Here’s a very early camper vehicle. Side boxes for storage, slide out drawer for a work surface, kitchen, and table. Simple framing holds up mosquito netting and closes down with roll-up canvas walls.
Tag: gypsy wagon
A few more Vardos (sort of) from Around the Web
I’m always keeping an eye out on the web for interesting living vehicles, rolling homes, and related Traveller – Modern Nomad stuff. The right key words and a little luck on historic image sites land a lot of photos, but often with little real information about the vehicle in question. As I was rummaging through my old image files over the weekend I decided to start throwing some of the images up here; for inspiration and ideas if nothing else. Where possible, I’ve linked to the source where I found it.
I like this early fifth-wheel design for several reasons, not the least of which is the hitch. This is the earliest image I have of a “slide-out” expandable space. I suspect they actually fold up but they already deal with increasing space while keeping the traveling width narrow. The final feature is the dogtrot effect created by the opposing doors. I think this caravan was built with summer travel in mind.
The above wagon aesthetic has a Persian feel to the decorations. From the pillows right down to the slippers. Click the photo for an article about this wagon.
Okay, I just posted this cool little goat wagon as I would have loved this as a kid. Who wouldn’t? There is a clear attention to detail on this one down to the wheel spokes and fine paint work. Apparently there is some tie to Kansas City. Maybe a carriage maker’s model?
And finally, the best part of all… exploring a 1914 Dunton Waggon, Part 1 with historian John Pokkett. You can find the next parts on Youtube if they don’t auto-follow.
How to Build a Vardo
In under ten minutes! Well, watch it being done anyway. Here’s a well-edited and excellent overview building a vardo from the ground up. I don’t know this guy at all but I love the video. I think it’s Canadian (for you Jim).
Please give comments or insights below.
And yet another Sheep Wagon
They are everywhere right now. He must get some rain down that stove pipe.
Even More About Sheep Wagons!
A Tumblr follower spotted my interest in sheep wagons and other classic mobile lifestyles. They sent me this excellent link to a short (20 minute) documentary from faircompanies.com. It’s a nice overview of sheep wagon design old and new by a couple making and selling old-fashioned Sheep Camps.
And here are a few older posts I’ve made about the American sheep wagons. They’re all you need out here in the west. Click the photos to learn more.
Have a look at a little bit of nearly lost American history.
1930s Caravans in America
Here are a few interesting trailers from the Golden Age. I hesitated to post these some time ago as I could not rediscover the website they came from. I try my best to attribute images to their source. Tools like Pinterest and Tumblr are great but the data is easily stripped away.
This is interesting stuff but I wish we had a glimpse inside these creatures “in use.” It’s easy to stage a photo but I appreciate it when we can see how the space is actually used.
The awning or tent is the best addition you can make to your Vardo home. Look for more great vintage images here on the Old Picture of the Day Blog.
Happy Birthday
To my beautiful daughter.
Sheepherders’ Camps
Here are a few classic Sheep Camps from the Wyoming Tales and Trails webpage. There are some great photos and some good information on their web page. I personally took a lot of inspiration from these resourceful and low-cost housing solutions.
There’s a lot of other information and photos of western history here too. Have a look around.
A Nice Squaretop Vardo
I found this beauty on http://theromanipeople.tumblr.com/. Sometimes there are some very nice images there but like much of Tumblr and Pinterest it seems to be stripped of all associated data. Anybody with any facts please feel free to pass them on to me.
I suspect this is early 20th century in Britain. I like the ubiquitous water can by the door and the nearly universal birdcage. Maybe I need an addition to my menagerie.
Terrapin, a New Caravan Design From Casual Turtle
There’s a new edition to the fleet of designs coming from Peter Pavlowich at Casual Turtle Campers. The unique, curved roof lines really make his work stand out in the crowd and I’m glad to see it again in his newest model. For me, this design melds the aesthetics of the early motor caravans with modern tastes.
It’s a simple cabin design with a convertible table top bed setup that looks like it will work great for one or two people and answers all the basic needs of shelter on the go.
I heard from Peter (the owner and builder of Casual Turtle) last week and I think he can describe it best:
“Hey George-I thought I’d pass along a few shots of a recent build. This one was for a gentleman here in Colorado – the model I call the Terrapin. We went with a pretty full interior arrangement on this one. He opted for no painted surfaces (which I usually do), so we incorporated several different species on the cabin’s interior – oak, birch, cedar, and beetle-killed ponderosa pine – so it wasn’t a one-tone wood overload. It weighed in at 1,300 lbs, max headroom around 5’9″, and it goes down the highway just great.”
It’s compact, lightweight, and is filled with windows to enjoy the great outdoors in any weather. It would be great to see this after the new owner settles in, decorates it to his personal taste, and gives it a “lived-in” look after a few thousand miles.
“Casual Turtle Campers was founded on the belief that wood is good, small can be comfortable, and that there is still room for simplicity in this increasingly complex world. “
I enjoy the simplicity of this design. It reminds me a bit of the “canned ham” campers of the 1950s and is not overly complicated by cabinetry and appliances. The wood exterior fits in with the natural world in a way that shiny, white aluminum could never do, making it seem more at home in the woods than in the RV park. This would make a perfect base camp for hunting, fishing, or just gazing at the mountains.
Here’s a little about Peter and his company from his web page:
“The idea for Casual Turtle Campers was conceived by Peter Pavlowich in the summer of 2010. On a road trip to Colorado, he noticed an abundance of truck campers but a profound lack of variety or style. As a Wood Construction and Design graduate from the University of Idaho, he believed he could design and build a simple and attractive alternative to the big, heavy, white boxes that he seemed to see everywhere. Over the next few years, Peter slowly and methodically brought together ideas and drew up plans for what would eventually become the designs for Casual Turtle Campers.
He very happily lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with his wife, Lindsey, and their dog/shop foreman, Moxie. We love when people stop by – just get in touch!”
Have a look at this and his other work by clicking the link below. Tell him I sent you! It’s not really worth anything but tell him anyway. GTC.
“I had to go alone…a kind of casual turtle carrying his house on his back.” -John Steinbeck, from Travels With Charley.
Preindustrial Craftsmanship 