Springbar: Difference between revisions

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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" /> 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. 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> The company, which operates on a direct-to-consumer model, now manufactures and sells 11 different tent styles based on the original Springbar design and construction.

== 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> The storefront was originally located at 140 E. 200 South Street in Salt Lake City, moved to 24 W. 5th S. Street in 1967, and incorporated in 1960.

=== Early 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> The storefront was originally located at 140 E. 200 South Street in Salt Lake City, moved to 24 W. 5th S. Street in 1967, and incorporated in 1960.

=== Manufacturing and innovation ===

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> 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> Around this time, all design work was taken over by Kirkham Sr.’s son, Jack Kirkham Jr.

In 1979, Kirkham Sr. changed the name of the business to Kirkham’s Outdoor Products — Home of the Springbar Tent and began construction on a new building at 3125 S. State Street in Salt Lake City. The space changed two more times, once in 2003, when the State Street ___location was expanded and remodeled, and again in 2019, when it moved to its current ___location at 4026 S. West Temple in Millcreek, just east of downtown Salt Lake City.

=== Licensing & distribution ===

In 1966, [[The Coleman Company|Coleman Co.]] became the first brand to license to manufacture and sell its own Springbar canvas tents under a licensing agreement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Salt Lake Tribune {{!}} 2001-06-24 {{!}} Page 62 |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=27840811 |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=newspapers.lib.utah.edu |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Salt Lake Tribune {{!}} 1969-05-11 {{!}} Page 42 |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=26523531 |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=newspapers.lib.utah.edu |language=en}}</ref> The company established the Springbar lightweight nylon tent [[wholesale]] program in 1976, with dealers in the U.S. That same year, the company entered into an agreement with British company KEB International to distribute Springbar tents.<ref name=":3" />

=== Ownership ===

In 1998, Jack Kirkham Jr., who had worked on the company with his dad from the age of 14, purchased the business from his father. Jack Kirkham Sr. passed away in 2008 at the age of 90 after making significant contributions to the camping industry.<ref name=":1" /> He eventually held eight tent patents.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Provo Daily Herald {{!}} 2008-06-21 {{!}} Page 7 |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=23606628 |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=newspapers.lib.utah.edu |language=en}}</ref>

In 20191998, DwellJack OutdoorsKirkham LLCJr. purchased the business from Kirkhamhis Jrfather. —Jack renamingKirkham it Springbar — and moved it toSr. itspassed current ___location,away in [[Millcreek,2008 Utah]],at justthe eastage of downtown90 Saltafter Lakemaking City,significant wherecontributions to the companycamping continuesindustry.<ref toname=":1" manufacture/> SpringbarHe canvaseventually tentsheld byeight handtent patents.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SpringbarProvo Daily Herald {{!}} 2008-06-21 {{!}} Page 7 |url=https://companyweeknewspapers.comlib.utah.edu/article/springbardetails?id=23606628 |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=CompanyWeeknewspapers.lib.utah.edu |language=en}}</ref>

In 2019, Dwell Outdoors LLC purchased the business from Kirkham Jr. — renaming it Springbar — and moved it to its current ___location, in [[Millcreek, Utah]], just east of downtown Salt Lake City, where the company continues to manufacture Springbar canvas tents by hand.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Springbar |url=https://companyweek.com/article/springbar |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=CompanyWeek |language=en}}</ref>

=== Sociocultural Impact ===

Springbar canvas tents have been used on numerous outdoor [[expeditions]], and many have been purchased by the [[Utah National Parks Council]], as well as other adventure groups, over the years.<ref name=":2" /> In 1976, the company sent Springbar modular tents to the U.S. Bicentennial Celebration to house 40 UK Scouts for 14 days.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sun Advocate {{!}} 1976-06-17 {{!}} Page 26 |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=25332223 |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=newspapers.lib.utah.edu |language=en}}</ref> Western River Expeditions offered 8-11 day trips to [[Micronesia]] in Springbar modular tents, beginning in 1978.<ref name=":2" />