Formica

I was excited to find a lot of old Formica in the 1961 Field & Stream.  Fun looking.  Problem with this is that it's nearly impossible to find replacement sheets.

I even contacted Formica and they told me it wasn't even their pattern!  So I don't know where I would look for replacements?

I chose to use this Butcherblock pattern from Formica.  It goes along with all the wood interior and is easy to install.

I kept the old countertop for a pattern and simply traced the cut outs in place, then used my jigsaw to cut it out.  Just waiting for a warmer day to glue it down!

A Woodsy Feeling

Getting that Old-Fashioned feeling is the goal of my camper renovations.  It's what I remember from my youth.  Campers were for camping in the woods and had lots of wood inside as well.

In this restoration I removed all the painted paneling in the front end and replaced it with Birch panels, which I then stained.

The original did not have the shelf.  I thought I'd be a nice touch and many of the campers back then had these shelves.

Adding the little touches like a new globe for the gas lights, the art work, pillows, and curtains bring the whole look together.

Water, Water, Everywhere

                                          

A Day at a Time

Patience is a virtue when revamping a camper.  Often I find myself waiting a day or two for paint or stain to dry.
Or finding I need a certain size screw that requires another trip to the hardware store.

Yet when the results start adding up it's fun to see all that patience was worth it.  I have been focusing on the front end of the trailer now for a few months and am nearly finished. 

I have removed the old paneling, added a vapor barrier, a new electrical outlet and overhead light, put up new paneling, stained everything, added a shelf over the window,and hung curtains. 

If my camera battery had been charged I would have a more recent photo, but patience it's charging now!

That Old Camper Feeling

Starting to feel the Tin Can thing.  I have installed this space age silver bubble wrap in the front nose of my '59 Arrowhead.  The seams are taped with this wonderful aluminum tape...it's very sticky.

The backsplash is one of my favorit "bones" of this camper.  Sure it's got a lot of holes in it.  I can cover those up with my old retro spice rack.

Then there's the wood.  Replaced the side panel to the cupboard.  The gas light goes there.  It was painted white.  That didn't blend well with the rich patina of the cupboards. 

The wood ceiling will be painted a mid-tone green...that's the kitchen area.  Together the whole effect will take you back to the old camper feeling.

A Wisp of Yeaterday.

Now that I have your attention...This beauty is a New Moon trailer from the 50's.  It's a far cry from my little tin can.  Yet we share a history from those yesteryears.  

People talk of tiny houses these days and it really started back then with these mobile travel homes.

All this was glamourised in the
"Long Long Trailer"  with Lucy and Desi. They had a 1953 36' New Moon. https://youtu.be/Nxx4ijz3aig

The average Joe had a little 15' Arrowhead trailer and a lot of good times to create.  All these years later it's my job to bring life back to the bones of this old "Minni Me".

Camper Angels

This fuzzy pic is all our family has to remember our 1959 travel trailer.  For years I've been probing my sibs as to the make of the trailer, after all I was only 5 years old that year!

Now thru the internet I find out it's an ARROWHEAD!  You have to understand the irony of this.  My current project that I am sharing here is a 1959 ARROWHEAD Go-Lite.  While not the same model it just crazy that I found this (with the help of my better Angels) all these years later.

It gives a magical twist to what I am doing with it.  Reclaiming its former glory while recalling the good times I had while camping in my family's ARROWHEAD!