Hi friends, Rose here.
A few years ago, I had been daydreaming of an alternative to all the product loading-unloading-loading-unloading Gretchen and I do for every show we attend. I thought of using everything from an old school bus, a bread truck or even an ice fishing house! But in the end, I decided that a traveling trailer of some sort would be most ideal. Simply hitch it up and away we go!
The hunt for the perfect travel trailer
Originally, I had an old Airstream on my mind, but alas we couldn’t find a single one in our price range. So the hunt continued and after months of Google searches, I finally came across the perfect travel trailer. And I do mean perfect! The travel trailer is in need of a thorough gutting (perfect), but was in sound condition. (See? Perfect!)
I am quite pleased to be the very first one to introduce to you the newest member of the Heim family, the Spartan. Isn’t he handsome?
Have you ever heard of the Spartan travel trailer? Well I certainly hadn’t, so I did a little research.
Only the very best for a Spartan Manor travel trailer
Spartans were made in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The company was owned by J. Paul Getty during WWII, when it manufactured top quality aircraft and airplane parts. With the great need for housing after the war, Getty decided that manufacturing trailers would be the best way to keep his plant in operation.
The first trailer prototype was made in the summer of 1945 using aircraft design similar to their Spartan Executive aircraft without much concern for other trailer design of the time. They wanted to produce the best product on the market, using building techniques and designs that they had mastered in the aircraft building industry.
Let it be known that Spartan spared no expense on their trailers! Every trailer was of the highest quality and complimented by the sleekest design. They were truly the “Cadillac” of trailers, if you know what I mean.
Just to put it all in perspective, in the mid 1940s a home with land cost around $8,000. A 25 foot Spartan Manor (like the one we just found) was $4,000. Shocking right?
Needless to say, after reading a bit more about the Spartan’s history, I’m really quite smitten with the thing. Our Spartan is a 1946 model, which by the way is the first year they were produced. Once we get our Spartan all finished and restored it will truly be classic, in every sense of the word!
Stay tuned for project updates and meanwhile, head over to our Facebook page to see if we’re coming to a show in your neighborhood!
More soon,
Rose
