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1950 Vagabond
Trailer Model 19
Boy, sometimes I get so lucky. My
third Vagabond
One day I received an e-mail from a
lady in northern Michigan. She saw a picture of me at a trailer
rally with my 1953 yellow 35 ft. Vagabond, and managed to find me
via the internet. She explained that a few months prior, her
husband bought her an old trailer for Christmas. It seems she fell
in love with the quaintness and beauty of the wood interior. Now,
just a few months into the new year, he wanted to take it and cut it
up to make a hunting cabin out of it.
From the sound of the story at
first, the trailer most likely wasn’t anything to write home about.
She said it was perfect inside and didn’t have a dent on the
outside. Ever hear the phrase “anything that sounds too good to be
true, is”? She didn’t even know how long it was, let alone what the
make was. I told her to send me some info and perhaps I might know
someone back there that might be interested.
The following week I got an e-mail
letting me know it was a Vagabond. And, it was a 19 ft. Vagabond, a
1950. I couldn’t believe it. I’d been looking for a 19 ft. Vagabond
for years. Now, once again the good part. What kind of
condition? I asked her for some pictures and nearly passed out
when they came. Another near perfect trailer knocking at my front
door. The following day I was on a plane from California to
Detroit, rented a car and drove several hours in the snow to the
northern peninsula. Upon arriving, I was greeted by the nicest
couple. Out we went to the back, I looked, I bought, I shook hands
on the deal, and promised to return with my truck in a month or so.
Well, the following month my friend
Jerry and I took what we called
Steven and Jerry’s great driving adventure. We had a
blast driving both ways cross country. We even found another
trailer to liberate parts off of for future use… another great story
for another time.
When I got the trailer home and
started to clean it out, I found the For Sale sign from the original
owner. I managed to contact his daughter, who told me that the
reason the trailer was in such incredible condition was that her
parents used it only a few times and then put it under a covered
shed next to their barn. Put to sleep for over 55 years, never to
be seen until now.
So enjoy these photos. From the
first time I saw it covered in snow, a little panel restoration, a
fresh original color paint job, to the magnificent piece it is
today.
I swore I’d never sell this one.
It’s my third Vagabond. I’d never sell it unless I found something
a little more rare. Maybe # 4?
The day has now come to sell.
I found another Barn Find. The only known pre war 1940 masonite
sided Vagabond known, the condition????? What do you think. Find
it on the web site.
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