Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2008 7:58:18 GMT 10
Hi All
While at Broke fair i got yarning ( i am good at it
) with a bloke that now owns the sheds where Purdon vans where made in Collinson st , East Maitland. Collinson st is sort of the boundary between the townships of East maitland, Pitnacree and Tenambit. It over behind the old Maitland Jail.
My ears pricked up when he mentioned that there was a lot of gear left in the sheds after old Purdon died and the son put the property up for sale
.
The guy mentioned that there was cupboards and tool boards still with the old timber hand planes etc . There was shelves with the Purdon trade mark scalloped tin awnings and brackets that went over the front windows, Port holes and other paraphenalia kicking around the shed....
By now i was salivating at the thought of at least going and taking some photos of the place and or with a stroke of good fortune maybe collecting what was left of the old van bits and pieces
The old bloke stopped and took a breath... then continued... we threw it all in a trailer and took it to the tip
Weeeeeeeeellll folks ... i am sure you can visualise my reaction.... I cupped my hands over my face and started to cry. The bloke just stood there and said.... "mate, mate, mate.... are you Ok?? ... did i say something wrong "
I regained my composure and we continued the conversation. He went on to say i am welcome to come over and have a look at the sheds. .. small consolation i thought. I thanked him an said i will try and catch up shortly.... shortly after i go an seek some councilling to prevent me from hanging myself... or attacking this guy.
He also mentioned that old grandad Purdon was a prisoner of war . He was taken to work on the infamous Burma Railway and interned at Changia prison. Old Mr Purdom made wooden legs to fit up to the soldiers that had lost a leg in the war or who fell victim to deasese while held in prison and had to have a leg removed.
I would like to catch up with one of the Purdons to confirm if any of this is true or not. Bloke might have been spinning a yarn... then again there could be some truth in it.
Will definitely find the time to take the camera and get some shots of the old Purdon sheds. Apparently there is still some timber floors in them ??
Stay tuned.
Reddo
While at Broke fair i got yarning ( i am good at it
) with a bloke that now owns the sheds where Purdon vans where made in Collinson st , East Maitland. Collinson st is sort of the boundary between the townships of East maitland, Pitnacree and Tenambit. It over behind the old Maitland Jail.My ears pricked up when he mentioned that there was a lot of gear left in the sheds after old Purdon died and the son put the property up for sale
.The guy mentioned that there was cupboards and tool boards still with the old timber hand planes etc . There was shelves with the Purdon trade mark scalloped tin awnings and brackets that went over the front windows, Port holes and other paraphenalia kicking around the shed....
By now i was salivating at the thought of at least going and taking some photos of the place and or with a stroke of good fortune maybe collecting what was left of the old van bits and pieces
The old bloke stopped and took a breath... then continued... we threw it all in a trailer and took it to the tip
Weeeeeeeeellll folks ... i am sure you can visualise my reaction.... I cupped my hands over my face and started to cry. The bloke just stood there and said.... "mate, mate, mate.... are you Ok?? ... did i say something wrong
"I regained my composure and we continued the conversation. He went on to say i am welcome to come over and have a look at the sheds. .. small consolation i thought. I thanked him an said i will try and catch up shortly.... shortly after i go an seek some councilling to prevent me from hanging myself... or attacking this guy.
He also mentioned that old grandad Purdon was a prisoner of war . He was taken to work on the infamous Burma Railway and interned at Changia prison. Old Mr Purdom made wooden legs to fit up to the soldiers that had lost a leg in the war or who fell victim to deasese while held in prison and had to have a leg removed.
I would like to catch up with one of the Purdons to confirm if any of this is true or not. Bloke might have been spinning a yarn... then again there could be some truth in it.
Will definitely find the time to take the camera and get some shots of the old Purdon sheds. Apparently there is still some timber floors in them ??
Stay tuned.
Reddo
;D
