ARTICLE:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BORN IN HUNGARY
The word "coach" derives from the
Hungarian town of Kocs, where, in 15th century,
a comparatively smooth-riding, horse -drawn
vehicle was designed.
The carriage was slung between the axles on
leather straps, and the front wheels were
smaller than the rear ones to make steering
easier.
***
MERCEDES CARS ARE NAMED AFTER AN AUSTRIAN
GIRL
MERCEDES JELLINEK AFTER
WHOM MERCEDES CARS ARE NAMED
In 1897,
Emil Jellinek, Austrian
businessman, travelled from his home in Nice,
France to purchase a car from the Daimler
factory in Cannstatt, Germany. On his return
to the French Riviera, his sporting Daimler
Phoenix caused such a sensation that he decided
to enter it into a local touring competition,
under the name of "Mercedes" after his favourite
9 year old daughter.
Realising the business potential for the new
car, he not only placed an order for 36 more,
but also secured the franchise for selling
them in several countries. Gottlieb Daimler
also agreed to having them sold under the
name of "Mercedes."
|
|
WE
INVITE YOU TO SEND US YOUR COMMENTS ON THIS
FEATURE AND ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT WE CAN
DO TO IMPROVE OUR RV HISTORY.
SIMPLY E-MAIL IT BY CLICKING
HERE!
|
|
|
