The pioneers of the RV industry were full of passion and spirit. Some succeeded by design, but many built their companies on a mixture of luck and perseverance. In “The Dumb Things Sold Just Like That“ you will read about

• Early inventors who incorporated aircraft and marine technology into their RV designs
• Entrepreneurs who started their businesses in their garages or backyards.
• At least one who used Karo syrup as a building material
• How early travel trailers ended up as permanent housing for families during the Great Depression
• One manufacturer who redesigned his trailer with ski’s to transport surveillance equipment over the ice during World War II
• Several manufacturers who built travel trailers to transport or house troops and defense workers during WWII
• After the war, how motorhomes led to a new means of recreation for growing, prosperous post war families
• One type of motorhome that was used by troops gathering information about the enemy during the war in Viet Nam
• One company, which ended up being an economic savior to small Midwestern town, that almost went bankrupt before it was started. Then a few years later, it burned to the ground, only to start up the next day.
• One industry leader who opened up the world to RV travelers
• Some companies, established during the Great Depression, that could not survive the oil embargo and inflation of the 1970’s
• The industry that has grown to employ thousands of workers, served millions of consumers and pumps billions of dollars annually into our nation’s economy.

136 Pages
6 x 9 Softcover
Approximately 90 B&W Photos

Published by Legacy Ink Publishing, Benton, KY

Copyright 2007

In his new book, “The Dumb Things Sold Just Like That, A History of the RV Industry in America”, author and historian Al Hesselbart traces the RV industry’s history through the lives and accomplishments of its early pioneers.  In addition to an overall history of the industry, the book features biographies of eighteen of its leaders whose accomplishments still have impact today. Bargman, Callendar, Coleman, Crist, Schult and Sherman are just a few of those included in Hesselbart’s book.            

Highlighting the text are scores of photos of vintage recreational vehicles. Many of these came from the archives of the RV/MH Heritage Foundation’s library, where Hesselbart has been archivist and historian since 1994.  The book is the first in a series of historical titles that feature collections held in the Heritage Foundation’s library.  Hesselbart looks at this as an opportunity to share these artifacts with a larger audience.           

 “Over the years, we have developed the country’s most comprehensive collection of publications, photos and other artifacts from both the RV and manufactured housing industry. Historians and educators from all over the world come to us for research and documentation,” he said. “We want to share this wonderful history with the public, particularly the millions of RV owners and enthusiasts across the country. This book is just one way we can do that.”           

The Heritage Foundation recently opened the doors to a new museum, located at exit 96 of the Indiana Turnpike I-80 in Elkhart, Indiana.  Included in that museum is an expanded library that is open to the public.   The museum has more than 30 vintage RV’s on display, with more scheduled to be added to the collection in the fall of this year. For more information about the museum, go to www.rvmhheritagefoundation.org