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- Gilkie Tent Trailer, circa 1927 - Campers who wanted to get close to nature -- but not too close -- loved fold-out tent trailers. These two-wheelers folded down for easy towing by day and then mushroomed into miniature homes at night. Story has it that Warren and Ray Gilkison designed and built their first tent trailer in their father's machine shop for a family camping trip.
- circa 1927
- Collections - Artifact
Gilkie Tent Trailer, circa 1927
Campers who wanted to get close to nature -- but not too close -- loved fold-out tent trailers. These two-wheelers folded down for easy towing by day and then mushroomed into miniature homes at night. Story has it that Warren and Ray Gilkison designed and built their first tent trailer in their father's machine shop for a family camping trip.
- Iowa License Plate, 1986 - Early state-issued license plates were made of porcelain-coated iron. Later, states stamped tin, steel, or even copper to make plates. During the Second World War several states used fiberboard. Plate colors varied and some states added symbols, mottoes, or other design elements. Today, states use reflective sheeting to coat a standard-sized aluminum blank which is then stamped and decorated.
- 1986
- Collections - Artifact
Iowa License Plate, 1986
Early state-issued license plates were made of porcelain-coated iron. Later, states stamped tin, steel, or even copper to make plates. During the Second World War several states used fiberboard. Plate colors varied and some states added symbols, mottoes, or other design elements. Today, states use reflective sheeting to coat a standard-sized aluminum blank which is then stamped and decorated.
- 1935 Stagecoach Travel Trailer, Used by Charles Lindbergh and Family - Henry Ford gave this trailer to his friend Charles Lindbergh in 1942. Charles and his wife Anne used it as a home on the road and as a spare room and a study at home. Anne wrote <EM>The Steep Ascent</EM> here, and Charles wrote portions of his Pulitzer Prize-winning book <EM>The Spirit of St. Louis</EM>.
- 1935
- Collections - Artifact
1935 Stagecoach Travel Trailer, Used by Charles Lindbergh and Family
Henry Ford gave this trailer to his friend Charles Lindbergh in 1942. Charles and his wife Anne used it as a home on the road and as a spare room and a study at home. Anne wrote The Steep Ascent here, and Charles wrote portions of his Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Spirit of St. Louis.
- "Trailer Travel," November 1950 - <EM>Trailer Travel</EM> magazine provided readers with articles about the recreational vehicle lifestyle, industry news, and classified and trailer park advertisements. These issues also provided a range of ads promoting a company's newest model of trailer.
- November 01, 1950
- Collections - Artifact
"Trailer Travel," November 1950
Trailer Travel magazine provided readers with articles about the recreational vehicle lifestyle, industry news, and classified and trailer park advertisements. These issues also provided a range of ads promoting a company's newest model of trailer.
- Fruehauf Trailer Co. Advertising Blotter, "Fruehauf Stainless Steel Trailers," 1931-1941 - Founded in Detroit in 1918, the Fruehauf Trailer Company built and sold fifth-wheel semi-trailers that became the prototype for the big freight-hauling trailers seen on American highways today. At its peak, Fruehauf had 16 plants and more than 80 distributors, and it manufactured trailers for civilian and military uses. The company ceased independent operations in 1997.
- 1931-1941
- Collections - Artifact
Fruehauf Trailer Co. Advertising Blotter, "Fruehauf Stainless Steel Trailers," 1931-1941
Founded in Detroit in 1918, the Fruehauf Trailer Company built and sold fifth-wheel semi-trailers that became the prototype for the big freight-hauling trailers seen on American highways today. At its peak, Fruehauf had 16 plants and more than 80 distributors, and it manufactured trailers for civilian and military uses. The company ceased independent operations in 1997.
- Fruehauf Trailer Co. Advertising Card, "Warehousemen's Van," 1931-1941 - Founded in Detroit in 1918, the Fruehauf Trailer Company built and sold fifth-wheel semi-trailers that became the prototype for the big freight-hauling trailers seen on American highways today. At its peak, Fruehauf had 16 plants and more than 80 distributors, and it manufactured trailers for civilian and military uses. The company ceased independent operations in 1997.
- 1931-1941
- Collections - Artifact
Fruehauf Trailer Co. Advertising Card, "Warehousemen's Van," 1931-1941
Founded in Detroit in 1918, the Fruehauf Trailer Company built and sold fifth-wheel semi-trailers that became the prototype for the big freight-hauling trailers seen on American highways today. At its peak, Fruehauf had 16 plants and more than 80 distributors, and it manufactured trailers for civilian and military uses. The company ceased independent operations in 1997.
- Fruehauf Trailer Co. Advertising Card, "Livestock Body," 1931-1941 - Founded in Detroit in 1918, the Fruehauf Trailer Company built and sold fifth-wheel semi-trailers that became the prototype for the big freight-hauling trailers seen on American highways today. At its peak, Fruehauf had 16 plants and more than 80 distributors, and it manufactured trailers for civilian and military uses. The company ceased independent operations in 1997.
- 1931-1941
- Collections - Artifact
Fruehauf Trailer Co. Advertising Card, "Livestock Body," 1931-1941
Founded in Detroit in 1918, the Fruehauf Trailer Company built and sold fifth-wheel semi-trailers that became the prototype for the big freight-hauling trailers seen on American highways today. At its peak, Fruehauf had 16 plants and more than 80 distributors, and it manufactured trailers for civilian and military uses. The company ceased independent operations in 1997.
- Toy Car and Camping Trailer, 1954-1955 - Toymakers began producing toy automobiles and automobile-related vehicles around 1900. This mid-1950s toy car and trailer let children image they were driving off to some vacation getaway.
- 1954-1955
- Collections - Artifact
Toy Car and Camping Trailer, 1954-1955
Toymakers began producing toy automobiles and automobile-related vehicles around 1900. This mid-1950s toy car and trailer let children image they were driving off to some vacation getaway.
- 1914 Fruehauf Truck Trailer - In 1914 Detroit blacksmith August Fruehauf devised a simple single axle trailer for lumber dealer Frederic Sibley. Hooked to a modified Ford Model T, it carried Sibley's boat on vacation trips. Sibley then had Fruehauf modify the trailer for hauling lumber. This "semi-trailer," as Fruehauf called it, is the ancestor of trailers carrying freight all over American roads today.
- 1914
- Collections - Artifact
1914 Fruehauf Truck Trailer
In 1914 Detroit blacksmith August Fruehauf devised a simple single axle trailer for lumber dealer Frederic Sibley. Hooked to a modified Ford Model T, it carried Sibley's boat on vacation trips. Sibley then had Fruehauf modify the trailer for hauling lumber. This "semi-trailer," as Fruehauf called it, is the ancestor of trailers carrying freight all over American roads today.
- "How to Build Trailers," 1937 - Do-it-yourself travelers could build their own trailers with this 1937 manual from Modern Mechanix Publishing Company. The growing demand for travel trailers inspired several entrepreneurs to create successful trailer businesses.
- 1937
- Collections - Artifact
"How to Build Trailers," 1937
Do-it-yourself travelers could build their own trailers with this 1937 manual from Modern Mechanix Publishing Company. The growing demand for travel trailers inspired several entrepreneurs to create successful trailer businesses.