This is the damage to the aluminum of the ceiling from heat. It will have to be repaired. If this as bad as the surprises get, I am happy.

Here you can see charred wire in the same cavity.

One surprise that I found was that the area around the heater vent has been damaged by heat. It also appears that for the most part that the insulation in that cavity burned, as it was basically ash.

A bunch of screws and brads later, the curb side and front of the observation lounge have been cleaned up.

Here you see the electric panel. Not sure if this trailer was manufactured on one breaker or if someone over the years moved everything to one side, but the breaker on the left side of the box was not in use and everything was wired to the right side. I am going to re-wire the trailer with a grounded system.

Out come the closet and bureau. Nothing too exciting there, just a lot of screws holding them to the walls that need to be found and removed.

To dismantle the wood walls between the galley and the observation lounge, the ceiling panel have to removed in both areas. Because of this, I moved into the observation lounge to start the process of dismantling in there. Here in this picture, you can get a good idea of the original color and finish. This area was covered by a mirror, so it was well protected. Now to replicate that when I get it put back together will be the trick.

It has been nearly a month since my last update... OK, it has been a whole month.

Not a lot of work has been accomplished in that time. On top of not getting much accomplished, my computer has been acting up, so updating this is like watching paint dry and doesn't do much good for my blood preasure.

I was then able to see the window track. This is what brought me to this point, as I could not repair the window track without opening the wall, which meant removing all the cabinets.

In one picture, you can see some of the concealed, all be it mild, water damage. I will have to clean that up and seek a cure for that problem.

All the paneling was then removed and the insulation cleaned up.

The curbside base cabinets were next to come out. This was held in place by 4 screws on the top below the window line and 3 screws from the closet in the observation lounge.

Followed by the curbside counter top. I taped the edging in place after I unscrewed them. The edges are sharp and I will know where they are as well as what they go to when I go to put it back together.

Next to come out is the wardrobe. 6 screws and it was free.

I was then able to remove the ceiling panels and the insulation. An interesting note is that the ceiling only had 1 layer of insulation, while the walls had 2.

The sliding door between the observation lounge and the kitchen need to removed also.

Next I had to remove the vanity / refrigerator cabinet so that I could remove the ceiling panel in the bedroom area.

I then worked my way around removing panels and the insulation. The panels are attached with a combination of brads and screws. Takes a bit of patients to pry up the brads by using a flat edge under the panel. I then used pliers to pull the brads out.

After it was cleaned out.

I removed the damaged panel, surprsingly, there is not water damage to the old paper insulation or to the floor below the window.

The bed was removed as well. From what I can tell so far, this panel below the rear center window and one ceiling panel in the front of the trailer are the only two that will have to be replaced.

I next reoved the old tattered wooden blinds, and also all the original lamp fixtures.

The only other damage was on the street side lower front corner and to the street side rear corner rubrail.

There was also this area near the curbside door. Each should be easy repairs.

My next task was cleaning the silicone caulk off the front window area. I scrapped most of the big stuff off with a plastic scraper and then used lacquer thinner to get the rest of. While using the lacquer thinner, I uncovered two spots of bondo that had been painted over with silver spray paint. Not sure how the damage occurred, but the repairs blended in well enough with the oxidized aluminum that I didn't notice them. Because I want to polish the trailer, I will have to replace these two sections.

Of the 4 marker lights, only 1 is broken. The insides of all them look like this one. The glass on them has deteriorated due to weather, so I will have to make a decision about them in the future. I have all 4 marker light rings, so I could use plastic reproduction lenses.

The 3rd brake light / license plate light is in much better condition and can be saved.

I removed the exterior lights for safe keeping. As you can see, they look good from the outside, but the insides are not salvageable.

After my discovery of Spartan Gold, I set about doing a general clean up inside the trailer. There was a fair bit of old brittle plastic window debris that had been blown around inside, so I did a good vacuum job.

I then sat on the sofa and said.... HHHHhhhhmmmmm.... What have I gotten myself into!?

Originally, I was not going to tear the trailer apart. The trailer is about an 8 out of 10 in quality, but for certain the electrical needed to be updated. I had planned on doing this from the underside of the trailer.

While sitting there on the couch with the trailer out in the Texas sun, I came to the realization that it was HOT in there. The heat radiating from the ceiling was insane. So, it was at that point that I decided that I was going to have to open the walls to and install new insulation. I was going to do just the living room and the bedroom along with the ceilings in both and the kitchen. The builders had other ideas for me. Because of the way the cabinets are installed, you can not remove ceiling panels without first removing cabinets.

What follows will be the process of the renovation.

So besides my great find in a trailer that had not been molested, one that was complete and original, along with my little pot of Spartan Gold, I have the history.





Joan Pagel, the grand daughter of the original owner, Albert Schuler, put together a history of the original owner and how Spartan Manor 3482 came to the family and then transitioned through their family through the years. Inlcuded are pictures of the original owner and the family with the trailer as the years progressed.

I have permission to reporduce the contents, now I just need the brain power to get it on here so that you can see it.

For now, I will re-write the history and work on getting the others posted when I get a chance.

THE HISTORY OF THIS SPARTAN MANOR

********************************************

Albert Schuler (original owner) and Larry Pagel (son-in-law) drove from Billion, WI to Kenosha, WO to look at Spartan Manors at a dealer. Albert purchased the Spartan Manor for $3,750.00 in 1947. The dealer from Kenosha, WI delivered it to Pagel Acres, (address redacted), Brillion WI.

Albert lived in the Spartan Manor from 1947 until 1954. He became ill and to move out. Albert passed away on April 7, 1955. He left the home to his daughter, Vesta (Schuler) Pagel in his last will and testament.

Larry and Vesta Pagel and their family, Jean, Jane and Joan used the SPartan Manor as a vacation home. They pulled it, using a Willy's Jeep, to Door County, WI in 1955, 1956 and 1957. In 1958 the family pulled the home to Shawano Lake, WI.

After that trip in 1958 it was parked in the backyard of Pagel Acres. It was used for sleepover parties by the Pagel girls. It was also used as a guest room for visitors to Pagel Acres. John A. Holzchuh, husband of Jaon Pagel (albert's grand-daughter), slept in it July 19, 1974 the night before their wedding.

In the spring of 1976 the Spartan Manor was moved one mile south of Pagel Acres to the property of Jean (Pagel) (Albert's grand-daughter) and her husband Roger Schwahn. They and their son, Adam Schwahn, lived in the home until the fall of 1976 when the remodeling of their farm home was complete.

It was then moved back to Pagel Acres. The Spartan Manor has remained at Pagel Acres (address redacted) Brillion, WI until the time of its sale in July 2009. It was purchased by Donald Hendricks of Live Oak, TX.

WARNING: Don't even think about it!!!

SPARTAN GOLD!!!!!

The exterior door handles for Spartan Manors are one of the items that are hard to find and harder to get someone to part with. Here, I have a EXTRA complete door latch assembly AND an EXTRA exterior handle, PLUS another handle that has a slight crack in it.

Oh yeah Spartan lovers... I now know what it was like at Sutters Mill in 1849 =)~

First things first, was a hunt for hidden treasure. Surely after 62 years something would be found from days gone by. I looked high... I looked low... Unlike many other new vintage trailer owners, my hunt didn't reveal much.

EXCEPT, the greatest find on earth!!!!