The Story of Trailer and It's Actors; As a Mobile Home Case _ Nur Gülgör Thesis

Figure 16: Gasoline stove for camp use
Figure 17: Knickerbocker Case, includes six each imported
enameled plates, cups, and saucers, one each salt
and pepper shaker, one can opener, one kitchen knife,
six cloth napkins, and two food boxes. It is water-proof,
leather-grain lined and the cases can be washed out on
the inside.
Figure 18: The Fitall kit for carrying toilet necessities,
there are brushes, combs, a mirror, and a complete shaving
outfit on the inside.
42. Mark, S. (1998). Save the auto camps. Southern Oregon
Historical Society Magazine, 3(4), 28-33.
43. ii
culture was not new for Americans, as they had already been making long
trips with wagons. Thus, they combined the 200-year-old practice of wagon
camping of their ancestors with the automobile.
Over time, as the ideal areas to stop or pitch a tent became known
to travelers, camping spots began to emerge. Especially open public nature
parks were an attractive point for campers to improve their experience with
fresh air and river views. In addition, there were camping spots that had been
transformed into businesses that provided electricity, water, and gas support
for campers and were called “auto camps”. With the release of the Model T,
camping became a new and accessible interest for passengers who can easily
become more mobile than before. Particularly, the low cost of camping was
one of the catchiest reasons for drivers. As a result, by the late 1910s and
early 1920s, auto camping was at the top of its popularity. They consciously
refused to stay at the hotel in their travels. The auto “gypsies” – as Mark’s
definition for campers – could camp without making bookings or eating at the
scheduled times set by hotel dining rooms. They didn’t have to leave a tip or
explain his occasionally messy appearance after a day of traveling to a hotel
lobby staff. 42
This great interest in camping culture has created a demand
for campsites. In order to meet this demand, first of all, the parks were
transformed into auto camps, and then, special camping areas were created
according to the needs of the campers. However, these camp areas still did
not have the facilities to tolerate long-term stays, and unsafe environments
could occur for campers. Free municipal auto camps were set up to make
campsites more controllable and equipped. The first official municipal camp
was established in the United States in 1913 in Douglas, Arizona. 43 In the
municipal and private camping areas established in the following years, the
official site plans consisting of the defined parcels where the cars will be
parked were created. In the auto camp photographs of the period, it is seen
that these parking areas are approximately wide enough to set up a vehicle
and a tent next to it. (Figure 15). On the other hand, it is also seen that some
campers improvise tent-like shelters created by stretching fabric between two
vehicles. (Figure 62)
In this period, in addition to the developments in the camp areas,
there were also developments in camping styles and equipment. The
Americans already knew camp habits since the great migration and the
equipment they carried with them, but these practices and kinds of stuff
18