Some pieces of the puzzle of the popular Mystery Trailer, owned by vintage trailer and motorcycle guru and collector Vince Martinico, have recently come together to shed some light on the origin of the trailer. A 1936 – 1937 photo album containing photographs by the original owner-user and possible builder has been located.
Many folks have conjectured as to the trailer’s brand; but a recently discovered authentic photo album of original pictures has begun filling in the pieces of the puzzle — thanks to a rare find by artist, sculptress and antiquarian specialist, Jean McCallister, who has been the album’s caretaker since 2008. She is a vintage trailer enthusiast, also, who sports her own 1957 Cardinal to events.
Vince is a well-known expert and collector of one-of-a-kind or limited-production models of vintage trailers. He owns and appreciates a good Airstream or two and is always looking for something that no one else has. He describes himself as a trailer preservationist. We know him as an antique trailer collector extraordinaire.
Approximately 12 years ago, Vince acquired the trailer through a vintage trailer trade with a gentleman who contacted him while trying to identify it thinking it was maybe a Bowlus or an Airstream. Vince acquired the trailer from him by trading a 1950’s useable trailer.
The unusual trailer needed restoration. Vince believes it was most likely factory built — perhaps maybe even a prototype by a short-lived company in Los Angeles. The gentleman had located a photo of another larger, similar trailer — one probably built by the same man or shop — so there are a least two known different trailers built or manufactured from the same source.
When you look at the album pictures and compare them over the two years in the album, you will notice that minor changes were made to the little trailer when it was used in 1936 and 37.
