Probably just a few days after Election Day, if not already, the common sight on our local interstate highways will be RVs towing a vehicle, as the “snowbirds” flee the northeast for Florida.
The same was true, despite lower-quality roads, in the fall of 1925. A car would also be towing something behind it, made in our area.
As the Norwich Sun of Oct. 17 reported, “The Chenango Equipment Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of the Chenango Camp Trailer, are rushed with orders, although one might naturally believe that the season is practically over. The rush for the warmth and the sunshine of Florida, has made the Chenango trailer the most popular on the market because of the conveniences that come with it.
“Hundreds are now on their way to Florida, who have no assurance that they will have a place ‘to lay their heads’ when they reach that land made famous by De Soto more than four hundred years ago. There are so many orders for trailers placed with the local concern, that it has been necessary to greatly increase the force to come anywhere near keeping up with the demand. The ideal way in planning a Florida trip would seem to include a motor car and a Chenango trailer.”
The company’s success dated back five years at the time, as readers of the Chenango Union of April 19, 1920 learned, “The entire $50,000 of capital stock of the company organized last week for the manufacture of the Sherwood auto camp trailer had been subscribed.
“The Chenango Portable Camp Co., was selected as the name of the corporation and its charter will be sufficiently broad to authorize the manufacture of other accessories in addition to the trailer.
“No name has been selected for the trailer and suggestions will be welcomed. One of the suggestions made which has met with approval is ‘Campmobile.’” The company’s first building was on Division Street, Norwich.
As the name was eventually established as the Chenango Camp Trailer, no time was wasted by the company to display its new product.
The Oneonta Star of Sept. 1, 1920 reported “A unique camping outfit, drawn on a trailer by the Buick car of Ralph Haufman of Norwich, arrived in the city yesterday afternoon at about 1:30 o’clock, attracting the attention of many people on the streets. Mr. Haufman gave a demonstration, stopping on Broad Street (Oneonta) and opening the tent. Inside of the tent are all the possible conveniences for camping, consisting of two four-foot beds, with mattresses, trunk, cook stove, refrigerator, etc. It is also equipped with electric lights. This outfit is carried on a trailer with wheels equivalent in size of a Ford car.”
The product gained publicity and popularity, as the Sun of Oct. 29, 1920 said, “The following from the San Diego Union of Sunday, October 10, will be of interest to Norwich.”
The article told how Dr. A. James DeNike and his wife took an automobile trip to San Diego, starting in Utica, with a Chenango Trailer in tow, going “on the Lincoln highway, taking the O.L.D. road from Omaha to Denver, where he changed his course and completed the journey over the old Santa Fe trail to San Diego.
“With the exception of two punctures the entire run was made without many mishaps, in spite of the fact that the trailer weighed more than 800 pounds was handled the whole distance of 4,600 miles.
“Planning a tour through California with his Reo and trailer, DeNike expects to make the return trip to Utica next June.”
The Chenango Equipment Manufacturing Co. continued to do well, and survived the Great Depression, but as the Chenango Union reported on Feb. 4, 1937, “William H. Brennan…has sold the plant and equipment to Earl H. Curtis of South Otselic.” Brennan had discontinued the business a few years earlier on account of ill health, and Curtis resumed it. Brennan died in October 1938 at age 86.
Company literature seen in the collections of the Chenango County Historical Society shows that factory prices for the trailer ranged from $375 to $475, and could be set up for immediate use in “less than two minutes time.” Records also said that a second plant was located in Sherburne in the later years, and the company ceased business sometime in the mid-1950s. Motel popularity was surging in that decade.
On Wednesday, a look back at “Konstanty mania” locally in 1950.