Utah's canvas castle
The creator of a Utah icon has died. Jack Kirkham, who pulled up stakes one day short of his 90th birthday, was, of course, the inventor of the Springbar tent.
Peter Metcalf, chief executive of Black Diamond Equipment Ltd., explains the place of Kirkham's tent in outdoor lore:
The Springbar tent remains an iconic tent here in Utah for family camping, for car camping. It's just a unique, innovative tent in its design.Kirkham's son, Jack Jr. explains the need his father filled that kicked off the American family camping tradition:
Most tents came from sheepherders or ranchers or whatever they were using in the military. There were lots of poles and lots of ropes. The Springbar definitely simplified things. The simplicity really made camping more accessible to a lot more people.The sage-colored canvas tent isn't light or beautiful and its aerodynamics make novice owners dubious. But like the streamline-challenged bumblebee, it somehow bucks the wind and can ride out the worst storms. Still, having manipulated the innovative and unnerving Springbar top strut many times, I've always wondered how many owners lack front teeth.
2 Comments:
And who among Springbar owners hasn't been asked about the tent at campgrounds around the world? The simple sage green canvas and Springbar design are always an entry point into conversations at every campground I've stayed at over many years.
Love my Springbar, thanks Jack Kirkham!
We have owned 3 of the springbar tents, including the screen tent. What a life saver when the whole family is there and it rains, or the black flies are out in force! Thanks Jack! We never knew you, but we appreciated your work!
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