The 1962 Metzendorf

Here are more photos of the camper...the befores. Sadly... kids used it as a club house and there is magic marker on some of the doors. The walls have the original paint and the windows are in really great shape. I have to replace the flooring. The length is 15 feet...but that includes the tongue. The one propane tank is original...but I will probably get rid of it because I can't get it filled. The cabin area is 12 feet. There is a closet for the portapotty. The camper runs on propane and electric. The Dometic fridge, stove and furnace are original. It also has a 12volt system.

The trailer is really dirty on the outside...but the skin is in amazing shape...virtually no dents.

Cabinet Hardware

Some of the hinges were pretty rusted...so I went to Lowes to see if they had a match. They had almost the same exact hinge...just not as well made. I decided to replace the hinges with a silver hinge and repaint the handles. Most of the detail in the trailer is aluminum, with the exception of the antique brassy light covers. I will keep the original hinges, in case I change my mind.

Waiting between coats

While waiting between coats...listened to AM talk radio and did this...

My parents had headed south...so no tv!

Finishing the doors!

The large door below is the new door... the grain isn't as nice as the older doors... but it is ok. I may replace some other smaller doors that were badly damaged due to the marker... but thought I would wait to make that decision. Jordan kept me company.

The Cabinet Doors

I did do a little repair to glue a door that was delaminated. I purchased new birch to replace the large door that really was in bad condition. Since I had extra birch, I decided to replace another door that really was pretty badly damaged with water stains...and also delaminating.

Picking an awning fabric

The screen room is light gray. I thought about just buying a premade one...but couldn't justify it. Also...this way I get many more choices in colors:

kitchen towels

oooohh. a dollar store find!!

The terlet

... the very basics...so you don't need to go out at night...very good!

Screen Room

Ahhhhh... a place without skeeters... love the color. Should go well with the white and silver trailer!

The Cabinets

started working on the cabinets. I think I am going to replace one door...as the veneer is delaminated. I got a new piece of birch plywood. There were stickers, magic markers, contact paper, water stains....etc. Nail polish remover works great on old contact paper.

In Hot Water!

Woo-hoo... going to have hot water in the dorf. Life will be good. I just purchased a system on amazon.com. I got the hose connections...so I don't have to use the plastic jug thingy.

Coytains,,,,

Yes...curtains... Here is the other fabric I got on ebay...goes amazingly well with the 'olives' fabric -- both came in the mail already. Was a bit nervous that they wouldn't go and was pleasantly surprised. The pattern is much smaller than what it looks like here. The fabrics are great...now to find foam! And...decide on flooring.

Back to the flooring

Well... this is the fabric...and now I am thinking a solidish floor might be more appropriate.

Extra Credit: What Does Metzendorf Mean?

Metzendorf is a surname that is from the German language. It can be split into two basic words – Metzen and Dorf. Metzen is the metonymic (a name derived from) occupational name for a cutler (someone who makes knives). It is derived from Middle Low German messet, metset ‘knife’, ‘dagger’ or Middle High German metz(e) ‘knife’. Dorf is a nickname or topographic name for someone who lived in a village. The meaning of Metzendorf is essentially “the village knife-maker.”

Olives it is!

I went for the 'Olives" fabric that I got through an ebay auction from http://www.winterbeachmodern.com/. I have asked them to send me samples of other fabrics that I can use in the dorf.

Looking for a Summer Home

Looking for a summer home for the dorf. This place still exists...loverly. A postcard of Otter Creek campground in Danby, Vermont.

What is a heck is a Metzendorf?

The Metzendorf Trailer Manufacturing Company manufactured travel trailers under the same name from the late 1950s to early 1960s. The trailers themselves did not have model names, but were referred to by length. The trailers ran from 12 to 15 feet and were not much taller than 6 feet high so they could be stored in a garage. The trailers sometimes had drop floors so an adult could stand up straight. The trailers were manufactured in West Farmington, Ohio, approximately 10 miles northwest of Warren, Ohio. The owner of the company was named Martin Metzendorf. Martin Metzendorf and his wife had the traliers built with Amish laborers. Mrs. Metzendorf picked out the interior patterns and colors. They delivered most of the trailers themselves until a delivery accident deprived Mrs. Metzendorf the use of her arm. They sold the business in the early 60's and the trailer was produced for a few more years under the Metzendorf name. (gatherings from Cyberspace)



A 1960 Metzendorf

The more expensive fabrics...

Do like this combination...but it would be at a cost 6 times of the ebay fabric!

Fabrics above from www.beautifulfabric.com

Choosing the Flooring!!

Some initial thoughts on flooring tile....

Fabric on Ebay!

This one I call "Olives"

Kamper Karma

So the story went like this. I needed a hitch put on my new car. I thought...why not get it done while I was home for Thanksgiving in Ithaca. Dad said to check out Fletchers...where they have gotten trailer, hitches and truck caps. I googled Fletchers and up pops their site...all about vintage trailers. I checked out what they had for sale.. and they were all biggies.

On Monday, I decided to just go with U-haul and got an appointment on Friday to have the hitch installed. I picked up my new car on Wednesday... and decided to drive up to Ithaca on Thursday.

Early Thursday morning (like 5am early) I was having coffee and poking around the internet. Thought I would check out Craigslist to see if any campers were worth looking at in the area. And there it was...the night before someone posted the 1962 Metzendorf for $400. I shot him an email..and then by the time I got to Ithaca...the owner responded. I called him the next morning and went to go look at it. My good old dad is always up for an adventure and came with me.

Jim, the owner said the trailer was located on a property with no houses...as it turns out....it was located right next to the softball complex in the middle of nowhere ..but I knew it from my days at Binghamton. I used to go watch friends play here. One day while watching ball, I took my dog for a walk...and actually saw where this camper sat.

Dad and I looked the trailer over for a while..and offered the Jim $350...which he gladly accepted. One tire was flat and the other had dry rot. We decided to go home and come back the next day to get new tires before driving home.

I called up Fletchers and asked if they would work on the trailer..and the said yes. So we put two new tires on the trailer and she trailed just great all the way to Perry City.

At Fletchers, the are replacing all the electric as needed and getting all the components functioning. They are also replacing a patch in the roof with a new vent.

Today, I went to the DMV...with my registration signed over...that was from 1985 and a receipt signed by the son. To much of my suprise....I walked out with a trailer plate! Karma.....Kamper Karma.

The Inside Story

The 1962 interior has formica with gold and blue stars. I starting poking around looking for fabrics, as the cushions do not exist anymore. I need a good retro fabric...the big question, circles or squares!