1969 was a transitional year - many of the techniques and materials used were new to Airstream then. In addition, only a few years after that, Beatrice Foods began making the trailers which all resulted in trying to determine how inexpensive a trailer could be built without sacrificing the status of Airstream. Fewer rivets were used on exterior panels - replaced by glue. 2023 AlClad was replaced with a cheaper aluminum, and clearcoated. most of us have seen the wear on 30 year old clearcoat. It's called "planned obsolescence." This is what many companies started to foolishly realize in the 60's and 70's. Cars could last 10-15-20 years and the idea of "diversifying" the product offering was resisted by Americans - "Total Quality" was an American concept that we didn't buy until Japanese companies (i.e. Toyota, Honda, Sony etc.) proved it to us to the detriment of all American businesses. Not much has changed - Many Americans still resist positive change - though we've got the internet, and we've got email - and regardless of the fact that not all Airstreams were created equal, we who have the vintage ones are inside a pretty important triad - reduce, reuse, recycle -- If we think about it that way or not. Toby 2029 ===== http://www.airstream-bohemia.com VAGRANT WBCCI 2029 VAC Minneapolis, MN __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Auctions - Buy the things you want at great prices. http://auctions.yahoo.com/ To unsubscribe or to change to a daily Digest, please go to http://www.airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html If replying back to this message, please delete all the unnecessary original text from your reply.
