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AuthorTopic: "Airlite" Caravans (Read 291 times)
cobber
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Driftwood and the FJ


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"Airlite" Caravans
« Thread Started on Mar 6, 2009, 11:15am »
Airlite Caravans

There have been only two references to “Airlite” caravans on this forum so far.

One was to an “Airlite” being used in the Hire fleet of John Walsh of “Newcastle Caravans” and the other was in this photo provided by one of the kids in the photo who said the caravan in the background was an “Airlite” made in S.A.

[image]

“Airlite” was a brand manufactured in the UK during the 1930's.

Does anybody have information regarding “Airlite” in Australia.

Cobber.
« Last Edit: Mar 6, 2009, 11:15am by cobber »Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
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Don Ricardo
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Re: "Airlite" Caravans
« Reply #1 on Mar 7, 2009, 7:21pm »
Hi Cobber,

Interesting photo. The dogs seem to be resigned to being dressed up!

Pity we don't know the date the photo was taken. Do you think it could be as early as the 30's, based on the vehicle in the background, or do you think it may have been later? I gather the provider of the photo didn't give any hints as to when and where?

I wonder if the lantern roof on the van indicates that it may be an English Airlite? Some early Australian vans had lantern roofs, eg. Furness, but not too many I think.

What are your thoughts?

Don Ricardo
« Last Edit: Mar 7, 2009, 7:22pm by Don Ricardo »Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
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cobber
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Re: "Airlite" Caravans
« Reply #2 on Mar 8, 2009, 4:37am »
G'day Don R.

The photo would have been taken in the very early '40's I think.
The youngster on the left is the younger version of the old chap who gave me all the information regarding “Sundowner” caravans... see http://vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/i....lay&thread=2018

Now that I've heard from a second source that “Airlite” was a brand known to exist in Oz I'll see if I can get an opinion from a mate in the UK as to whether it thinks the 'van in the photo is an English “Airlight” or not.

I don't think “Airlite” survived after the war in the UK, which leaves us with the question 'where did the “Airlite “ John Walsh hired out come from ? ”.... Did Purdon Bros make an “Airlite” ????

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Re: "Airlite" Caravans
« Reply #3 on Mar 10, 2009, 6:47am »
My friend in the UK confirms that “Airlite” in the UK ceased production after WW 11 and only had one or two models prior to the war, and this photo is not of one of them.

So.... we need to find out a bit more on “Airlite” in Australia. If this photo is of one taken in the 1940's and they were still supplying John Walsh's hire fleet into the late 1950's there should be a bit of information about them out there.

Cobber.
« Last Edit: Mar 11, 2009, 4:13am by cobber »Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
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Re: "Airlite" Caravans
« Reply #4 on Mar 10, 2009, 6:58pm »
Hi Cobber,

Google turned up a reference to a 1937 Airlite caravan:

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/airlite_caravan.htm

Not the same as the van in the pic you posted I'll grant you, but the possibility of some sort of link is pretty intriguing.

Don Ricardo

« Last Edit: Mar 15, 2009, 7:56pm by Don Ricardo »Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
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