Sugarfoot asked a question about the four hooks on the Bubble. I don't believe they were for hoisting the trailer onto a ship as this is the type of rigging used on PeeWee's African Caravan scout truck. Anyone have any ideas?
Photo courtesy of the estate of Helen Byam Schwamborn.
6 comments:
If someone was to reproduce that scout rig do you think it would be allowed in the WBCCI? You have a guest coming your way soon to get that famous Bubble, wish it were me, so I could thank you for all you have done on the Phoenix end of things...
If the camper portion of the truck was made from an Airstream, I don't see any reason it wouldn't be included into the club.
Cool Frank. Can you clue me in on who's coming?
Never mind on clueing me in. I got an email and looks like things are already in motion.
A new chapter in the life of Wally's Bubble is being written with a new author and I believe this one to be as exciting and thrilling as the first.
I believe the hooks are for casting lines and not to actually lift the trailer (lines to right the Bubble when loaded and unloaded). Even though they are attached to the frame rails that are attached to the chassis, I don't think they were meant to be used to lift the Bubble. Practically speaking, I think they were more of a conversation feature then a functional one for Wally ;-)
Wally was experimenting with ways to efficiently and safely lift Airstreams onto and off of ships. He wanted efficiency probably to reduce shipping (labor) costs, which would in turn attract more caravaners to the International adventures pursued by the WBCCI.
I just learned that Wally developed the harness designed to cradle Airstreams as shown in many vintage photos of Airstreams being loaded onto ships. I had always assumed that shipping companies provided the harnesses.
As the former owner of the Bubble I assumed that the hooks were to stabilize the Bubble (I thought about these puzzling features often).
After learning that Wally developed the aforementioned harness. It makes sense that Wally was likely experimenting with how to load efficiently in 1955. The hooks mounted to the frame of the Bubble, and the eyes mounted on the bumper may have in fact been used to load/unload the Bubble along with lines to the tongue. Food for thought!
Are the hooks used to secure the roll up awning to the awning rail?
(Rob of theVAP)
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