February is a magical time in Palm Springs. Glorious weather, the McCormick vintage and collector car auction, and Modernism Week. For those of you unfamiliar with the last, Modernism Week is a ten-day celebration of all things retro and mid-century, part of which is the Vintage Travel Trailer Show. Which brings us to the subject of this article: the estimable Wally Byam, founder of Airstream.
While the first three names up there in the title are familiar to most automotive enthusiasts and historians, it’s less likely they’ve heard of Wally Byam; however, his contributions to a specific facet of highway travel are as significant as his beloved Grand Canyon is vast.
Wally Byam’s legacy is the quintessentially American Airstream travel trailer, an instantly recognizable riveted aluminum tube that epitomizes advanced design and construction. As the inventor of the Airstream, Byam brought an unlikely and wide-ranging variety of life experiences to his role.
Born on July 4, 1876, in Baker City, Oregon, Byam wore many hats–some quite unlikely–throughout his life. As a teenager, he worked as a shepherd for his grandfather. The job necessitated that he stay at the pasture alone for long periods of time surrounded by hard, rough terrain and brutal physical elements. He lived out of a two-wheeled, cloth-covered wagon towed by a donkey. The primitive wagon contained a bed-mat, kerosene stove, a pail and water, books and provisions—in other words, just about everything a shepherd boy needed! As an adult, Byam was known to say that that wagon was responsible for sparking his interest in motorhomes and travel trailers.
Byam went on to attend prestigious Stanford University, graduating with a law degree (he never did practice), then promptly went to work as an advertising copywriter. Impatient with the job, he quit to publish his own magazine for do-it-yourselfers. After the magazine featured an article on how to build a travel trailer, Byam was inundated with complaints from readers who told him in no uncertain terms that the plans were no good. Finally, Byam tried them out for himself and found that the readers were right.
Intrigued, he set out to build a travel trailer of his own design. That first effort, while admittedly crude, set the trajectory for virtually all future motorhome construction. In Byam’s design, the floor was dropped down between the wheels and the roof raised, thus allowing occupants to stand fully upright when inside the trailer—something unprecedented at the time. Byam wanted to publish his plans in his own magazine, but found he couldn’t afford the space; instead, he sold the plans and an accompanying article to Popular Mechanics magazine, which published them.
image: tincantourist.com
The article attracted widespread attention, and soon Byam found himself selling plan sets to aspiring trailer-builders. There was also plenty of interest from the less handy, so Byam began building made-to-order trailers for them in his Los Angeles backyard. Customers were welcome to come over and pitch in if they wanted to do so. The trailer above was built by a Dr. Holman in 1935 from Byam’s plans, and is the oldest Airstream in the world.
Byam ran his backyard factory for several years. At some times, it supported his writing and publishing pursuits; at others, they supported it. By 1930, he’d abandoned publishing and advertising to become a full-time builder of squared-off Masonite travel trailers; the Airstream Company was formally incorporated in 1931. In 1936, Byam began producing an aluminum-skin trailer based on a design by the aircraft wizard Hawley Bowlus. With its semimonocoque, riveted aluminum body (between 9,000 and 11,000 rivets are used for each trailer, depending on size), it had more in common with contemporary aircraft than with other travel trailers.
It could sleep four, thanks to its tubular steel-framed dinette which converted into a bed. It had its own onboard water supply, an enclosed galley, and electric lights throughout. The Clipper boasted advanced insulation and a ventilation system, and even offered “air conditioning” that used dry ice.
The Second World War brought Airstream production to a standstill; Government restrictions on aluminum usage caused Airstream to shut down operations from 1942-1948. After the war ended, Byam found himself fighting another battle in order to resume production: a painful lack of capital. Desperate for cash, he entered into an ill-advised partnership with a much larger trailer company whose facilities dwarfed his own, turning over the rights to his plans and the Airstream name in the process. The deal was at first mutually beneficial; Byam got his expanded production capacity and the company got the fruits of his design and production expertise. It didn’t take long for the relationship to sour, though, and Byam scrounged for enough cash to buy his way out of the deal.
Under the terms of the buyout, rights to the Airstream reverted to Byam, as did those to his basic design parameters. Setting up shop in a small facility near the Van Nyus, CA airport, Byam announced that he was back in business. There weren’t exactly many company perks: For instance, after Byam hired a bright young Cornell graduate named Art Costello to take charge of purchasing and accounting, he proceeded to set Costello up behind a “desk” of a long wooden plank supported by two orange crates.
A little luckier was Andy Charles, whom Byam had known when they both worked at an aircraft plan many decades earlier. Byam managed to persuade Charles to come aboard and become Airstream’s head of production. In 1952, Charles was handed a $5,000 check with instructions to go find a larger permanent production facility. Ultimately, Charles leased a former bazooka factory in Jackson Center, Ohio, where Airstream production remains today.
Wally Byam was the harshest critic of his own product. No detail escaped his scrutiny. Factory presidents commonly received middle-of-the-night calls from wherever Byam was at the time, receiving a dressing-down about a faulty hinge or vibrating air vent. Byam traveled the world sourcing better and more efficient components on the world market. If nothing suited him, he would persuade some factory to produce what he wanted. If that failed, he simply ordered Airstream to produce it in-house.
Byam himself led several Airstream caravans over the years, most notably an 18,000-mile African trek from Capetown to Cairo.
image: Helen Byam Schwamborn estate
Wally’s personal tow rig of choice for the more grueling treks to Africa, South America and other remote locations was this International A-120 double-cab four-wheel drive pickup.
Today, the Wally Byam Caravan Club is among the largest active trailering clubs, sponsoring a continuing series of domestic and international rallies and activities.
Wally Byam died, of cancer, in 1962. His legacy is perhaps best summed up in his answer to a caravanner who asked him what they were supposed to do while he was in the hospital:
“Don’t stop. Keep right on going. Hitch up your trailer and go to Canada or down to Old Mexico. Head for Europe, if you can afford it, or go to the Mardi Gras. Go someplace you’ve heard about, where you can fish or hunt or collect rocks or just look up at the sky. Find out what’s at the end of some country road. Go see what’s over the next hill, and the one after that, and the one after that.”
There were, not surprisingly, several Curbside Classics in the show parking lot. I’ll write up a couple of the more interesting specimens in a future post. Meanwhile, check out this all-Airstream “motel”— owned and operated by Kate Pierson of the B-52s, no less!
Airstream, the ultimate trailer. I’ve never heard it being called “the Cadillac of trailers” because that would have probably been a low-class insult. They were much better than that. The pictures in the article show that rather well, but to really be convinced, just get yourself invited inside a well-restored model. They were class!
I would call Airstream the Mercedes of travel trailers. I have owned both Airstream and Mercedes. Both have the attention to detail and lasting quality that set them apart. And they are expensive. The Flying Cloud and SLK look pretty good sitting next to each other in the driveway.
If only Airstream motorhomes showed the same attention to detail as the caravans (travel trailers).
I lived in a 1969 model; still had real wood interiors that year. I parked it on a cliff overlooking a lake south of Austin, Texas. It was a time I had to escape from the world for awhile. I miss it sometimes…it’s sale financed my first house. It was a great adventure!
What I’ve always liked about Wally Byam is his philosophy regarding Airstream trailers: “Let’s not make changes, let’s make only improvements.” If only car makers operated under the same philosophy.
When I first remember seeing one of these in probably the late 60s, I thought it was some kind of old-fashioned cheap trailer. My father set me straight, telling me that there was no better or more desirable trailer than an Airstream. Airstreams are cool, no doubt about it.
I recall reading once that at one time, there was no more popular tow vehicle for Airstreams than a Cadillac. A spot which the Suburban took over by the 1980s.
The first time I saw an Airstream travel trailer was when I was a boy. A neighbour of mine had one parked in the back lawn of their home. I remember it being beige in colour.
With respect to the writer of this article, I must question the birthday information given regarding Wally Byam. It shows July 4, 1876 as being the year Wally Byam was born. Another source I’ve found shows the year as being July 4, 1896, 20 yrs later. Which is correct?
Great story. I love the shot of the Clipper interior. There are many low-ceiling rooms that give me claustrophobia, but a well-designed small space just feels cozy. Not magic, just sound design and attention to the psychological effects of how we’re confined.
I found this old ad on the website of a Dutch Airstream rental company & -dealer.
Alfred is towing one, while riding a bicycle.
A bigger picture of Alfred.
Another nice one, from the same website.
LOL a local classic car hire company has a 25ft airstream due to its immense weight the only vehicle they have that can legally pull it is Dodge Ram the caravan weighs some 3 tons hardly a brilliant design compared to a Aussie Viscount or Millard which are quite light.
And an Airstream as a mobile hospital, ordered by JFK.
Way cool. I recall the first time seeing these in the early ’70s as a young child, I referred to them as silver hot dogs.
For quite a while during the ’80s I assumed they were an old fashioned design and out of production. At some point I became aware they were still being produced and were something of a premium item. They still seem rare where I live, I go to the big boat, sports and camper show every year, and I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen Airstream represented. A look at the Airstream website says the nearest dealer is 2 and 1/2 hours away from my area in Omaha, NE. We are one of the bigger Midwestern markets, so I find that rather surprising. The fact that the smallest model starts at $42,000 USD and the top model starts at $146,000 helps keep these rather exclusive.
The polish level on that show camper is amazing. To the best of my knowledge they are usually more satin looking.
In some ways these really are a superior design. We’ve all seen the discussion here on CC that water leaks are the death of many older campers. It would seem that these are likely quite leak proof.
It’s rather astounding just how timeless the Airstream is. Just looking at the pictures of it hitched to various cars through the last seven decades is surreal. It hasn’t changed, yet it still looks modern in every picture.
I wonder how the “Silverstreak” Airstream clones compare to the real thing. The Airstream’s water shedding shape alone should prevent or reduce water leakage. The older Airstream’s with the all wood interior really are beautiful. I have heard leakage around the rivets could be a problem. The shape should reduce wind resistance when towing, although I have heard they tend to “lift” more in crosswinds. Would be interested in owners views on these opinions. The boxy trailers do have an obvious space advantage, but these really are interesting and well built RV’s.
67, I’ve never towed an Airstream, or anything else but my 16′ fiberglass Scamp, which has much the same eggish, bread-loaf shape. That trailer feels like its riding in a vacuum– I’ve never felt any hint of sway or crosswind mischief with the Scamp, even at speed behind a small tow vehicle (a Forester).
I’m convinced that the lack of corners and edges helps the shape slip through the air smoothly. Shapes with corners create low pressure areas of turbulent air. Low pressure areas are very powerful- an airplane wing is pulled up by the low pressure above it, not pushed up by the air compressed beneath it.
Subscribed .
-Nate
Great article. I’ve always liked the Airstream trailers – they have a classic, timeless look to them. Definitely a cut above the everyday RV offerings out there.
I know a guy who has about twenty of these in a field behind his house.
I’ve always thought Airstreams were very cool indeed, ever since I first noticed them as a child. Even from the outside, they look premium to me, and also like they’re built to last. Much more timeless than the other boxy travel trailers, and much more substantial-looking. If I were ever in the market for a trailer I know what I’d look for!
For maximum effect should be towed behind either an old Caddy, or a Jeep Grand Wagoneer.
A bit late to the party, but wanted to add my thanks for the article. My Cub Scout Den Mother (and her husband) had a Very Large Airstream (30′?) parked in their driveway beside the New Yorker tow vehicle. It was the only Airstream in our neighborhood, and even as 8-10 year olds, we knew it was something special.