Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Curtains done

 Hi,  Got the curtains done.  Temporarily put the front ones up for pix.  Picture of flooring tile and a strip of cushion fabric also close up of curtain fabric, flooring,  cushion.  Been to cold to work inside trailer.  May be a while before post again.  Bye, Happy Holidays.

Sanding started

Hi,  Started sanding walls, ceilingvand closet doors.  Used my little palm sander will need to use hand sander for curved parts.  Got just streaks of sanded areas on the curves so will look bad varnished.  Drawers sanded and varnished.  Last cushion finished, pics attached.  Also found fabric for curtains and purchased tile for floor.  After finished with sanding walls,  reinstall the benchesand the front of bed frame.  Need the space back in the basement.

Old tiles gone!

Yippee old tiles are all up.  Invested in a heat gun today.  Using propane torch made me uneasy.  This is the new tile and sample of cushion fabric.  Got commercial tile.  Think it will hold up forever.  Hopefully won't need to make too many cuts pretty thick.
Awesome Raymond helped so much this weekend.  Has underside of rear almost all redone.  Should never have water damage back there again.  He got the kitchen cabinet back up too. I got a lot of trim up.  Think have curve trim finally resolved.  Will keep that a secret though.  Sanding everything to begin next.
Bye for today.

New panels up!!

Hi,  They are all up!!  Couldn't have done big overhead one without Ray's strength.  He truly did it almost by himself.  Also got the exterior part of kitchen fan reinstalled with putty tape all around it.  Small window also reinstalled.  Will remove each window and seal with putty tape.  Prior owner just put them back up after painting without any seals.  Can now light sand all surfaces and varnish. Attached pics of insulation up, panel up and cool original dining room light. Bye Bye 

Lampshade found

HI,  Finally found a great lampshade for bedroom light.  Searched  local antique mall and last booth to go through had it tucked away in a corner.  Spray painted old base from camper and attached the new shade.  Goes very well with dining area light and decor.  Love it!

Let the Nailing Begin

Hi,  In the past several days things have been moving along nicely.  New rear birch panels going up!  Can be frustrating a times, lots of back and forth to saw to get fit right. Two smaller pieces yet to be put up and trim.  Rear windows reinstalled.  Ray replaced old wiring where possible while ceiling is open.  Left side exterior trim removed, some more scraping to be done then it can go up.  Still a little of my favorite to do, scraping floor tile off.  Front window shelf taken off to refinish and help make wall sanding easier to make ready for coat of fresh varnish on those walls.  Getting colder, been very lucky for such nice warmer days lately to be able to get so much done.  Bye for today.

Hole mystery solved

Hi,  There has been a small hole in the side of rear of the trailer.  First thought there was a light there at one time, but no other holes around it.  Ray figured it out when we saw a hole in the closet door opposite that wall.  It's a bullet hole!!!.  No evidence of blood, so must be a hunters wild shot once upon a time.

Chimney

Hi,  Got the old chimney off of the roof.  Had 1/2 inch of stuff on top of the screws to chip off.  After I put a final coat on birch panel it can go up on ceiling.  Benches and kitchen cabinets are done with paint and varnish. :)

Panelling varnish started

Hi,  Got birch panels and started varnishing them before putting them up in trailer.  Ray worked on repairing hole where lis. plate mounts and fixed up taillight wiring.  Replaced screen of little window.  Have decided not to polish window frames at this time.  Even with a drill takes a lot of work.  Second coat of paint on cabinet, indoor rear window frames and fan front.  Think thats it for now.  Bye

Back to work

Hi,  Back at it today since Ray had to work.  We were out of town a few days.  Got inside of removed cabinet painted, sanded and holes filled.  Little more sanding and it will be ready for varnish.  Will paint knobs to match window frames and fan.  My I keeps noticing little old trailers in yards as traveling.  Think I'm obessed. Bye for today.

So far this week

Hi,  Ray was a big help this weekend.  Got rear metal retacked for me, and removed kitchen upper cabinet so application of new ceiling panel will be easier.  I got the bottom off and new one cut for that cabinet.  Did some wood putty patching on edge of ceiling panel that is staying put.  Still trying to decide on flooring, linoleum or vinyl.  Bye for today and probably rest of the week.

Back window out

Hi, Wow had to remove rear windows to properly replace wood under and at the sides of them.  Glad I did, no caulk at all!  The people who removed them previously to paint them put them back up without caulk or new gaskets.  Old gaskets are hard and nearly brittle. Now rest of new wood in place.  Need to polish window frames before resetting them.  They actually do polish up with buffing wheel attached to a drill.  Ray set it up for me to try on another little window and stuff flew all over.  Need a box to contain it all or hope for sunny days to do it out in the driveway.  Another statisfying afternoon. Pooped.  Bye bye.

Great day!

Hi,  Yesterday and today got most of new frame work wood in place.  Need to get one more 2x2 to finish.   Yippee!  So satisfying.  Trailer never had much of a musty smell but now cannot smell any.  As soon as wiring is redone can put up new birch panels where ruined ones were removed.  Very glad could leave some much of it up. 
Also yesterday the awning rail and one of two under cabinet lights that may use arrived.  Can not believe how far this project has gotten in less than a month.  Still fun even though it's sometimes hard work. Bye Bye.

The Goo is Gone

Hi,  Got a lot done this weekend, but not all I had hoped.  Friday second cushion done. Yesterday more scraping and chipping stuff off roof.  Removed half of left side exterior trim.  Today got all the goo off of trim piece, removed left rear siding panel and the rotted wood from that corner.  Took measurements.  We went to store for supplies.  Got replacement wood, paint for any exterior touch up (had to be custom mixed), paint for interior window trim and fan grill, and undercoat spray paint.  Another nice day again tomorrow, will see how far I can get.  Trying to get as much done as I can before the bitter cold arrives.  Bye Bye

OH OH Water on the roof

Scary site yesterday.  Big puddle on top of trailer even though it's under trailer port.  High winds blew the rain inside.  Used a mop to sop it up.  Back left corner wet inside again, had dried out from rainy trip the day we brought it home.  Sunny today.  Ray will help me get this roof waterproof this weekend.  Hope to get all wet and rotted wood out of rear area too.  Maybe even get new wood in there too.  Bye for now lots to do today.

One Cushion Down...

Hi,  Got fabric for cushions today.  Color in the print matches counter top.  Made the first cover, 3 more to go.  Looking good.
Yesterday got 2nd bench sanded and primer applied.
Ray has determined the fridge works in electric mode.  Cannot test gas mode until gas lines are up and working for the whole trailer.  May paint the bench this evening.  Then again maybe not.   Bye for today.

Scraping

Hi,  Friday and Monday up a ladder scrapping and chipping old roof patching off the roof edges.  No wonder it leaked.  Stuff rock solid cracking and flaking then had layers and layers on top also cracking.  One side done and started on other.  Have to get to old hole patch in middle of roof. 
Ordered a awning rail from Amazon yesterday.  Already shipped.  Also under cabinet lights.
Deconstructed the bench cushions.  Measured pieces to calculate amount of new fabric needed.  They are springs wrapped in thick kapok.
Shopping trip to old hardware store in search of hinges for the benches that match old ones.  Also go to antique mall looking for wall lighting, and whatever may be fun to add.  Then fabric shopping.  Making the most of a cold rainy day.  Bye Bye.

Sanding, sanding, sanding

Hi,  Started sanding dinette table.  Had been covered with woodblock look contact paper.  Took most of the old varnish with it when removed.  Has lots of old scratches in it and goo on edges from the contact paper.  Leg will have to be remade, it is splitting at the bottom.  Will need another sanding session (hands can only take so much of the sander) to get it to finish ready.  Sanded and varnished fridge front insert.  Looking like rain that made me stop working outside.  Undid some of the exterior screws of  right rear corner trim.  Not much caulk or putty under it.  Will have to remove both trim pieces and reputty tape them.  Going to rv parts supplier Sun.  Hope to get a lot of things I need. :)  Bye for today.

Painting and Varnishing begins

Hi,  Got first coat of varnish and paint on first dinette bench.  Looks so good.  Love how varnish brings out the beauty in wood.  Other bench, got two screws out will have to cut out other 2.  Undid old wiring.  Will be able to keep water tank since it is plastic.  Little pump reuseablity to be determined since it is 12v. 

Sanding started

Hi,  Started sanding and finishing the first dinette bench.  Wonderful to do something constructive rather than deconstructive.  Made a decision too, not converting to 12v.  We are going to rewire and add junction boxes etc., for safety.  Ray checked out the fridge it did not initially start.  Needs his meters and things to do full check of it.  Fun is happening.  Bye Bye.

More Demo news

Hi,  Took a couple of days off.  Other things in life had to take precedence.  Started removing old floor tile. Really hate floor scraping.  Do it in little bits it will eventually get done.  Removed old gas lights and half the dinette.  Will prime and paint the benches and the table.  Table needs a new leg.  Made out of plywood and it's split at the bottom.  Tiny bit of plywood rot by door.  Glad to see how little damage was there.  Door will need to come out to refinish the correct way, rusting through current paint.  Back door will need same treatment.  Was a little discouraged last night, more work needed than anticipated.  But it deserves to be fixed up correctly since it is basically very solid.  Just needed better care through the years.  One day at a time sure covers a lot of things.  Bye Bye for now.

Demo Day 3

Yesterday the damaged ceiling panel came down.  Looks like something punctured the roof, possibly a branch.  Will need to post a picture. This was patched with a piece of metal and thick black stuff that has grown hard. Will need to take the good part of this section down to have a nailing surface for the new panel.  Priced birch plywood vs. decorative panel.  Prices about the same.  Been on line pricing other replacement and roof sealing products.  Friend told me of a supplier south of us that sells RV supplies inexpensively.  May need to make a day trip down there. Probably taking today off, body needs a break and now have a cold.  Bye Bye

Demo day 2

More ecivation today.  Found source of some of the wet.  Also discovered under the floor is asbestos board.  Some of it was rotted in the back corners, rest seems in good shape so I don't need to disturb it.  Might be able to undercoat it somehow. More tomorrow.

Demo Started!

Started demolition today.  After removing screws for hinges of the upper bed, Ray had to get it out of trailer for me.  I was really heavy because it was an old tongue and groove door.  Obviously not original equipment.  Next removed lower bed deck.  That wasn't original either.  Started removing the panelling at the back corners.  A lot of moisture damage, even still wet.  Have a feeling the back windows may need to be removed.  That will depend on how much internal wall damage there is after removing all the panelling under the windows.  Floor has to have damage too in those corners. Think old tail lights leaked.  Still another source from ceiling on down in the one corner.  Not discouraged, all fixable. Bye for now.

About the camper

Let me tell more about the camper itself.  It was owned by the same family for 50 years.  15 years ago the roof leaked over winter.  The owner fixed the leak, but kept the inside original, damage and all.  The sellers, I assume, are the ones that repainted the outside.  You can tell they primed it first and had removed all the windows first.  Reattached them and secured the siding with new screws, think they are aluminum.  A great deal of the ceiling will have to be replaced.  Old, but now dry, water marks on walls hopefully will sand out.  Love the dinette over-head light.  So fifties, has to stay.  What little linoleum on the floor would go anyway, not so cute.  It still has original gas lights.  The more attractive ones also hopefully can be retrofitted to electric.  It has this quirky little chimney that is not attached to anything inside.  Ray thinks it had some kind of stove.  That will have to go when ceiling gets fixed.  The dinette cushions have to original.  They are very sturdy with upolhostery in good shape, but kinda ugly.  Yellow and black.  The sink has no chips.  Will have to look into retrofitting the plumbing.  Luckily Ray is refrigeration specialist, so he can determine viability of the gas/elec. fridge.  Lots of storage.  Porta-potty will fit under bed easily.  Cannot get started on demo until Sun. or Mon.  Will have to be patient.  Not easy for me.   Bye for now.

Hi,   Today Ray and I picked up my 1957 Holly Coach Co. travel trailer.  Two nights ago I bid on it through an auction house's online bidding.  To my great surprise I won.  Then reality set in, "What have I done?"  All I had to go by, were the online pictures.  There were many so a lot of it's faults were visible.  But until we saw it today really didn't know.  Luckily the exterior has had a lot of work already done to it.  Was hoping for an interior restoration project. 

The tires were our first real concern.  We had an 81 mile trip home.  Even in the pictures they looked 54 years old.  But they were holding air so off we went.  It rained really hard on the way home.   Good way to find leaks.  We made it, the old tires held up!

First thing I did was checked for were leaks.  The right or would it be left rear corner was wet.  Damn.  So looks like might need new roof.  Oh well, still hoping this will be fun.  My mind is whirling with ideas.  So much so that's way I'm up at 1 a.m. writing this because I couldn't sleep.

Goodnight to whomever may be reading this.