willow5075
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Willow & the MOTH
Posts: 355
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Post by willow5075 on Jun 18, 2012 21:45:37 GMT 10
Hi All
My husband and I have inherited an old caravan. We had it briefly about 20 years ago and had done quite a bit of restoration on it although it was in pretty good nick.
Strangely we don't seem to have a pic of it back then. My husband is going to take one tomorrow but we've had a look at all the vans here and its not quite like any of them.
We do know that it was second hand when it was purchased and at the time the daughter was about 15 and she is at least 55 now.
It's aluminium sides, has exposed timber beams inside, with a canvas roof. It's shaped a bit like a slater beetle.
I'll post a pic as soon as we have one
Cheers
Willow
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Post by Don Ricardo on Jun 18, 2012 22:47:26 GMT 10
G'day and welcome to you and your husband, Willow5075, Your van sounds intriguing. We look forward to seeing some photos of it. We may be able to help you identify it. From what you've already told us - exposed beams inside and canvas roof - it is very likely to have been built by a SA manufacturer, and the aluminium cladding suggests that it dates from the very late 50's onwards. We had it briefly about 20 years ago and had done quite a bit of restoration on it although it was in pretty good nick. Sounds like there is an interesting story behind the van as well! We love photos and stories with lots of twists and turns with a (hopefully) happy ending! Don Ricardo |
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willow5075
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Willow & the MOTH
Posts: 355
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Post by willow5075 on Jun 19, 2012 19:38:23 GMT 10
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willow5075
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Willow & the MOTH
Posts: 355
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Post by willow5075 on Jun 19, 2012 19:42:13 GMT 10
When we had it 20 years ago we :
- repainted the interior in dove grey
- put in new pale grey carpet
- New curtains
- New cushions
- we lined the ceiling in styrofoam = one thing that Steve can't wait to replace!)
- removed the ancient gas fridge and had a bar fridge (which we kept when it had to go back)
- also replaced the canvas roof with marine ply which we painted
- cleaned the aluminium
- repaired water damage inside
- put new tires and sourced a spare from a very early Dodge
- Put light truck tires
SO we're looking forward to getting it back and doing it up again and we're very interested in trying to pin down the age.
As for the story of how we had then we didn't and now we have again....well thats for next time ;-)
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Post by seeshell on Jun 19, 2012 20:57:48 GMT 10
Hi Willow (and your offsider with the iPhone!) What a lovely van - clearly we can see the name Sundownder, which had me intrigued. Of course, I did what all good members do - I headed right for Down History Lane to look at other examples. The Sundownders in the history pages are slightly different - they don't have that highly pointed bottom your lovely van has - though it's more than possible there are not examples of that style captured to date. I also noted that the font in the Sundowner was also different. I wondered if it was a Sundowner by the NSW Western Caravans or if it was a name that was given to a van made by someone else. What a pretty puzzle.  I'm very much looking forward to hearing the story of your history with the van! Welcome! Seeshell |
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willow5075
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Willow & the MOTH
Posts: 355
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Post by willow5075 on Jun 19, 2012 22:06:33 GMT 10
Hi Seeshell - yes we really like this little gem. As for how i came to us ....
Once upon a time, in 1981/82 the MOTH and I slept in this caravan in the driveway of his parents house while we built our house. We rented the van from the father of our former sister in law ( who remains our good friend to this day)
Anyway after that Ralph (the father) lent the van to the MOTH's older sister whose boys (teenagers at the time) slept in it in varying combinations. While it was there, boys being boys it got a bit damaged and worn out.
Then, in 1991/2, they didn't need it anymore and supposedly Ralph didn't want it back so we did it up, new paint job inside, carpet, curtains new cushions etc plus electric bar fridge to replace the really old gas one as well as wheels, tires etc.
Around about the same time, Ralph got wind from someone that it wasn't being looked after because he didn't know what we'd done and upon returning from our first trip in it, we arrived to a polite letter from Ralph requesting it back. Anyway, we said well we've spent this much on it doing x, y and z and to his credit he reimbursed us... oh and we kept the bar fridge I think....
Anyhow, time moved on and Ralph was actually so pleased that we had valued the caravan that he promised we could have it when he died and his daughter has kept his promise (although he's not quite in heaven yet but won't be going home again)
So this week she informed us that they are clearing out the house to sell and would we like to collect it some time in the next few weeks!
YES please!
We fully intend sprucing her up again and taking some trips away.
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Post by Don Ricardo on Jun 19, 2012 23:27:02 GMT 10
Hi Willow5075, Flickr is good. There is no reason why you can't use that for your photos if you want to. The only reason we talk about Photobucket is because that was what was suggested to Mark T when he set up the forum, and most of us have gone with that. But if you already have your photos on Flickr there's no need to complicate your life. MOTH - you had me puzzled for a little while but I've worked it out - Man of the House! I like it. ;D ;D ;D Your van is no less intriguing now that I've seen the pics. As Seeshell mentioned, Sundowner is the name of some caravans built in NSW, but I am still inclined to think that your van is SA built unless Ralph bought it in NSW... A couple of other observations for what they're worth: - The shape of your van - particularly the back end - suggests 40's to me, or possibly fairly early 50's.
- But it has aluminium framed windows which only started being generally used from the mid-50's onwards.
- And, as I said previously, aluminium cladding on the sides (as opposed the roof, front and back) which only came into general use (I think) in the latish 50's, although there were early adopters such as Jennison (1953 or 54) and Viscount (1955?).
Putting all that together makes me wonder if your van was originally built with plywood cladding and wood framed windows, and then was later quite professionally updated with aluminium framed windows and aluminium cladding on the sides. Alternatively, the van might have been built in the late 50's using "modern materials" 50's-wise, by someone who admired the earlier caravan shapes, but I still think it is probably a few years older than that... Just a couple of theories. Any signs of changes to the outside of the van? What are the cupboards lined with? If it looks like bondwood, it is possible that there is bondwood cladding under the aluminium. Don Ricardo |
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biggusmickus
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Been giving the Good News to "Dead Beats" and "No Goods" since '33
Posts: 84
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Post by biggusmickus on Jun 20, 2012 10:14:20 GMT 10
Welcome Willow and Hubby!!
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willow5075
Full Member
Willow & the MOTH
Posts: 355
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Post by willow5075 on Jun 20, 2012 20:47:18 GMT 10
Hi Willow5075, Flickr is good. There is no reason why you can't use that for your photos if you want to. The only reason we talk about Photobucket is because that was what was suggested to Mark T when he set up the forum, and most of us have gone with that. But if you already have your photos on Flickr there's no need to complicate your life. MOTH - you had me puzzled for a little while but I've worked it out - Man of the House! I like it. ;D ;D ;D Your van is no less intriguing now that I've seen the pics. As Seeshell mentioned, Sundowner is the name of some caravans built in NSW, but I am still inclined to think that your van is SA built unless Ralph bought it in NSW... A couple of other observations for what they're worth: - The shape of your van - particularly the back end - suggests 40's to me, or possibly fairly early 50's.
- But it has aluminium framed windows which only started being generally used from the mid-50's onwards.
- And, as I said previously, aluminium cladding on the sides (as opposed the roof, front and back) which only came into general use (I think) in the latish 50's, although there were early adopters such as Jennison (1953 or 54) and Viscount (1955?).
Putting all that together makes me wonder if your van was originally built with plywood cladding and wood framed windows, and then was later quite professionally updated with aluminium framed windows and aluminium cladding on the sides. Alternatively, the van might have been built in the late 50's using "modern materials" 50's-wise, by someone who admired the earlier caravan shapes, but I still think it is probably a few years older than that... Just a couple of theories. Any signs of changes to the outside of the van? What are the cupboards lined with? If it looks like bondwood, it is possible that there is bondwood cladding under the aluminium. Don Ricardo Thanks Don - plenty of sleuthing to do. Ralph passed away yesterday so we"ll have to see what his daughter can remember and have good look at it once we get it over to our place. |
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willow5075
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Willow & the MOTH
Posts: 355
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Post by willow5075 on Jun 20, 2012 20:48:15 GMT 10
Welcome Willow and Hubby!! Thanks biggus |
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willow5075
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Willow & the MOTH
Posts: 355
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Post by willow5075 on Jun 20, 2012 20:59:39 GMT 10
The Moth thinks there may be bonwood under the aluminum and thinks the canvas roof may be a clue as well
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Post by Don Ricardo on Jun 20, 2012 22:22:34 GMT 10
Hi Willow5075 and MOTH,
Yes, the canvas roof is a clue as to the van's origins. Canvas rooves were common on SA built vans in the 40's and 50's, and a small number of NSW built vans as well, but as far as I am aware not on vans built elsewhere. So the canvas roof does narrow things down a bit.
It's sad to hear about Ralph passing yesterday, but I'm sure that he was pleased to know that you appreciated his van and would be looking after it.
Don Ricardo
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willow5075
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Willow & the MOTH
Posts: 355
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Post by willow5075 on Nov 11, 2012 16:18:40 GMT 10
So finally we have begun the progress to bring "Sunny" home First step - inflate the tyres! We bough these new 20 years ago and they still took air - so we are hopeful we can tow it to the caravan place to get new springs and brakes rather than put it on a trailer  wheel-change2 by Willow5075, on Flickr  wheel-change1 by Willow5075, on Flickr We are no close to finding the true origins but as we are taking it to Mike Griggs we are hopeful he'll be able to tell us some more. |
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willow5075
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Willow & the MOTH
Posts: 355
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Post by willow5075 on Nov 11, 2012 16:19:21 GMT 10
Next step - pull down the fence imprisoning Sunny! More later ...
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Post by humpty2 on Nov 11, 2012 19:17:04 GMT 10
Slim Dusty used to own a Sundowner
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willow5075
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Willow & the MOTH
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Post by willow5075 on Nov 12, 2012 18:37:42 GMT 10
Slim Dusty used to own a Sundowner Really can you tell me more? |
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willow5075
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Willow & the MOTH
Posts: 355
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Post by willow5075 on Nov 12, 2012 18:40:13 GMT 10
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willow5075
Full Member
Willow & the MOTH
Posts: 355
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Post by willow5075 on Nov 12, 2012 19:22:39 GMT 10
Slim Dusty used to own a Sundowner Really can you tell me more? Had a look through here - looks like it was a Sunliner |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Nov 13, 2012 21:50:23 GMT 10
Hi Willow5075, Good to see that your Sundowner is home at last. Congratulations to you and MOTH! This evening I came across the following article from the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin published on 26 July 1952 (p 7), and thought I had solved the origins of your van  :  (Source: National Library of Australia nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57237171 ) Now let's see... - Large unit - check
- Made of alumimium - check
- Called 'Sundowner' - check, check, CHECK
- A number of windows down each side - check...no hang on...oh drat!
Well, maybe not - but I reckon you and MOTH need to count the rivets just to make sure...the magic number is 5,000. OK, grab a torch, out you go...  Oh well, maybe it's not THAT Sundowner, but your van is still a tantalising mystery, and a great V V too boot. My hunch is still SA built... By the way, regarding Slim Dusty, he had an Orford 'Sun lander' which we have pics of. There have been references on the forum to him having a Sunliner, but I haven't seen any actual evidence to corrobrate that. Have other people? Don Ricardo |
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willow5075
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Willow & the MOTH
Posts: 355
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Post by willow5075 on Nov 17, 2012 22:14:03 GMT 10
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willow5075
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Willow & the MOTH
Posts: 355
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Post by willow5075 on Nov 18, 2012 7:46:22 GMT 10
Hi guys its the moth here ,thanks don ,Alas there are no pop rivets in our sundowner screwed onto timber sub frame ,we will keep searching ,part of the adventure
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Post by overlanda on Apr 15, 2013 19:02:59 GMT 10
In regards to the caravan described in the article in the Rockhampton news paper i think that it is sitting on trestles in my factory it is a caravan which we picked up in Maryborough Victoria
last year .On the back below the window you can still make out where it has a sign that says "Sundowner" also on a angle a Warner Bros decal all hand painted by a sign writer . It is 18' long , 2 big windows on each side plus one in front and rear aluminum frame on a very well made chassis ( not the sort of thing that a caravan builder would make ) 1936 ford rims with 16" tyres with a adapter spacer to a smaller hub with brakes full vacuum with a booster on each wheel. The body is made of flat ally sheet with a ally frame out of heavy T section the sheeting fixed to the frame with 5/16 pop rivets every 2 inches or so (a rough count was around 850 rivets on the right side) the roof /front/ back is fixed in a similar fashion. the windows are square with in fills on each corner to make the ends look round all the window hardware is bronze house style fitting they are all hinged from the top.
The interior was fixed in place with timber cleats and fixed to the frame with brass metal threads tapped into the frame.
The cupboards what was left of them were well made of the style of the day with push button catches on the doors .
the main entry door is a two piece affair with the top 1/3 hinged on top and the rest hinged on the side it also has a roof hatch overall this van was not made by a every day caravan builder as the engineering detail and precision is way past that of a caravan builder and they certainly would never use the amount of pop rivets that have been used in this van .(We are going to wear a drill out just to remove them all)
We have removed the axle and springs and the draw bar as they are getting replaced this will be its 3rd draw bar as some one left parts of the original one behind . It belongs to my offsider and he is rebuilding it to suit his taste. I would post some photos but i cant get my head around photobucket.
Gerald
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I'm very much looking forward to hearing the story of your history with the van!
