I'm shocked - T@B design is not an original

Olena
Olena Member Posts: 106
in Camping & Travel
Am I the first or last to find out that the T@B shape I love so much is copied from the first Airstream (the 1935 Torpedo)? I can see that Airstream used the shape of the front for their new Basecamp, but the back is 100% T@B. Does anyone know the history about the T@B design? I guess Airstream didn't have it copyright protected! There is also a link below to a site that shows more pics of the Torpedo.



ww.doityourselfrv.com/oldest-airstream/


2021 T@B 400 Boondock Solo

Comments

  • 1968Healey
    1968Healey Member Posts: 64
    I’m sure everybody knows this, but the T@B is some sort of licensed design from this company: https://www.tabme.de/

    They even have amazing comic books of Tabetha taking her Tab to a concert.
    2020 T@B 400
    2019 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road
    Seattle, WA
  • ChanW
    ChanW Member Posts: 3,168
    edited April 2019
    Cool!  It's home-made!

    This following link talks about the first 'factory' Airstream, vs that 'plans' built Airstream. http://www.vintagetrailercamp.com/oldest-factory-manufactured-airstream-still-existence/

    Chan - near Buffalo NY
    2014 S Maxx
    2011 Tacoma 4cyl ... edit: 2022 Tacoma 6cyl - oh yeah!

    ll9normvqdmg.jpeg


    A_Little_T@b'll_Do_Ya

  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,034
    They have a forum available from that site.  Non-members can access a page that details the history starting in 2001.  Wish I could read German.  Did anyone catch the TaBman cheesy comics?
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
  • Olena
    Olena Member Posts: 106
    My sister reads German, I'll send her the link and get her on the case.
    2021 T@B 400 Boondock Solo
  • Olena
    Olena Member Posts: 106
    The Torpedo is now in Texas (the article calls it the Tornado?). Any forum members in Texas can go see it and let us know how "T@B" the shape of it is!


    I took a look at the German site (I have some rudimentary German) and they are not detailing any information about the source of the design.....maybe they don't want to admit it!
    2021 T@B 400 Boondock Solo
  • ScottG
    ScottG Administrator Posts: 5,693
    edited April 2019
    If you search around, there are some discussions here (one of them quite recent) about the history of the T@B and its migration to America. They are still made in Europe by the Knauss-Tabbert caravan company, a merged entity that incorporated the company founded by Mr. Tabbert.
    U.S. T@Bs were based on the original European design, though the North American brand was separately owned by Dutchman. It was acquired by Pleasant Valley Trailers (now nuCamp) after Dutchman dropped production.
    The design copying thing still goes on. For example, there are quite a few R-Pod knockoffs right here in the U.S. that bear a much closer resemblance to the original than the T@B does to that old Airstream. There's only so many shapes to work with and I suspect unless something is an exact duplicate it's pretty hard to prove copyright infringement. I'll bet a nickel it's been tested, however!  ;-)  
    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,034
    Very soon I am traveling to Amsterdam and I may check to see if the dealer there has an TaBs!  They may not have them in stock, so I will check it out.
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
  • GreatWhiteNorth
    GreatWhiteNorth Member Posts: 57
    edited April 2019
    The T@B is a license built German design.  Our T@B T2, although registered as a 2004, was built Dec 2003, first year of production at Dutchmen.  The Al-Ko frame was European sourced, as was the door and windows.

    https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/q2/mxjg1wbt9oov.pdf
    2004 Dutchmen T@B T2 (fiberglass!)
  • jgram2
    jgram2 Member Posts: 1,522
    @Sharon_is_SAM Although it should go without saying-photos or it didn’t happen.🙂
    John, Judi, Guinness & OD in PDX
    T@Bit@t 2015 S Max Outback, ‘18 V6 4Runner 


  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,034
    👍
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
  • Arwen
    Arwen Member Posts: 68
    edited April 2019
    Knaus Tabbert T@B page:
    T@B Brand Page:


    Arwen: Northern NH; 2018 T@B 320S Boondock, silver/blue; TV: blue 2018 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
  • RCB
    RCB Member Posts: 251
    1927.....the shape has been around awhile.

    400 - 2019
    St Catharines, ON
  • larrygon
    larrygon Member Posts: 255
    Check out the T@B comic!
    https://www.tabme.de/en/#a2
    "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." Albert Einstein
    2015 T@B M@X S White with Grey trim | TV 2021 Ascent Touring | Flagstaff AZ.
  • Photomom
    Photomom Member Posts: 2,217
    I’ve read that the teardrop design came from the shape of airplane wings, and some early teardrop campers were made from repurposed sections of retired WWII airplanes. 
    John and Henrietta, Late 2016 T@B S Max in Western New York
  • GreatWhiteNorth
    GreatWhiteNorth Member Posts: 57
    Arwen said:
    Knaus Tabbert T@B page:
    T@B Brand Page:


    The German T@Bs have evolved a bit differently, sure have a different back end.
    2004 Dutchmen T@B T2 (fiberglass!)
  • Michigan_Mike
    Michigan_Mike Member Posts: 2,858
    Teardrop trailers have been around for a long time. 

    https://www.theteardroptrailer.com/history

    If any of you get to Amarillo there is a trailer museum there at the local RV dealer, Jack Sisemore that is free and worth a visit.  Very well done for a private museum too and he has an Airstream Torpedo on display as well.


    http://www.rvmuseum.net/




    Mike - Elmira, Mi / 2019 T@B 400 / 2021 Chevy Silverado LTZ
  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,034
    The RV/MH Hall of Fame and Museum in Elkhart, Indiana is a fun visit, too!
    http://www.rvmhhalloffame.org/index.cfm
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
  • jgram2
    jgram2 Member Posts: 1,522
    @Sharon_is_SAM Somehow the idea of Mae West camping in her very own “house car” makes me smile. Talk about zombies!
    John, Judi, Guinness & OD in PDX
    T@Bit@t 2015 S Max Outback, ‘18 V6 4Runner 


  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,034
    edited June 2019
    We took my, at the time, 85 year old Mom and she got a kick out of it.  However, that long drive on the Indiana turnpike west, was hands down, the most boring time of my life!  And the straightest road, too.
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
  • TNOutback
    TNOutback Member Posts: 633
    It is interesting to look at the current European 400 model compared to NuCamp’s.  It is essentially the same design and features, except it appears the Europe model has a cassette toilet, which is the norm over there.  I would choose a cassette toilet system over the holding tank in a heartbeat!  So many places to camp that don’t have dump stations.  Also, the Europe model has this cargo/bicycle shelf or rack on the back as an option.  It looks like it might interfere with the opening of the window, but I’d prefer bikes on the back than over the tongue given the tongue weight challenges for some tow vehicles.
  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,034
    The European model may have a different frame to support the weight of bikes on the back.  Also,  their roads are a LOT better than ours in general and they tow at slower speeds.  Maybe factors that allow a rear rack.
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
  • Emma62
    Emma62 Member Posts: 51
    The plastic trim so many of us have cracking issues with is different on the European models.  
  • RCB
    RCB Member Posts: 251
    A little more teardrop history at. https://www.rvhistory.com/
    400 - 2019
    St Catharines, ON
  • DukeHewett
    DukeHewett Member Posts: 45
    The Newest Air-Tow Airstream:

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