Monday, October 11, 2010

RV Museum, Elkhart, Indiana

We went with our friends, Paul and Margery, to the RV Museum.  Elkhart is known as the "RV Capital of the World" because of the large concentration of RV manufacturers in the area, such as Jayco, Heartland, Keystone, Forest River -- just to name a few. Shortly after the RV/MH Hall of Fame was established in March 1972, the first class of inductees was honored.  Since then, 322 of the industry's pioneers and leaders have joined the group.  John K. Hanson from Winnebago Industries (the manufacturer of our Voyage) was inducted into the RV Hall of Fame in 1983.  There are approximately 60 campers of all varieties for review at the museum -- don't worry, I promise not to show each and every one in this posting.

The oldest trailer in the world is the 1913 "Earl" travel trailer and tow'd here by a Motel "T" Ford. 


The trailer has a dining table that seats four and then converts to a double bed.


Following is a 1931 homemade American "housecar" on a Model AA Ford chassis. 


With a wood fireplace

We are so spoiled...these seats look very hard and uncomfortable compared to the cushion seats we sit on today.

In 1931, Paramount Studios gave this Chevrolet Housecar to Mae West when she left vaudeville to make movies.  It is a chauffer-driven lounge car, not a camper, but it did have a small hot plate, an icebox and a small table. 

And the story is she also had a rocking chair she placed on the "back porch" of the housecar so she could enjoy a breeze when traveling.

Many of the early campers were tent trailers.
1916 Cozy Camper Tent Trailer is one of the first trailer models to be commercially produced.

1924 Auto-Kamp Tent Trailer

We had one similar to this one 20+ years ago.

This 1967 Winnebago Motorhome was Winnebago's first motorhome and was built on a six cylinder Ford chassis.

One of the firsts with bathroom facilities -- notice the bathtub to the right and the chamber pot/jar in the "closet."  Made me really appreciate the facilities we have in our Voyage.

A few more pics.


It's no fun to be serious all the time

Clowning around with our friends

The RV Business has come a lonnnggg way Baby!!

We enjoyed our tour of the RV Museum and seeing how motorhomes, travel trailers, etc have evolved through the years.  And it made us appreciate our home even more.  We also enjoyed visiting with our friends, Paul and Margery.

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