In the early 20th century, roads were bad and road travel was difficult. There were no motels and people stayed in places called Tin Can Tourist Camps. Many of these camps were nothing more than spaces for tents and were quite primitive. Some travelers became creative and converted vehicles into what I guess you could call an early version of today's RV. This is a picture of a replica of a 1923 Model "T" Ford truck Tin Can Camper and it is on display at the Museum of Florida History in downtown Tallahassee. This particular tin can camper is equipped with a space saving bed. When the owner drives the vehicle, the bed is stored in the overhanging roof. The bed is created by opening the windshield in the middle and creating two side windows. A false ceiling is then released and pulled down to form the front wall. The bed is lowered using ropes which were tied off in the ceiling supports. It is then fastened to the side windows with the hinge pins that previously secured the windshield. Once down, the bed rests on the hood of the vehicle in front of the steering wheel. Pretty nice, but they still had to endure the heat and mosquitoes!
18 comments:
When I was young, I drove cross country and slept in an MGB. Ah Youth!
I've seen some old and creative campers, but not one like this! Fascinating. And your description is excellent. As a child, we stayed in some pretty funky "tourist" camps, but I can't imagine riding about and sleeping on the hood of this thing.
Another problem were tires on this old vehicles. They went flat about every 100 miles!
I love it! Very classy for a "primitive" RV. Beats sleeping in a tent I'd guess.
Beautiful photo, Lois, I have never seen one of these before. It is an ingenious idea.
That is so cool. I would love to drive that and watch the looks on people's faces. :)
OMG!! Smart thinking on the owners part.
I love the Citrus Labels on you previous post. Out here were the Salmon Labels and the Apple Box Labels. I should find some and make a collage of them. MB
Those old cars and trucks were something else. Lots of broken arms and wrists and elbows trying to crank them to get the engine started.
I never heard of the tin can camper.
Thats a good one, Lois. Must have been a very bumpy ride. Sorta glad I was not around in those day's. It is so much different than what we have today.
here in my town there is a museum of the car and there is one that resembles
Very innovative
I would like to see this vintage truck!It's so charming and I love "vintage"stuffs!
Thanks dear Lois, I enjoyed a lot this cool post!
Léia
I have a lot to do with cars professionally, at a conceptual level, but I've never even heard of this one! I love it! I would love to go camping with it! Have to do something about the mosquitoes though!
Campers and motor homes have come a long way!
It looks almost human! I love your description of it and would much prefer this sort of thing to 5 star luxury.
You make it sound so easy and romantic! I have to admit, it's very intriguing!
I've never seen one of this! I'm amazed!
You lost me in the opening the windshield part. I think assembling a tent is easier. Not that it's easy, but still.. :D
I like this photo. It's good to know how our modern stuff today started.
That is far more convenient actually. Why in those days, was there any mosquito net at all? At home, we used dried leaves or brumbles and lit them in a safe container where embers have had no way to escape and the smoke served to repel mosquitoes away.
That could be the old version of what we call here Caravan.
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