Auto Camping in the 1920s

[Flivver]

I was privileged to interview Dave Woodworth, an expert of the history of early Auto Camping and early motor homes. Here is the interview: https://youtu.be/D8-w1ranXkA

[Rich Eagle]

That's a wealth of information and wonderful photos.
Thanks for posting it.
Rich

[Steve Jelf]

In the twenties and before, cross country travel by automobile was new and adventurous. Many people had traveled by train, but few had ever been more than a few miles from home in a car.

Mom graduated from high school in the class of 1928. The following summer, she and her sister Ernestine, brother Clarence, and Clarence's wife Mickey went by automobile to Arizona to fetch sisters Mary and Jereldine, who had taken summer classes at Flagstaff. That trip made a big impression on a bunch of farm kids from Kansas, and they reminisced about it the rest of their lives.

[Flivver]

Great story Steve!

Mom graduated from high school in the class of 1928. The following summer, she and her sister Ernestine, brother Clarence, and Clarence's wife Mickey went by automobile to Arizona to fetch sisters Mary and Jereldine, who had taken summer classes at Flagstaff. That trip made a big impression on a bunch of farm kids from Kansas, and they reminisced about it the rest of their lives.

[Burger in Spokane]

Mom graduated from high school in the class of 1928. The following summer, she and her sister Ernestine, brother Clarence, and Clarence's wife Mickey went by automobile to Arizona to fetch sisters Mary and Jereldine, who had taken summer classes at Flagstaff. That trip made a big impression on a bunch of farm kids from Kansas, and they reminisced about it the rest of their lives.
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I will bet they did! I picked up on this from oldsters I grew up around and
took it to heart, taking advantage of crazy jobs and travel opportunities
whenever possible. You don't experience life when you never get off the
couch or leave the freeway. The real fun happens along the backroads of
life and in adversity.

fwy.jpg (31.22 KiB) Viewed 2097 times

[ModelT46]

In the summer of 1929 My father drove is new Whippet Sedan from Minnesota New York, then into Canada and back to Minnesota. With him was my mother, 4 year old sister and my year old older brother. They used a tent and the car. Many small towns had camp ground areas. My dad would ask each day if there was a good tar road he could take. I have his hand written notes from the trip.

[Charlie B in N.J.]

I have a Dike’s Manual from sometime in the 20’s. Great chapter on the T but there’s a chapter on car camping. How to set up the car for sleeping, What to buy for food and how to pack it to last. Cooking instructions are quite clear. Recall hearing about sealing wax? That’s what’s recommended to reclose the jars of food and flour. Instructions on purchasing bacon: never buy slices always buy it in the slab form. It’s a great read.

[modeltspaz]

In 1926, The Coleman Company published what they called "The Coleman Motor Campers Manual," written by Frank E. Brimmer.

I'm fortunate enough to own one of these in very good condition. It describes essentially what is outlined in the Dykes Manual, except advertisements for Coleman camping equipment are dispersed throughout the book.

I flip through it from time to time. I use it like a wish book. I have most of it with the exception of the umbrella tent.

I have personally spoken to David Woodworth on several occasions. He is an extremely knowledgeable and humble person and always willing to answer questions. In the past, he brought a beautiful display of 1920's camping equipment, including an absolutely beautiful period tent trailer to the Long Beach Model T Parts Exchange back when it was being held at Cerritos College.