80th Anniversary LTD. Collection
Release Date: October 16, 2024 | 1:00 pm (MDT)
80th Anniversary LTD. Collection
Release Date: October 16, 2024 | 1:00 pm (MDT)
80th Anniversary
LTD. Collection
Release Date:
October 16, 2024 | 1:00 pm (MDT)
In 1944, after serving in Naval shipyards as a draftsman, a young Jack Kirkham Sr. returned to Salt Lake City and purchased the AAA Tent & Awning Shop.
At ‘Triple A’ Jack honed his skills as a designer, artist, and businessman—leading him to invent the Springbar® Tent in 1961.
2024 marks the 80th Anniversary of AAA Tent & Awning. To mark the occasion, we’re proud to introduce a limited collection of tents that draw inspiration from Jack’s early days at ‘Triple A’.
The LTD. Collection releases October 16, 2024. It features a new color of Sunforger® canvas called ‘Sepia’, a naval-inspired carry bag, vintage branding, and unique color blocking. Models include the Skyliner, Traveler, Compact, and a new variation of the Vagabond.
In 1944, after serving in Naval shipyards as a draftsman, a young Jack Kirkham Sr. returned to Salt Lake City and purchased the AAA Tent & Awning Shop.
At ‘Triple A’ Jack honed his skills as a designer, artist, and businessman—leading him to invent the Springbar® Tent in 1961.
2024 marks the 80th Anniversary of AAA Tent & Awning. To mark the occasion, we’re proud to introduce a limited collection of tents that draw inspiration from Jack’s early days at ‘Triple A’.
The LTD. Collection releases October 16, 2024. It features a new color of Sunforger® canvas called ‘Sepia’, a naval-inspired carry bag, vintage branding, and unique color blocking. Models include the Skyliner, Traveler, Compact, and a new variation of the Vagabond.
80th Anniversary Limited Edition Collection
Jack Kirkham Sr. purchased AAA Tent & Awning for $8,000 with the help of a Salt Lake banker. "I think I had 1,500 dollars...he (banker) said if you put in all you got, I'll put in the rest and let's go buy it. He kind of reminded me of John Wayne."
"...as I found out later, the only reason he sold it to me is that I appeared the most likely to fail, so he could come back and buy it back cheap" said Jack when speaking about the man that sold him the business.
The drafting skills that Jack had picked up in the shipyards were soon put to work. AAA Tent & Awning produced canvas goods of all kinds: Window awnings for homes and hotels, canvas tarps, covers for sheep camp wagons, teepees and wall tents for miners and outfitters, and even a few missile covers for the military.
Jack Kirkham Sr. purchased AAA Tent & Awning for $8,000 with the help of a Salt Lake banker. "I think I had 1,500 dollars...he (banker) said if you put in all you got, I'll put in the rest and let's go buy it. He kind of reminded me of John Wayne."
"...as I found out later, the only reason he sold it to me is that I appeared the most likely to fail, so he could come back and buy it back cheap" said Jack when speaking about the man that sold him the business.
The drafting skills that Jack had picked up in the shipyards were soon put to work. AAA Tent & Awning produced canvas goods of all kinds: Window awnings for homes and hotels, canvas tarps, covers for sheep camp wagons, teepees and wall tents for miners and outfitters, and even a few missile covers for the military.
In the 1950s as more Americans started to camp for pleasure, the demand for recreational equipment grew and Jack began to build more 'camping' tents.
He also noticed problems with the conventional tent designs of the time and began experimenting with new ideas.
“I want to get the best of both worlds… if I can. I picture this tent and it’s kind of a mixture between the simple teepee and the complex wall tent, and I think now I gotta have both attributes…”
In 1961, inspired in part by customer requests for a tent that would be spacious, sturdy, and easy to pitch, Jack invented the Springbar® Tent.
"They (campers) want to get the damn thing up so they can live in it and be done with it."
When speaking to the design of the Springbar® tent, Jack stated "This is almost too simple to work."
Over the next decade the design was refined and patented, eventually becoming Jack’s “masterpiece of simplicity and function,” and the core product of the business.
In the 1950s as more Americans started to camp for pleasure, the demand for recreational equipment grew and Jack began to build more 'camping' tents.
He also noticed problems with the conventional tent designs of the time and began experimenting with new ideas.
“I want to get the best of both worlds… if I can. I picture this tent and it’s kind of a mixture between the simple teepee and the complex wall tent, and I think now I gotta have both attributes…”
In 1961, inspired in part by customer requests for a tent that would be spacious, sturdy, and easy to pitch, Jack invented the Springbar® Tent.
"They (campers) want to get the damn thing up so they can live in it and be done with it."
When speaking to the design of the Springbar® tent, Jack stated "This is almost too simple to work."
Over the next decade the design was refined and patented, eventually becoming Jack’s “masterpiece of simplicity and function,” and the core product of the business.
Jack Sr. was a larger-than-life character. He was a designer, tinkerer, inventor, artist, writer, and businessman. A ‘creative’ in modern parlance.
Not only did Jack design and build canvas products, he often insisted on producing his own marketing materials—laying out brochures and catalogs with his own illustrations.
To introduce his new “Springbar” Tent design, Jack wrote and illustrated a zine titled ‘The Progress of Tents’.
“Now Campers! Hear This! A Real Revolution! Something Simple in Tents is the Proper Solution!”
Jack Sr. was a larger-than-life character. He was a designer, tinkerer, inventor, artist, writer, and businessman. A ‘creative’ in modern parlance.
Not only did Jack design and build canvas products, he often insisted on producing his own marketing materials—laying out brochures and catalogs with his own illustrations.
To introduce his new “Springbar” Tent design, Jack wrote and illustrated a zine titled ‘The Progress of Tents’.
“Now Campers! Hear This! A Real Revolution! Something Simple in Tents is the Proper Solution!”
"We put 'em on the back end of a truck once and went down the highway 55, 60 miles an hour. Held up real good"
Jack Sr. cared deeply about creating the best products possible, always looking for ways to improve and refine his designs. He was equally committed to taking good care of customers.
“Our aim continues to be to make camping and outdoor life, in general, a pleasure for you.”
We’re grateful that those priorities were carried on by Jack Jr. and remain with us today.
“The Springbar® is at the same time the most attractive and practical tent you will ever find.”
Jack Sr. cared deeply about creating the best products possible, always looking for ways to improve and refine his designs. He was equally committed to taking good care of customers.
“Our aim continues to be to make camping and outdoor life, in general, a pleasure for you.”
We’re grateful that those priorities were carried on by Jack Jr. and remain with us today.
“The Springbar® is at the same time the most attractive and practical tent you will ever find.”