The world of early recreational vehicles
from Caravanning and Camping Out by J. Harris Stone (1914)
"There is one wholesome lesson everyone learns when caravanning – to think more, to talk less."
Welcome to rvhistory.com
This site has been developed by RV historian Andrew Woodmansey as a resource for learning about early recreational vehicles from around the world. It is a calm place with no adverts, sponsors, popups, likes, subscribes, comments or social media links. A place to reflect on the hobby's birth and be inspired by early pioneers of the RV movement. Many photos are published here for the first time.
News
A Curtiss Aerocar prototype c1928, courtesy Glenn H. Curtiss Museum
Free eBook!
Fifty Early RV Patents is now available as a free pdf download. See here for details.
The Curtiss Aerocar
Thanks for your patience while I've been writing a history of the Curtiss Aerocar in conjunction with the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum of Hammondsport, New York. The manuscript is now with the publishers and The Curtiss Aerocar will be published by Schiffer Publishing in late 2024.
rvhistory.com
rvhistory.com features 60 blogs covering a wide range of topics from six main countries. There is a five-part blog on early RV history and stories of early RVs and their builders from around the world. Search by country or explore the most recent blogs below.
The site's top five blogs are currently The First Automobile Camping Trailer, The Success of Eccles Caravans, Australian Motorhomes of the 1920s, 25 Years of Winchester Caravans, and America's First RV. My latest blog on The RV of The Future is generating much interest.
Recreational Vehicles: A World History 1872-1939
Recreational Vehicles: A World History 1872-1939 is published by Pen & Sword and available in all good bookshops worldwide. With 41 professional reviews to date in online and print media, the book is Pen & Sword's most-reviewed book. It has had a universally positive reception since publication in January 2022. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed or bought the book. Please add a review or star rating when you buy. The book is available in over 240 libraries worldwide – search WorldCat here for a copy near you.
Featured Posts
"A meticulous volume that is surely destined as the standard reference work about caravans and motorhomes."
The Society of Automotive Historians in Britain
The first ever international history of recreational vehicles. Published by Pen & Sword Books in January 2022.
Fully illustrated with over 300 period, high quality black and white images of pre-WW2 RVs from the UK, France, USA, Germany, Australia and New Zealand including many published for the first time.
This book re-writes RV history.
Recent Posts
