RVs & Campers 1900-2000: An Illustrated History
RVs & Campers 1900-2000: An Illustrated History
ITEM E259
By Donald F. Wood
Today, hundreds of thousands of people live in RVs permanently, and even more use campers and RVs for recreation. This is the first and only book to give an entertaining look at the history and evolution of this popular lifestyle and hobby. Hundreds of nostalgic photographs show a wide variety of campers and RVs throughout the entire 20th century.
See early auto tent-camping, converted buses, fold-out trailers, homemade campers, foreign exploration expeditions and even traveling chapels with living quarters for pastors! Anyone who has ever enjoyed RVs and campers will be thrilled by this retrospective look at these vehicles and their predecessors throughout the 20th Century. Chapters broken down by decade with brief 2-3 page introductory material for each chapter.
Softbound, 160 pages, 340 photos, 8.5'' x 11''
Has coverage of the 1977 Blazer Chalet in this issue made you want to learn more about recreational vehicles and campers? As the prolific and highly regarded author—the late Donald F. Wood—explained, this illustrated history provides an account “stretching over the entire 20th century.” It offers an engaging way to learn about the larger story. Its chapters, broken out by decades, include 340 black-and-white illustrations with informative captions and additional narrative text. The book offers an engaging analysis of two themes. The first provides a comprehensive look at an amazing array of equipment. Wood documents the intriguing evolution that ranges from a variety of vehicles built to carry camping equipment or fitted with canvas covers to form shelters; and to the recent past featuring pickup campers, trailers, and commercial bus-based motorhomes that incorporate all the conveniences and amenities we expect of a house in the newest subdivision. The second theme of the book is an examination of the unique RV lifestyle. Numerous photos document folks camping outdoors while living in trailers and campers. The book’s extensive four-page bibliography attests to the author’s successful efforts to offer a well-researched history. Readers will appreciate the index, as well.
Book Review by Robert Gabrick
