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Post by salwid8 on Feb 25, 2008 11:45:08 GMT 10
Hi there, I have recently purchased a Franklin Premier 11ft 1970 Caravan. Ive been trying to find some information about this model but have had no luck. The caravan has gold trims not the usual steel and has corner windows at one end. Also inside is lined with what I would call a white vinyl leather look. Having just joined this site Im not sure how to add photos just yet. Has anyone ever heard of this model. I would much appreciate any help as I've tried all the normal avenues. I would not be surprised to find its actually older than 1970, maybe 1964?. I would appreciate any help. thanks.
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Post by firefighter on Feb 25, 2008 14:16:58 GMT 10
Hi Salwid8 have a look at down history lane franklin history ..... page 3 .......1/2 way down the page also give Mal Coulter former franklin worker a ring at the avoca vic caravan park 54653073 I spent a weekend in this park and he talked franklin all weekend to me f/f ;D ;D ;D ;D ps franklin 1 al .....should be along soon he shoud be able to help you
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Post by salwid8 on Feb 25, 2008 19:48:57 GMT 10
Thank you very much for your help fire fighter. I saw the 1964 caravan with pink stripe. Its so similar to my little 11ft but the corner windows on mine fit differently, underneath the window the body of the van comes to a sharp point to meet the frame and also the trims on the van are gold coloured and not the usual silver. Its registered as a 1970, but as I mentioned I feel its much older. This is my first caravan so Im really in unchartered waters here. I will ring your contact and thank you for the phone number. cheers. salwid8.
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Post by Franklin1 on Feb 25, 2008 21:37:45 GMT 10
G'day salwid8, and welcome to the forum. Glad to know you've got yourself a Franklin, although I've not heard of the Franklin Premier model until now. Firstly, to help you with the art of putting photos up on this forum, go to this thread and become an expert... vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=photo&action=display&thread=1110436749Secondly, your van... We need more info please... - Are the sides of your van plywood (bondwood) or aluminium? - What information do you have that tells you it is a "Premier"? - Does it have a sticker/transfer/logo showing the Franklin name on the front and rear above the windows? If so, what does this logo look like? I'll have a better idea of its age once you've mastered the photobucket test cheers, Al.
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Post by salwid8 on Feb 26, 2008 19:13:08 GMT 10
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Post by campholic on Feb 26, 2008 19:18:26 GMT 10
well done
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Post by firefighter on Feb 26, 2008 21:20:54 GMT 10
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Post by Franklin1 on Feb 26, 2008 22:12:33 GMT 10
Hi salwid8, Congratulations on mastering photobucket. Your van looks in great condition!!
As far as dating your van goes, this is what we know about Franklins so far... That particular Franklin logo was discontinued sometime between March and June 1970. I have records of it being used from March 1968, and it's possible it was used for a period prior to that. In 1964, the Franklin logo was made out of cast metal (as per earlee's 1964 van in the Franklin History section). So the earliest your van can be is, say, 1965, and the latest it can be is June 1970. As you say, it does look similar to earlee's van, so it could very well be one of the first of the full aluminium models when Franklin changed from ply to ali sometime in the 1960s. At this stage we just don't have enough Franklin info to pinpoint a more accurate date. I think the Hella tail-lights on your van were used from the late 1960s onwards, but I could be easily proven wrong.
Just for interest, in February 1970, the latest Franklin models released to the market were: - 10ft 6ins; 3-berth - 12ft; 3 singles or 2 doubles - 14ft 6ins; 4,5, or 6 berth.
If yours doesn't match one of these then we can safely assume it is before Feb 1970. I would have to do some further research in newspaper archives to give you more accuracy than that.
I can see where the "Premier" tag is justified. The gold anodised aluminium trim and the white vinyl leather are certainly consistent with a premier level. There are probably some other "extras" in the van that weren't in the mainstream models, as well. Maybe the Premier was a special edition van (?). Whatever, obviously your van was built with the discerning buyer in mind, so it will be a nice fit with the Rolls Royce in your garage ;D ;D
One other question, the port-hole window above the door, is that an annexe light or a window? It looks like it's got a globe in it...?
cheers, Al.
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Post by salwid8 on Feb 27, 2008 8:07:56 GMT 10
Good Morning Al, What a mine of information you are. Thanks for all your input, it made great reading. Thats an annex light above the door, the fitting is not original but the hole is. Unfortunately we dont own a Rolls but hopefully our old Landrover 94 will do the job. lol. The van is in good nick but showing her age with a wrinkling of the vinyl lining and staining of the vinyl floor. We dont intend to do a great deal of changing other than a big clean which we have already done. The van is 11ft and its a three birth, double one end, and single under table and seats. Wardrobe to your right as you look in door. It has the original stove/grill, never used and the original HALSTROM fridge in top nick. Everything works on 240 and 12volt and gas. I gather the tow bar has been extended for easy towing and makes room for spare tyre and gas bottle. I shall keep hunting for information. Have a great day. Cheers from Salwid8
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Post by Franklin1 on Feb 28, 2008 21:53:11 GMT 10
Hi salwid8, I was thinking today about the Hella tail lights on your van, and I remembered that when I took the same tail lights off my second van, there was a date stamped on the back of the rubber backing plate... One of my lights has 17 MAY 1976 on the rubber, and the other (in photo) has 1 DEC 1976. So it's possible there might be a date stamped on the back of yours. I'm not suggesting you remove them to check (especially if they've been waterproof fitted to the cladding), but just keep it in mind if you ever have to fix/replace one of them one day. The date is obviously when the rubber or light fitting was manufactured, but will give an approximate date for your van, if they are still the original light fittings. Just another piece in the jigsaw puzzle... cheers, Al.
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Post by groovy on Feb 28, 2008 23:38:02 GMT 10
The wheels on your van look like HQ Holden, which would tend to make it a 72 as I think that]'s when the HQ came out. The internal lining is a product called plasply, it is a thin plastic film bonded to the lining ply while the alloy is of the "Thermo Panel" construction profile.
A small point of interest with your model, Viscount took Franklin to court over using the "Viscount" design wrap around windows and I believe they obtained a court order stopping your model being built.
Greg
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Post by salwid8 on Feb 29, 2008 9:27:02 GMT 10
Hi Al, Thanks for telling me about the date on lights. Im presuming mine are originals and as you say, water tight so I'll leave them be, but will definately keep your info in mind. Stay happy. cheers from salwid8.
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Post by salwid8 on Feb 29, 2008 9:33:18 GMT 10
Hello Greg, Thanks for taking the time to reply, much appreciated. Yes, Im sure your right about the wheels as I can see they are Holden. Im not very knowledgeable when it comes to vehicles as Ive never had a reason to be - until now. Your information regarding the lining is interesting as Ive been scrubbing it clean and its seems very durable, its wrinkling with age but then so am I. lol. Your input re the court order would perhaps be the reason I cant find another caravan with the same window design so this is great information to have. thanks again. stay well and happy. cheers. salwid8
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Post by firefighter on Mar 1, 2008 22:09:45 GMT 10
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Post by salwid8 on Mar 2, 2008 11:06:46 GMT 10
thanks firefighter, I had a look at that one. Inside looks older than ours, cupboards etc and its 13ft. Very interesting. Its a puzzle ??
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Post by tinnie on Mar 5, 2008 21:15:46 GMT 10
Hi Salwid8, Firstly, this is a very neat little van, good find. And GREAT find with the Owner's Manual!! Can you locate a chassis number welded to the drawbar? if so please post it, that may tell the tale. From looking at the van I would guess 68-70. Franklin produced egg shape vans around the same era, which used similar style white aluminium and had similar style stickers also (they actually continued the same style of model sticker - eg. Premier, Regent, Statesman - into the mid seventies. Actually its a wonder Holden didn't queue up behind Viscount to sue em ). Sorry got off-track, the egg shape van of that era also used the same style interior paneling (the white cieling stuff continued up until at least 1974) and I have seen Hallstrom Fridges in use in vans right through the sixties, but particularly as factory/dealer fit in mid to late sixties. I reckon that if your van has 14" wheels they will not be original, as every franklin I have seen (from my 1963 model through to the last of them - the Truline) used 13" holden wheels. It doubt very much that it would be earlier than 1967 as Franklin had gone to full silver aluminium (in about 65-66?) prior to going to white aluminium. As for the gold trim, again, I have only seen it on a small number of the Egg shape vans around 68-70 vintage, perhaps it was an option on the 'luxury' models. Those interior light fittings were also in use until around 1970, after which franklin has ones with the franklin symbol etched into the frosting on the glass. In short, there is a very good chance your van will scrape into the "Pre 1970 class" - again I would be interested to know the chassis number. Cheers, Gristy
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Post by salwid8 on Mar 6, 2008 18:04:09 GMT 10
Hi there Gristy, Thanks for the great input. I value every piece of information I receive in this forum. I got the chassis number off the rego. certificate, it reads 12869. Are you thinking that the last two digits refer to the year of manufacture? The wheels are 14" wheels and the previous owner (who had "Pup" for 4 years) told us he put them on to make it stronger. I also have the Hallstrom fridge booklet which is in very good order. Ive stored both for protection. Our "Pup" is off for her maiden voyage next week for 3 days camping at Inskip Point, Qld. so we shall see how she goes, very exciting. Thanks again. Stay well and happy. cheers salwid8.
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Post by pt12340 on Oct 17, 2017 16:20:28 GMT 10
Hi I have the same Caravan but my kitchen is in the front and sleeps 2 in single beds, with a night table in the middle at the back. And I am almost certain that it is from the mid-1960's?
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Post by Franklin1 on Oct 18, 2017 18:32:01 GMT 10
G'day pt12340, and welcome to the forum! There has been an enormous amount of information collected about the vintage Franklin vans since the posts above were made in 2008 (almost 10 years ago). To determine the age of your van, you need the chassis number that's welded on the drawbar, just beside the jockey wheel somewhere. If your van is from 1965 to 1972, the chassis number will be some numbers, followed by a hyphen, followed by one number, eg. 1234-5. The number after the hyphen is the year of build, so -5 is 1965, up to -2 is 1972. Your van has the white acrylic cladding, so it will be from 1967 or later. cheers, Al.
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