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Post by kyliegirl on Apr 25, 2012 8:39:33 GMT 10
Hi! this seems a friendly, informative place. my name is Kylie and i am excited to be here and hope to learn a few things from people here. last week we purchased our first caravan. we were told by the owner that it might be a 'Rowville" circa 1953 but i have not found any reference to caravans with this name. i have been lurking around this place for days trying to find a pic of a van that looks similar to our Betsy (yes we have named her). it looks a little different to the Rowvan - the wheel arches and the shape of the van at the front. here is the seller pic: *sigh* it doesn't really matter i guess - but i am curious. if anyone can shed some light on her make, please let me know! she needs a bit of work, but not much considering her age! new tyres are the priority (i can't believe we got her home without a blowout!), new cushions/mattresses, to be re-upholstered as close to the original as we can get, and paint inside and out. other than that we want to leave her pretty much original. actually - she might need a bit of structural work too - the paint is peeling off the roof - well, chunks are coming off, to be more accurate. to me it looks as though there is flywire up there, with some other stuff and some paint (please excuse my ignorance). my husband is really clever at making and fixing things, but what we really need is an expert to say "yeah, no worries - tackle that one for yourself" or "don't you dare touch that! you need an expert". know of anyone in adelaide? we live in southern suburbs but are willing to travel. by way of introduction, as i said at the start, i am Kylie. i live with my husband (Rodney) who is rather computer-phobic but will have input into my time here, with garnering info/making queries etc. we have two kiddliwinks, 6 and 4 years old and a few chooks, two dogs and two cats. we can't WAIT to get Betsy registered and get new tyres on her (and i just can't sleep on those old, smelly mattresses) and go on a little adventure together! well, not all together - the dogs/cats and chooks can stay here. pics of her interior, taken after a wee scrub:
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Post by cobber on Apr 25, 2012 9:09:54 GMT 10
G'day Kylie,
Welcome to the forum it's always good to see new faces and new caravans.
You're right... it doesn't matter if you know the brand of your van or if it isn't a famous make....it could even be an advantage to have something a bit different.
She looks like a nice van and if the repair jobs are within your capabilities I would suggest you “give it a go”.... great satisfaction can be had at the end of a restoration and living where you do there are a few helpful members in that area.
The only reference to “Rowville” I can find is the people who make horse floats in Victoria, been making them for 30 years they say. Looking at the inside photos of your van I'd say it was built by somebody who knew what they were doing, might be worth contacting “Rowville Horse Floats” and asking them if they dabbled in caravans at one point.
I can't say it's shape looks familiar to me but...... I'll keep looking
Cobber.
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Post by kyliegirl on Apr 25, 2012 9:26:24 GMT 10
thanks for the welcome, Cobber! we are certainly hoping to do the work ourselves, in keeping with her heritage. we are just scared of doing something wrong as we have no knowledge of caravans. i think it is a great project for us to work on togther (=
i shall certainly follow up on the horse float people. i am also sure the seller mentioned she was made in adelaide, but it can't hurt to check out the horse float lead.
thanks!
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Post by seeshell on Apr 25, 2012 9:33:54 GMT 10
Hello Kyliegirl, Rodney, Billy Lids, and the Menagerie! What a handsome van you have found. I have a bit of a soft spot for the early vans - they really had character, and were not afraid of colour! Lovely lino too! Your van has particularly nice cabinetry - and what a handy arrangement that sofa/bunk makes with your two little ones. Of course there's no safety rail on the bunk. These days noone would build bunks without safety rails would they? But we all survived a few falls and lived to adulthood ok, so I'm not sure I would worry. I think there are very few things you can't tackle on your own, particularly as you say that your hubby is handy. I regularly ask questions on the forum to get the wisdom out of the group about how to approach something - but, in some cases, you might be the first person to have a go, and by default you will become the de facto expert...! I'll look forward to hearing more about your van and renovations - and hopefully since she's in good nick you will be out and about soon! Best regards, Seeshell
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Post by kyliegirl on Apr 25, 2012 10:48:14 GMT 10
thanks for the greetings, Seeshell!
her lino is gorgeous BUT it is stained and worn. i am afraid of scrubbing it and damaging it further. i live in hope of finding some atomic lino one day in better condition don't like the chances. until that day, she will keep her old lino.
her laminate bench/table on the other hand are pristine - i adore the blue and white marble laminate and am excited about it (=
at least the top bunk isn't very high - providing my kids sleep with feet to the stove-top/bench (so no head whacking if they do fall) i am not too worried. funny how safety standards chance, hey? these days kids have to stay in a child seat until they are at least 7! not that i am arguing about safety for my kids. whatever is best is good.
bye for now Kylie
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Post by Roehm3108 on Apr 25, 2012 11:04:20 GMT 10
Hi and welcome to you and yours Kyliegirl. Wonder if the previous owner may be mistaking Rowville with Rowvan, which is what I have. Looking at yours, it is also not a Rowvan, but there are similar vans. Cheeck out the Down History Lane section of the forum vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=chat&action=display&thread=7164When you open it, you will find a section called Caravan and Topic Index - Start your search here - click that and look under Rowvans and see what they are like. Then go to Hawthorn and Greythorne and note the similarity of those latter ones to yours. Rowvans have porthole windows and don't have a wheel arch. There are also differences internally that tells you it ain't a Rowvan. Whichever brand it is, I'm sure you will enjoy it and especially putting your own touches onto it. Good luck Ray
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Post by cobber on Apr 25, 2012 11:04:24 GMT 10
G'day again Kylie, Do you mind if I suggest that you open a thread in the "Members Photo Album" section and give us a few more external photos of Betsy to help in her identification..... you can then keep us up to date with the restoration work you do on that same thread. I've had a quick look at some of the SA built vans in our DHL board and a few more photos of yours might help pin it down............... not that it matters really ....it's a nice van even if Fred made it in the back yard in his retirement to go on holidays in Cobber.
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Post by penny61 on Apr 25, 2012 11:54:44 GMT 10
Hi Kylie We had a Betsy when we were kids.. A Roadmaster. Dad made a removable rail for the top bunk we took it with us to our next van saved us a lot of injuries. We used to fall out the bottom one all the time...
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Post by seeshell on Apr 25, 2012 12:35:20 GMT 10
Hi Kyliegirl It really is amazing how well the old lino comes up with a bit of elbow grease - I haven't done it in a van, but I did have a house with some lovely old lino I rescued. Lino used to be washed all the time by the woman of the house, and then sealed with a wax or liquid polish (because it takes stains really easily). I know you're on holidays in your van, but that's no excuse not to have a floor you can eat off, Ms. 1953. There may already be old polish on the floor which is probably thick with filth, and you need to remove that and clean the floor before a new wax/sealer application. To get it off: spray with watered down ammonia (ventilate!) or windex - leave it on and the wax goes slightly cloudy and can be scraped off. Repeat as needed. If nothing comes up when you scrape, it may not have any polish left on it/you're done! Then clean the floor thoroughly. Gentle pressure with a low scratch scrubbie is good (plenty of soap). It's a down on your knees, inch by inch job, but you will really only have to go to that level once to get rid of 50 years of dirt. I have heard of people using new gel bleaches, and Jif (that really low abrasive kitchen bench cleaner with fine grit). I think before you try anything, pick an inconspicuous area and see what works best. Then seal! While you used to be able to get the right polishes in the supermarket, you can't anymore so far as I know. But they are still made for commercial flooring, and you will probably get some at a specialist floor place. That, and a good lambs wool pad on a floor buffer or hand buffer, will bring up quite a subtle shine. Apart from the shine, it protects the floor from any other damage, and prevents more stains. Since it's not in constant use, you probably only need to do it one time a year - and it will NEVER be as hard as the first time. A broom, and wet mop will handle the rest. Good luck with your floor, Seeshell
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Post by kyliegirl on Apr 25, 2012 13:56:14 GMT 10
Hi there, Ray - i did have a look through the info you linked to before posting (i lurked around for a few days, reading through old posts because i didn't want to jump right and say something dumb - although no doubt i have/will!). i checked out all the SA made vans and the ones that had a name similar to Roville. i agree that while the Rovan looks similar in some areas, it isn't quite the same. i'll check it out again, especially the Hawthorn and Greythorns. thanks for posting and the welcome (= Hi again, Cobber! thanks for the suggestion - i shall do exactly that. and i really loev old Betsy and don't mind who made her - i am just curious to know a bit more about her heritage. Hi Penny61 - ouch! shall definitely think about some rails for the kiddiwinks. don't want to have holidays they remember for all the wrong reasons Hi Dave - thanks for the offer to come and check her over in July - it would be lovely to meet you over a cuppa (or three - or even an ale) and get some advice (*flywire* yikes!) . if you think of it, drop me a message when it is closer to the time of your appointment and we can work it out. hope that your health is ok and have fun times in Cowra (= thanks for the lino tips, Seeshell! shall apply some elbow grease and see what happens. a friend suggested gumption..?
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Post by hilldweller on Apr 25, 2012 15:16:03 GMT 10
What a lovely van - it's a very cool shape and those cupboards are beautiful. Definitely see what you can do with the old lino. A new replacement just wouldn't look the same.
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Post by seeshell on Apr 25, 2012 19:14:59 GMT 10
Hi Dave You're exactly right - that's what I did mean to say a dry-wet mop. Thanks for clarifying. To be perfectly clear: a mop you have put in a bucket and then wrung out until it's nearly dry is what you use to clean the floor overall. You can spot clean too with a damp rag. Following up with a dry rag or dry mop certainly is a good idea Plus it is not as if the van is large enough that you can go elsewhere in it while the floor dries - speed is of the essence! Cheers Seeshell
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Post by kyliegirl on Apr 25, 2012 21:03:29 GMT 10
did you make it to the service, Dave? hope the trip to Cowra is issue free!
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Post by seeshell on Apr 25, 2012 21:11:31 GMT 10
Hi Dave I never thought you were. Cheers Seeshell
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Post by beetlesbailey on May 6, 2012 17:53:46 GMT 10
Hi Kyliegirl and other half , As olfarts said, the flywire may be canvas. I sanded my roof but went too far and took too much of the old cotton threads away. Even after 3 coats of enamel house paint it leaked. Perhaps I used the wrong paint but now if I was doing a major job I would remove the old canvas and caneite if it had it. Then glue and tack /staple 2mm bending ply to the roof beams before painting a thick coat of 'bote cote' over it and laying on fine surfboard fibreglass matt, then another coat of botecote. (available from DUCK FLAT WOODEN BOATS in Mt Barker) dont waste your time looking elswhere as after 9 years we havent found it elswhere. We did the Highway Palace all over with it as well as my tear drop. I have a lot of old fittings if you need any. (p/m. me) (oh I am in Hope Valley ) Also woth noting is that many people built one or two vans primaraly for themselves such as me leading hand of years ago who said he built 2 but i never saw them. He was a coachbuilder and any timber tradesman could do it. Good luck with it. We look forward to seeing it on a future vintage van weekend. Regards Beetles
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Post by kyliegirl on May 7, 2012 13:22:01 GMT 10
thanks, Beetles for the info on the roof resto - shall pass info to man in charge (rodney is his name). the only thing i can think of off the top of my head regarding old fittings, is lights - at least two if not all three of the interior lights are not oroginal. actually, now that i think about it, rod reckons the tail lights are non-original, too.
right now we are just waiting for the 17th of may to roll around - this is the only day my hubby can get off to go and get the identity inspection we need to be able to register it (the lonsdale inspection place only open wed and thurs) so fingers crossed we can get it all sorted and get her on the road asap!
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