THEN AND NOW

THEN AND NOW
The Vindicator/William D. Lewis
What a difference in 75 years!
Recreational vehicle historian David Woodworth, above, of Tehachapi, Calif., shows his 1931 "house car," which was presented to actress Mae West by Paramount Studios as she was making her first motion picture. The 75-year-old RV, which has amenities such as a two-burner gasoline stove and an ice box, is dwarfed by the 2006 Winnebago motor home in which Woodworth lives during his trek along the highways and byways of America. The Winnebago has a double-wide refrigerator, dishwasher, central vacuum system, and at the push of a button, the side expands to into a 14-by-20-foot living room. Woodworth was encamped Wednesday at the Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown. The 22-foot 1931 RV is built on a Chevrolet truck chassis and powered by a 6-cylinder Chevrolet engine that delivered a top speed of 55 mph. Woodworth, 66, right, said that people were most surprised at how roomy the 2006 Winnebago is, and that there were motor homes in 1931. Woodworth is curator for the National RV Tour and has been a consultant to the Smithsonian Institution for various camping-related projects. He will visit nearly 30 cities this spring.