How many Boler AMERICANS are out there?

[CliveAlive]

Originally Posted by Matt G

Clive,
...
I'm not sure about the serial number, but I'll post it tomorrow once I get the unit home.

-Matt

Great. And how about photos of your new rig (ie. Volvo and Boler) when you get it?!?!?!?

[Matt G]

I got the trailer home without any trouble. It pulled straight and smooth despite the Kansas wind. I did find a couple small cracks in the frame under the door once I got it home, but nothing too bad.

The serial number 1,057. Sorry Clive, I didn't get a chance to take any pictures of the brick and egg yet!

[CliveAlive]

Hey! Congratulations!

Just remember: pics are always welcome!!

[Roy in TO]

Originally Posted by Roy in TO

Clive Alive # 3104
Roy in TO # 5212
Jean L # 5240
Jean L's daughter # 5233
Lance MacArthur (the blue boler)
Marty Smiltneek
John & Jaci D.
ntlobo had one for sale listed in May 2010 # 5137 (from bolerama post 8427.1)
Libby F. # 5095
Stacy Croster
Jerry8887 (bolerama) Norfolk, VA
Chromedome37 (bolerama)
# 5521 or 5821 was on ebay in June 2008 (the second digit might not have been readable, production #'s might indicate this should have been 5221 or 5321.)
Brian Scott # 5222
Tina Wolk (bolerama) sold hers 2006 # 5064
BillNKC
Dave M

That makes 17 with possible duplicates (some were sales)
I have other serial #'s but don't want to post those that were not public.

OK I've updated the serial #'s above with those posted in blue. Adding the 3 posted in this thread with 2 more I've found using Google Search

Luke P # 5017
Scott B # 5042
Matt G # 1057

Bolski posted in 09/2008 that he got one:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...tml#post147369

And Tim M posted in 2008, he had one:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...tml#post135891

That makes for a possible 22 boler Americans still in existance!

[CliveAlive]

Hey Roy; Thanks for your work in keeping this register.

Needless to say, there are hopefully many more out there but their owners havn't found this site!

Hmmmmnnnn ... maybe on the other hand it's good that they are rare?

[Roy in TO]

You are welcome Clive.

I'm hoping to get more of the serial #'s to confirm my theories on how many were made. I'm hoping Matt H will have something to say on that in his documentary because I know he has talked to some of the people involved in making these. Based on the serial #'s above and my theory, at least 401 were made.

Jean L tells me he's asked the administrators to create a separate album for the boler American. I agree that if we have one for the ECO and other small companies we should have one for the boler American, seeing as how it was so short lived. Especially since it played such a significant role in the formation other trailer companies.

And yes, I prefer that they are rare. 401 is a far cry from the 5000 they intended on pumping out a year. It is nice to have restored and own a piece of history.

[Roy in TO]

Originally Posted by james kent

how many employees worked on a shift?
Jim

Jim, I found two articles I had buried away from local newspapers near Tripoli, IA. Here are a few select quotes from them about the fire. Tri-Fab made the boler American before it started making the Love Bug. They were possibly making both at the same time. They say they had 35 employees.

The Tripoli Leader

Volume 78, No. 38 Tripoli, Iowa
Wednesday, Aug. 1, 1973

Forty-three “Boler travel trailers were in a storage area alongside the fiberglass plant, but the only visible damage appeared to be water and smoke and some discoloring from the heat. Most of these units were pulled away by firemen.

At one time Tri-Fab contracted to build 1,000 units for “Boler” however, this contract ws terminated by Tri-Fab who then initiated plans to construct their own travel trailer, the slightly smaller “Love Bug” unit.

Two of these “Love Bug” trailers were parked in front of the manufacturing site and were towed to a safer site when the blaze spread to the front of the building.

Tri-Fab’s History

Tri-Fab had it’s beginning in May of 1971 when it was organized and incorporated by Richard Tonne. In starting the operation Tri-Fab manufactured fiberglass automotive parts and expanded the operation when receiving the “Boler” contract in September of that same year.

Tonne had started the plant with five employees, working up to the present 35 employees.

In September of 1972 the firm completed their first production model of the “Love Bug” travel trailer. These “Love Bug” recreation vehicles were being produced on a steady production schedule until Monday night’s fire halted the operation.

Waverly Democrat

August 2, 1973

The plant employed 35 people and the second work shift had left the building about 10 p.m. just moments before the blaze apparently started. Several trailers, four completed and three trailer bodies were lost outside the building. A large number of other trailers outside the building may have sustained some smoke damage but were pulled clear of the fire by firemen and other volunteers.

[Roy in TO]

I think I found 2 more reading historic (2001) posts on bolerama

http://forums.delphiforums.com/boler...sages/?msg=930

StephenDB reports serial # 1068
marketwagon1 appears to have one too.

[Tim M]

Add me to the list of BA's
Serial # 3043


Owner sold it to me as a 1970, but when I got the title, I realized it was indeed a 1972 Boler American.

[Gary T]

Originally Posted by Tim M

Add me to the list of BA's
Serial # 3043


Owner sold it to me as a 1970, but when I got the title, I realized it was indeed a 1972 Boler American.

I have a 1973 made in Wichita Ks #1105

[sara maccalman]

I too have a Boler American but I'm not entirely sure where to find the number to which you refer. How's about a clue?

Cancel that...I just dashed out (into our first snow of the year) and immediately saw the little metal plate with the serial number 3026 on it. So now I know and so do you.

[Roy in TO]

Thanks people,
It looks like we now know of a possible 27, I'll try redoing the list by known serial numbers then known owners. That might make things easier to track in the future.

[Phil Underwood]

Originally Posted by Roy in TO

Hi Phil,
There are enough differences that I can see in your pictures to indicate that you have a boler in America, but I really don't think you have a boler American. The door lock, notched fiberglass front bench and emblems were the first clues. Not to mention all I've seen so far were white top over green bottom. I'd be interested in seeing the plate with serial number though.
Roy

you are correct

[Val H]

Originally Posted by Roy in TO

Thanks people,
It looks like we now know of a possible 27, I'll try redoing the list by known serial numbers then known owners. That might make things easier to track in the future.

Just want to add our 1972 Boler American bought in 2011 from Iowa. Serial number 1102. A plate on it says that it was manufactured in Wichita. Pretty much original.

Thanks.

Val -- Vermillion, SD

[Sheryl]

My 13 ft. 1972 Boler title says VIN # 5130, and I know the plastic emblems on front and back under the windows say Boler Wichita. Does that make my trailer a Boler American, or is "American" a specific model? (My Boler is not at my house yet, so I can't look for any other info for a week or two.) Was 1972 the last?/only? year Bolers were made in the US? (I'm sorry if this is answered here earlier, but I didn't find it!)

[Greg H]

That makes it a Boler American,About 40 #,s newer than mine.

[sjlcu]

#5137 :-)

[Carol Ann in TO]

Originally Posted by Sheryl

was 1972 the last?/only? year Bolers were made in the US? (I'm sorry if this is answered here earlier, but I didn't find it!)

The Americans are all from 1972 - the first, last and only yearthey were made.

[Sheryl]

Originally Posted by Carol Ann in TO

The Americans are all from 1972 - the first, last and only yearthey were made.

Thanks for the reply. I knew it was special.

[Vickie C]

We just recently purchased an American Boler, #5008 made in Wichita, KS. Don't know if the previous owner chimed in with the SN or not.

Think we are going to "love" this little camper!