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FAIRMONT, Ind. -- James Dean, the legendary "Rebel Without A Cause," was born 81 years ago today. What many in the RV industry may not have realized was that Dean may have been an RVer before his death Sept. 30, 1955
Larry Tompkins, a self-proclaimed historian, sent a message today recognizing Dean's birthday and attached this publicity photo of Dean.
"I was curious about the travel trailer that James is leaning against in the attached publicity photo," Tompkins wrote. "As a mobile home historian, I have concluded that this model is a 1952 Airfloat. The corrugated aircraft grade aluminum siding, distinctive port-hole windows and arched doors are the hallmarks of Airfloat trailer coaches.
"The Airfloat company was started in 1929 by Omar Suttles in Los Angeles. Omar was looking for a way to make camping more palatable for his wife. At about the same time, Arthur Sherman started his company building Covered Wagon trailers in Detroit," he noted. "It was a Covered Wagon trailer displayed at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair that inspired Wilbur J. Schult to start manufacturing trailers in Elkhart, Ind., and forming the Schult Trailer Company in 1934. His company became Schult Homes and moved to Middlebury, Ind., in 1959."