Aljoa, Aljo; Modernistic Industries

This page sure brings back memories from about 1957. Aljo (at the time)helped me thru college, working on 135th Street in Gardena and going to college at El Camino. I made a decent wage working in the cabinet shop and later became the lead guy. It was a nice place to work, people were great and Al was a great guy what little we saw of him. Probably out hustling sales. I remember being on the job when we started to get the aluminum from the manufacturer already painted and that was a big improvement over having to wipe the whole trailer down with solvent before you painted. We had a good team. Alex was on the skim bender, Johnny was on the cabinet frames, Billy was on the router, Mr. Bates was on the big workbench, Ericson on the table saw, and me on the final inspection, time cards and after hours wrap-up. Anson Stelmak….Thanks Aljo. I retired from aerospace with 32 years building airplanes and a very nice 401K plan.

History

Aljoa 1945-1956

Aljo 1956-1978

Manufacturer: Modernistic Industries Owner: C.T. McCreary

Alleged Rumor False: The name Aljoa was a combination of the distributor’s name, Al Rose, and his daughter Joanne.

Real Story, interview with C.T. McCreary by Mike Anderson

Sent: 9/10/2007 9:16 PM, Vintage Vacations MSN Group:

Here is what I heard straight from C.T. McCreary or “Mac” as he is known. I saw him at the shop today and had a nice little talk with him. He is in his 90’s and sharp as a tack. He told me all kinds of stuff about the history of HIS company and I will get a whole history from him and his family. He told me some neat stories about old trailer sales shows that they did and how some other companies got their start also some background on the founders of other trailer companies (Spartan, Kit and a couple of others).

First off, I will tell you that Mac started Modernistic Industries AND Aljoa trailers. Aljoa was the name of the trailer mfg company under the parent company, Modernistic. He stared his business in 1945 in Watts, CA on 109th and Central in a building that only had 3 walls. He called in a favor from a friend that he worked with at a aircraft plant (can’t remember the company, but I’ll get that) that built center turrett sections of the B-17 among other things. The building was owned by his friend and he asked him if he knew of a building he could rent to start his business. He told Mac that if he cleaned out the building he could use it and if he made a profit someday, he could pay him some rent. He didn’t even have a phone for a year. He told me that he had to scrounge for parts back then as the war was not even quite over yet and parts were scarce. he said that he had to walk down to 91st and Central to two phone booths to make calls and wait in line.

The name Aljoa derived from a name of a friend’s boat “Al-jo” changing it to Aljo, and when he setup in California someone told him to add an “a” on the end to make it more “Californian”. He did have to drop the “a” from the end in about 1950 when Alcoa saw that he was advertising an all aluminum trailer and the name infringed on theirs. Funny thing was, none of his dealers or customers seemed to care, only him. Al Rose was a dealer of his and many other brands. That story of Al being the namesake came up somehow from speculation and the story seemed to romanticize his brand so he didn’t spend a lot of effort fighting the rumor. His trailers were on the set of the Red Skelton Show and he had a feature on his company on a TV show called “Success Story” showing how the small guy can make it in different businesses. I’m even going to get a copy of the show and try to get it posted.

I learned a lot more but can’t remember it all and it was such a surprise visit that I wasn’t prepared for the history lesson. Again, I’m going to get A LOT more history of his and many other stories of the old days in trailer manufacturing/selling and pass them along online. I will also get photos of the plants, brochures, many other documents also. He even had one of his plants (I think it was in Iowa or somewhere) that he was “pushed” out of back when there was a trucking strike by Winnebago. That is a good story in itself. In a way, he gave Winnebago their start. I’ll keep you posted.

Mike Anderson

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The name ALJOA being a combination of two other person’s names seems just a popular rumor… Aljoa trailers was actually sued in Los Angeles District Court by ALCOA (Aluminum Corporation of America) as they felt Aljoa was too close sounding to ALCOA and it was a copyright infringement. ALCOA at one time was rumored to be considering the manufacture of travel trailers, trailer park models as well as light aircraft. This was in 1956, I believe. Thus the name change to Aljo for 1957 models…

Aljoa (Aljo) trailers were at one time manufactured at and sold through;

Modernistic Industries, Inc. 9620 E. Garvey Blvd. El Monte, California. (Modernistic later had other locations, but this was the original.)

“Al Rose, the Trailer King” Mr. Al Rose, Dealer/Owner Triangle Trailer Sales, Inc. (various trailer brands) 10117 E. Garvey Blvd. El Monte, California phone; Gilbert 8-9841

King Richard’s Trailer Sales (street/phone unknown.)

Other period trailers were made in or sold by dealers in El Monte, California. (Years are of known models, not necessarily only year manufactured… in no particular order.)

1954 – “Empire” Trailers, Inc., 1452 Chico Boulevard, CUmberland 3-4521, GIlbert 4-4951.

1956 – “Mercury” Trailers, 1831 Chico Boulevard.

1955 – “Ideal” and “Cal-Craft” trailers, Ideal Industries, 2328 N. Chico Avenue, FOrest 8-9817.

1949 – “Silver Streak”, “Curtis Wright”, Silver Streak Trailer Company, 1166 Chico Avenue.

1950 – “Aljoa”,“Aljo”, Modernistic Industries, Inc., 9620 E. Garvey, (Triangle Trailer Sales, GIlbert 8-9841).

1955 – “Cardinal”, Adams Trailer Company, 508 Stewart Street.

1952 – “Happy Home” Trailer Company, 92239 E. Valley Boulevard., FOrest 0-2875.

1952 – “Customcraft”, Best Industries, 509-10-12 E. San Bernardino Road, FOrest 0-3316.

1961 – “Terry” Coach Industries, Inc., 11274 Rush Street, GIlbert 4-0550.

1957 – “Sierra Madre”, Landmesser Trailer Company, 1166 Chico Boulevard, (sold through Triangle Trailer Sales, 10117 E. Garvey Boulevard, GIlbert 8-9841).

1956 – “Benroy”, “Tear Drop” (Manufactured for a short while by “King Richard’s”, an El Monte dealership)

1959 – “DeVille”, Catolac Corporation, 9573 E. Garvey Boulevard, GIlbert 9-4319.

1957 – “Corvette”, Sterling Company. 1959 – “Streamline” Travel Trailer, (related to Silver Streak).https://tincantourists.com//wiki/doku.php?id=streamline

1955 – “Dalton” trailers.

1946- “Radco” (sold by Al Rose).

1955- “Crown” (Terry Company?, sold by Al Rose).

1952- “Angelus”.

1952- “Robin Hood” (sold by Al Rose).

Winton Read

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Manufacturer Information

There were three locations that the Modernistic Industries made trailers in the 1950’s.

1230 E. 109th St., Los Angeles, CA 1715 W. 135th St., Gardena, CA 9627 E. Garvey Ave., El Monte, CA

John Hanson founded a subsidiary in Iowa, called Modernistic Industries of Iowa in 1957. What I would like to know more about is the pre-1957 history of this manufacturer. Later other factories were added in Loveland, CO. and Pendelton, OR.

Years built

1945-1978

Models

• Aljoa Sportsman  Model 12 – 12 ft
• Aljoa Sportsman  Model 14 – 14 ft
• Aljoa Sportsman  Model 16 – 16 ft
• Aljo Model 1500 – 15 ft
• Aljo Model 1900 – 19 ft
• Aljo Model 1800 – 18 ft
• Aljo Model 1500x (cabover) – 15 ft
• Aljo Model 1700 – 17 ft
• Aljo Model 15

Interiors

Birchwood paneling. Non-convertible double bed with brackets over it for a hammock (small child size). Dinette seats convert to another double bed.

Pictures/Videos

 

1950 Aljoa Sportsman

1951 Aljoa Sportsman 

Cliff Uyeda

1954 Aljoa “Sportsman” 15’10”

We have removed the paint and are now having it repainted with a more traditional look. We are from Golden Colorado and are very excited to start using it come Spring.

1954 Aljoa Sportsman 13 ft. (R. Price)

Repainted in original colors. Original logo outlined but not repainted. The awning is vintage but unknown if it is original to the trailer.

The aluminum decorative pieces around the running lights are not originals or reproductions. The previous owner fabricated these and added them.

Upgraded 12V and new 110 volt electrical system.

Dinette at rear, to right as you enter the door

Original propane stove & refrigerator. Original hand pump for 5 gallon water tank has been connected to the 12 volt system.

Full-time double bed at front of trailer over storage compartment. The 12V reading lamps are vintage but I don’t know if they are original to the trailer. The 12V wall sconce is 1 of 2 and is original, including the shade. The small TV shelf and cable connection were added by the previous owner. Note the hammock brackets on the wall.

1955 Aljoa

Courtesy of Cliff Uyeda source: 1955, FEB. Trailer Topics Magazine

1964 Aljoa

1954 Aljoa owned by Maurrie, founder of Sisters on the Fly

Although repainted, the Aljoa logo has been maintained

1957 ALJO