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'''Springbar''' is an American brand of [[canvas]] [[tent]]. The original Springbar tent dates back to 1961, when Arthur Jack Kirkham Sr. created the first Springbar tent design, which he sold through his company AAA Tent & Awning Co. The Springbar tent design has remained largely unchanged over the years and was intended to allow for easy setup and enhanced durability.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Netherby |first=Steve |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5sFwGxiDXVAC&pg=PA111&dq=springbar+tent&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwisuZLPqrb-AhVWFVkFHRH0Ch44KBDrAXoECAQQBQ#v=onepage&q=springbar%20tent&f=false |title="Backing Up" |date=November 1978 |publisher=Field & Stream |year=1978 |pages=111 |language=en}}</ref> It is defined by a support system that combines tension and flexibility, which includes pole reinforcements and tension rods made with [[spring steel]], and a 100 percent [[cotton duck]] canvas exterior, a heavy woven fabric known for being more tightly woven than plain canvas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Golden Era Car Camping Tent Is Back and Better Than Ever |url=https://www.insidehook.com/article/gear/buy-springbar-camping-tents-highline-or-american-made |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=InsideHook |language=en-US}}</ref>{{TOC left}}Springbar tents are hand cut and sewn in the company’s [[Salt Lake City|Salt Lake City, Utah]], factory as well as its partner factory in China.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Donvan, Burbank |first=John, Maggie |date=May 26, 2009 |title=Made in the U.S.A.; Sold ... Nowhere? |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=7679584&page=1 |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref> The Springbar brand has been owned by Dwell Outdoors LLC since 2019 — when the company name was also changed to Springbar. It is one of the oldest canvas tent [[Manufacturing|manufacturers]], as well as one of oldest outdoor equipment manufacturers in [[Utah]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=University |first=Utah State |title=History of Gear Series: Springbar Tents |url=https://caas.usu.edu/news/springbar-tents |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=caas.usu.edu |language=en}}</ref>
== History ==
Springbar began as AAA Tent & Awning Co. in 1944,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aaa Tent & Awning Co - Company Profile and News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/0395906D:US |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}</ref> when Arthur Jack Kirkham Sr. purchased the company upon his return to Salt Lake City after serving as a Naval draftsman in the [[U.S. Military|U.S. military]] during World War II.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=June 20 |first={{!}} Posted- |last2=P.m |first2=2008 at 1:14 |title=Utah outdoor store founder dead at 89 |url=https://www.ksl.com/article/3579580/utah-outdoor-store-founder-dead-at-89 |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=www.ksl.com |language=en}}</ref>
In the 1950s, as [[car camping]] began to grow in popularity<ref>{{Cite news |last=Young |first=Phoebe S. K. |date=2021-05-08 |title=Camping Was So Popular It Became Basic and Nearly Ruined the ‘Outdoors’ |language=en |work=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/camping-was-so-popular-it-became-basic-and-nearly-ruined-the-outdoors |access-date=2023-01-20}}</ref>, Kirkham Sr. began working on a tent design that would be easier to set up than the traditional pole-and-rope style tents of the time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Salt Lake Tribune {{!}} 1994-07-24 {{!}} Page 63 |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=29396067 |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=newspapers.lib.utah.edu |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Singer |first=Emily |date=2017-06-16 |title=A Mid-Century Car Camping Icon Is Being Revived |url=http://gearpatrol.com/home/a365227/springbar-canvas-tent/ |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=Gear Patrol |language=en-US}}</ref> He invented the original “Springbar” canvas tent in 1961, which was defined by a support system that combined tension and flexibility — a design he patented in 1964.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robison |first=Jonna |date=2021-07-03 |title=Springbar, Maker of Renowned Canvas Tents |url=https://theloadedtrunk.com/springbar-maker-of-renowned-canvas-tents/ |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=theloadedtrunk.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tent |url=https://www.freepatentsonline.com/3128781.pdf |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=www.freepatentsonline.com}}</ref> The first Springbar tent model, which is still known as the “Traveler,” was 10 by 10 feet, weighed 60 lbs and cost $83.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=aheard |date=2022-07-26 |title=How Springbar Became the Airstream Trailer of Tents |url=https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/camping/springbar-canvas-tents/ |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=Outside Online |language=en-US}}</ref>
The next year, AAA Tent & Awning began selling Springbar canvas tents through its catalog under its Skyliner brand. Kirkham Sr. continued to refine the design over the years, and the Springbar canvas tent became the company’s core product.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Deseret News {{!}} 1976-06-28 {{!}} Page 41 |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=26351929 |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=newspapers.lib.utah.edu |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rees |first=Claire F. |date=April 1972 |title=A New Concept In Tents |language=en |pages=184 |work=[[Field & Stream]] |publisher= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Dh5jqjxIb5UC&pg=PA184&dq=Springbar+tent&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjevtPFmLb-AhWRK1kFHaCrDlM4MhDoAXoECA4QAg#v=onepage&q=Springbar%20tent&f=false}}</ref> From this design, he created versions of varying sizes and features — from a two-person tent to a large modular tent called the Leisure Port, which campers could add rooms onto.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2008-07-06 |title=Kirkham's genius gave us comfort |url=https://www.deseret.com/2008/7/6/20262467/kirkham-s-genius-gave-us-comfort |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=Deseret News |language=en}}</ref>
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