Westcraft Travel Trailer
1932-1955
George T. Hall Company, Los Angeles, CA
History
Westcraft Trailer incorporated 3221 San Fernando Road Los Angeles 41, California Phone: Albany 1164
2nd location – According to the manufacturers plate on our 1950 Coronado Westcraft Manufacturing CO. 3910 Cohasset ST. Burbank, Calif.
Years built
The George T. Hall Company (GTH) was established in 1932 by George Hall and his mother as a small distributor of trailer, butane and heaters in West Los Angeles which soon grew to be one of the major trailer distributors in Southern California.
The constant need to repair the control valves on oil heaters sparked the entrance into automatic control repairs. The company started distributing controls in 1948, and by 1955 it had increased in volume so much that the trailer business was discontinued.
The company is still in business: the above text was taken from http://www.georgethall.com/aboutgth.html
Timeless Travel Trailers under the direction of Brett Hall has restarted the Westcraft trailer line. The first two 2010 Timeless Westcraft models have been delivered to their owners as of July. One Westcraft is in use in the Phoenix area as a mobile cigar lounge. The other unit is in service in Vancouver, BC as a mobile kitchen for Green Machine Catering Company providing foodservice to the television show Supernatural.
Models
Westcraft manufactured two different brands of trailers. Their Westcraft line of trailers featured the “pullman style tops” The early Westcrafts had wood framing with screwed on exterior skins while the later models had aluminum wall framing with riveted exterior skins.
Their Westwood line of trailers had a more traditional flat roof and some models had all or partial wood wall framing and screwed on aluminum skins. Some Westwood Coronados had the skin rivited to an aluminum framework. There are examples of 1946 Westwood Coronados having the aluminum screwed to an all wood frame. The Westwood Montecito had the skin screwed to a wood frame.
Westcraft models: Coronado, Montecito, Shasta, Sequoia, Yosemite
Westcraft Westwood brand models: Tahoe, Coronado, Montecito, Monterey, Sequoia
Westwood’s were built by the Westcraft Trailer Company of Los Angeles Ca. from 1946-1948 only with each of the 3 years being completely different then the next.
There are only 2 or 3 known 46 Westwood trailers to still be in existence, and none of them are in very good condition as most of them were finished with Masonite on the exterior and have weathered away with time. In 1947 and 48 they made 2 model, the 24′ Coronado and the 19′ Tahoe. The 47’s are the most sought after as the interiors of this one year only were built with two types and tones of woods, Birch and Douglas Fir, to give a more cabin like feel to the interior with its raised panel doors, Whereas the 48 just had a more modern flat panel Birch plywood door.
Before deciding to concentrate on their “Pullman Top” models in 1949, (as it was referred to in their sales literature), the Westcraft Manufacturing Company, of Burbank, CA, for a while made two models. They were both had “coach” style shells, as opposed to the “caravan” style, which, is like an Airfloat or Spartanette, (….even though this style has been incorrectly included in the “Canned Hams” section of a recent trailer book….). The earlier Westwood line had more of the traditional, eastern style “bread loaf” look, though, whereas, their second line, (with the raised roof, with little windows along the sides…that most people call a “Lantern Roof”), had the streamline look that was favored more by westcoast designers. They were both top quality coaches that used Aircraft construction methods….including aluminum framing ribs just like Spartan, Aero Flite, Silver Streak, Streamline, Boles Aero and Airstream…..but, among other things, they used thicker gauge aluminum for the skin panels. In fact, in my opinion…which is derived from actually taking apart and reconstructing these old girls….is, that as at least during the late 1940s and early 1950s, Westcraft was the best built trailer coach of all and, even with no upkeep, they rarely seem to leak through the skin seams, roof vents and window frames.
All Westcrafts were painted trailers.
Some owners
Craig & Jill McCormick 1950 Westcraft Coronado 22′
We recently got our Westcraft back from the paint shop and have been installing the windows as we have time.
David Izenman
Hi All. This is my 1950 Westcraft Coronado single axle just like Craig’s except that my windows are a bit different and on his he has the ‘picture window’ and mine does not. She was finished yesterday and am taking her out on her maiden voyage for the Thanks giving weekend. Most everything is either refurbished and restored. The blinds were a challenge to find the ladder/ribbon which was NOS on Ebay and the floor original except for a few side strips I had to lace in as they were curling up.
Remanufactured by Timeless Travel Trailers, Wheat Ridge, Colorado 303-432-3819. Work includes: new 8“ X 2” rectangular tube frame, new side sheets, Lexan windows, all aluminum interior, full service commercial kitchen, new 6,000# GKN axles (added second axle,) 60 gal fresh and 60 gal gray water storage, custom built wheels, Goodrich Silvertown tires, Valspar House of Kolor pearl paints. Owned by a resort company in Florida. Photographed in the new 10,000sf Timeless production facility.
Update 3/10/10: President Brett Hall announces Timeless Travel Trailers is now producing brand new replicas of the 1949 Westcraft trailer which can be ordered in any length from 15′ to 43′ including 5th wheel models for RV or Commercial use.
Steve Schlabra Fairfield, TEXAS
Well my 1947 22′ Westwood Coronado “Bertha” has a long way to go. I have replaced the axle with a new 5200lb. 12“ elec. brakes, all new flooring, buck rivited a new front panel, repaired both doors, and finally stripped the pink latex paint. I’m now fixing the dents/dings. The next part is the toughest…….Paint choice……probably green/alabaster combo. Still need 3 complete windows, will pay finders fee.
Here is a link to my previous restorations and the Coronado.
http://community.webshots.com/user/schlabra100
This is my ’47 22′ Coronado. Like the ’36 Chevy in the photo, I like stuff that “looks old… runs new”. While I made an attempt to keep the basic interior theme, I made no attempt to restore to anything like original. I wanted all the modern conveniences I could stuff in it without modifying the outward appearance (much). It has a shower, head, and vanity in the back, TV, sound system, hot water (propane/110), microwave, furnace, and a smaller 110 refer plus a small Dometic 3-way. As of this posting (Feb ’10) I am nearly done after working on it (off and on) for several years. All thats left is the rear settee and exterior paint.
Dave Garner
demiurgiac@sbcglobal.net
PICTURES/VIDEOS
https://www.facebook.com/flytecamp/videos/check-out-this-awesome-1948-westcraft-sequoia-with-desirable-trolley-top-roof-av/1467123600010055/