Vintage Trailers were the stars at the 100th Anniversary of the Tin Can Tourists. Sertoma Youth Ranch in Brooksville was the campground to host the centennial celebration in Florida. Over 200 Vintage Campers spent the week that featured great musical acts, fantastic food and wonderful cake, historical presentations, car shows, Model T rides, trip to DeSoto… Continue reading Florida Centennial Celebration
Category: History
Happy 100th Anniversary
2019 marks the 100 year anniversary of the Tin Can Tourists and we are excited to celebrate this amazing milestone with our 2300 members! A little background of how and when the Tin Can Tourists Club was born, here is the basics – The Tin Can Tourists were organized at De Soto Park, Tampa, Florida, in… Continue reading Happy 100th Anniversary
Tin Can Tourists Trailer Classifications
The Tin Can Tourists has adopted classification definitions created by Tim Heintz and used by other trailer clubs. The club will use this terminology if a rally/event has certain age requirements. This happens at some events that we are invited to as a special interest display. We may also using this as categories in rally… Continue reading Tin Can Tourists Trailer Classifications
Old Car Festival, September 9 & 10
The Old Car Festival, the nation’s oldest continuously running car event, will be held this weekend at The Henry Ford/Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan. The festival will feature vehicles from 1890 – 1932 but it is much more than just a car show. There will be special demonstrations and a number of family-fun activities throughout… Continue reading Old Car Festival, September 9 & 10
Abbreviations on a Title?
Use this table to decode the manufacturer? VMAType Description Vehicle Make This code table is provided as an example of the data normally found within it. This page should not be used as an authoritative source. Code Value AAA AAA Mobile Home Mfg. Co. AAB A.A.B. Co., Inc. AALI Aalite Co. AAPX AAPEX TRAILERS,… Continue reading Abbreviations on a Title?
Tin Can Tourists – Early Images
Tags: Tin Can Tourists
Introducing our New TCT Logo!
Introducing the new TCT logo produced by graphic designer and Tin Can Tourists member Andrew (Roo) Ryan. This logo is reproduced from the original membership pins used by the club in the early days. We hope you like it as much as we do! Tags: TCT, Tin Can Tourists
John “Canner” Culp‘s 1947 Westcraft Restoration
In 2016, John “Canner” Culp‘s 1947 Westcraft was awarded to a TCT member to see that it got back on the road. It had been on display at the RV Heritage Museum for the past couple of years, but was being neglected and is in need of some TLC. We have some fantastic news, the restoration… Continue reading John “Canner” Culp‘s 1947 Westcraft Restoration
Tracing the roots of the RV lifestyle
Abstract: The RV lifestyle goes way back. Possibly, the RV way to travel was as much a necessity back then. Drawn by horses, caravans carried some of my ancestors from Bohemia on long journeys before departing for North America on sailing ships. The journey was much more pleasant, having a few comforts along the way.… Continue reading Tracing the roots of the RV lifestyle
Is it a Vintage ‘Trailer’ or a Vintage ‘House Trailer’ or a Vintage ‘Mobile home’ or a vintage ‘Trailer Coach’?
By Tim Heintz (History Lesson 🙂 ) I have been getting a lot of messages and emails asking what the difference between a vintage ‘Trailer’, Vintage ‘House Trailer’, Vintage ‘Mobile home’, vintage ‘Trailer Coach’? Well basically historically they were all the SAME THING…..simply put….TRAILERS. Even the industry was unsure if there were any difference, I… Continue reading Is it a Vintage ‘Trailer’ or a Vintage ‘House Trailer’ or a Vintage ‘Mobile home’ or a vintage ‘Trailer Coach’?
Tin Can Tourists Campground
Tin Can Tourist Campground, downtown Melbourne, Florida Tags: campground, Tin Can Tourists
TCT History
Tin Can Tourism: The Golden Age of camping BY PHAEDRA CARTER http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/article116633213.html November in Bradenton brings with it cooler weather and the anticipation of our seasonal friends: the snowbirds. Ever wonder how this traditional migration got its start? Well, let’s go back in time. Back to a time before modern commercial air travel, and just… Continue reading TCT History
Tin Can Tourists History Presentation
Here is a presentation on the history of the Tin Can Tourists Club [slideshare id=66598671&doc=owaaqtfcq42otfwaztpo-signature-7d0363a8ad2f41619700f892460047491b0ccf85ff1b4be874d78387b8b64ea1-poli-160930130831] Notes for the Slides: 1. Tin Can Tourists Forrest & Jeri Bone 2. Credits: Florida History Museum Orange County Museum (Orlando) Florida Library & Information Services www.dos.state.fl.us.dlis History Wired – Smithsonian www.historywired.si.edu Library of Congress www.lcweb.loc.gov Mr. Bud Cooper –… Continue reading Tin Can Tourists History Presentation
The Tourists Run (aka The Dixie Highway)
Did you know the Dixie Highway was also nicknamed “the tourist run” with its “tin can tourists” known for eating out of tin cans and camping along the way? Read about the history of the Dixie Highway and the connection with the Tin Can Tourists. Tags: Camping, History, Tin Can Tourists
TCT Membership Cards and Vehicles from 1938
I really like that one of pictures the guy choose was of him changing a flat! Even back then trailering was a family affair, both of their last names are Berg! Tags: TCT
1937 Travelogue of Travel with a Travelo
Travelogue of Travel with a Travelo From the original manuscripts of Samuel A. Esser Introduction by Paul Dobbin In 1937, My Grandfather, Samuel A. Esser bought a new 17 foot Travelo travel trailer for a family trip across the United States. With his wife and his 20year old daughter, (my grandmother and my mother) he… Continue reading 1937 Travelogue of Travel with a Travelo
Time Travel: The History of Camping
Tin Can Tourists played an important role in the history of camping, read the story here: http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/02/time-travel-the-history-of-camping.html Tags: Tin Can Tourists
What is a “house car”?
There is no formal definition of a house car but in the early 1900’s, Americans want to take to the roads and explore. Some creative Tin Can Tourists decided that they’d rather bring their home with them rather than have the tent attachments on the sides of their Model T’s, so they built larger structures… Continue reading What is a “house car”?
Does “rare” equal valuable?
Rare Trailers A day doesn’t go by that we don’t get an email from someone thinking they have a “rare” trailer and that must mean it is worth thousands of dollars. They searched the internet and can’t find another one like it. Check out the classified ads and see how many have the word “rare”… Continue reading Does “rare” equal valuable?
Hindsight, by Terry Evans, Tin Can Tourist Member
We completed the Wayzalot in 1999 and traveled with our Rolling Home for about three years before we found the Tin Can Tourist Group. In 1996, when we started our build, there was very little on the internet relating to vintage campers, maybe a couple groups in California. And there was no camping clubs of… Continue reading Hindsight, by Terry Evans, Tin Can Tourist Member
Car Camping
Does anyone still camp like this? Looks like an old Ford wagon with Florida plates and a chuckbox. No tags for this post.
Arthur Sherman’s first Covered Wagon
While Dan Hershberger was doing some research for his upcoming Annual Gathering presentation “Michigan Puts the World on Wheels: The Model T and the Early Trailer Manufacturers,” He discovered/uncovered a very significant bit of trailer history right here in Detroit. Read the entire story here: https://tincantourists.com//ArthurShermans1929CoveredWagon.pdf No tags for this post.
Early Loggers made some interesting campers
Early Loggers ” pictures. I especially liked the last two. Now that’s wood-be camping !! I think if one of those camper units showed up at next years Annual Gathering, they should automatically get the Best In Show.{ It actually looks like an earlier version of my boler, now that I look at it more closely }… Continue reading Early Loggers made some interesting campers
Pop-up Camper History Website
This website has some history on pop-up campers and many advertisements and images. Nearly every manufacturer is covered – very impressive! http://www.popupcamperhistory.com/ Welcome! This web site is dedicated specifically to the history of North American-made pop-up campers. Primarily this web site will accomplish three goals. First it will explore the history of the pop-up… Continue reading Pop-up Camper History Website
1913 Auto Tourists Tent Display
Some great photos of how you camped in 1913 with your Model T http://www.flickr.com/photos/tbone2/sets/72157627744194281/ No tags for this post.
Bowlus Auctioned for $187,000
The bidding war on the Bowlus Road Chief trailer was one of the liveliest at the Gooding auction exceeding their estimate. Final price with buyer’s commission – $187,000! And to think that the TCT had a couple of these as our feature trailer at one of our recent rallies! That price is considered a A… Continue reading Bowlus Auctioned for $187,000
Blue Ridge Parkway’s 75th Anniversary Festival
Festival Highlights America’s Love of the Road with Antique Autos/RVs – many TCT members are participating on Sept 11th. http://blueridgeparkway75.org/media/antique_auto/ Tags: TCT
Event at Harn Museum in Gainesville, Florida
Museum Nights at the Harn Join the Harn Museum of Art on August 12 from 6 – 9 p.m. for “Museum Nights: What I did on my Summer Vacation.” View the exhibition “Jack Nichelson: Sojourner Dream Reliquaries” and engage in a scavenger hunt through the exhibition. View the 1902 science-fiction film “A Trip to the… Continue reading Event at Harn Museum in Gainesville, Florida
Bike Trailer
I wish I had one of these! No tags for this post.
June Is RV Camping Month in Florida
A resolution declaring June as Recreational Vehicle and Camping Month was recently signed by Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Cabinet. The proclamation is in conjunction with the national RV Centennial Celebration taking place in Elkhart, Indiana, and was initiated by both the Florida RV Trade Association (FRVTA) and theFlorida Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds… Continue reading June Is RV Camping Month in Florida