Eyebrows for vintage van

[Murph]

Greetings.

Can anyone tell me where I might be able to get made some metal eyebrows like the ones on Jellybean?

I am restoring a 12ft vintage Henderson, circa 1955. I have attached a pic prior to restoration.

I live on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria and while a local fabricator would be ideal, I would be prepared to get them made elsewhere including interstate and have them shipped to Victoria.

I have already tried a couple of local places without success.

Many thanks,

John

[Roehm3108]

Hi Murph

Love the van! Did you find that on the South Coast of NSW by any chance? Knew one with the same colours, but it was a food van.

Regarding the eyebrows. I reckon that if you took a photo of Jellybean with you to a sheet metal fabricator, they would be able to make them up for your van from gal sheeting without a problem. Just take dimensions of your windows with you too.

Ray

[seeshell]

Hi Murph (John)

Welcome and let me say what a cheery little van!

I know that a few people including Kaybee that have had metal bent up for eyebrows from local fabricators.

But rounded ones are harder to find. Someone with an English Wheel could make them up locally.

Alternatively I have seen people use 1/2 pipe profiles, with end caps, or for front windows use guttering upside down - it can look quite pretty, particularly the older heritage styles and they can be powder coated.

IF you want to order aluminum eyebrows - they are available cheaply from the states in a two formats. The shipping isn't too bad really. I've never seen them available here.

www.shoprvparts.com/product/14132F/external-drip-cap-formed-ends-punched-mounting-holes.html

www.vintagetrailersupply.com/Drip_Cap_p/vts-515.htm

Or - maybe you could contact Jellybean's owners, and see where they got them?

Best of luck with the reno,
Seeshell

[Roehm3108]

Hi seeshell

You made me take another look at jellybean, and yes they are a little more intricate than those on my Rowvan. Mine certainly wouldn't need an English wheel to form them, just the right shape cut and a couple of bends.

[Murph]

Many thanks you for your responses Ray and Seeshell. I will follow up your suggestions. Yes the van did come from NSW (not sure where) and it was used last as a food van. The local fellow I bought it from ($1200 with a recently installed longer drawbar - a great bargain, although I didn't know it at the time) was a local deli owner with plans to make it into a coffee wagon. Other business interests distracted him and it sat in his front yard for two years until I saw it in a motor mechanic's yard. The previous owner had gutted it which has saved me some work and I have just commenced the restoration. I'm currently cutting out the rotten bits. I had just started purchasing Vintage Caravan magazine when the van found me. It's in pretty good nick. I have been researching van restoration for 12 months and visiting other vintage van restorers for valuable advice. This website has been invaluable. Thank you again. Best wishes. John

[Jellybean]

Being a panelbeater/spraypainter I made mine out of aluminium using a folder and a shrinker stretcher tool. Very tedious because the aluminium tears like paper if you rush it.
Any old school panelbeater could make some for you out of steel or aluminium. Galvanised steel doesn't work too well and they would rust where it is stretched as it takes the coating off.
You could try making some out of cardboard to get the size and shape right then find a sheetmetal guy to fold them up. Good luck. Cheers John

[Murph]

Many thanks, John. I greatly admire your achievement with Jellybean as I admire the efforts of so many of the owners of the other vans featured on this site and elsewhere. Oddly enough, our biggest struggle at the moment is deciding the paint colours for the exterior of our van. There are so many colour and design possibilities. I have cut out small caravan shapes from ply and have been using sample paint pots to experiment with colour and design. Colour selection is not our strong suit and I reckon I've become a sample pot junkie. Even though I'm only a few steps along the way, the vintage caravan restoration journey has been very interesting and enjoyable to date. Cheers. John

[Roehm3108]

Murph, I found that van. I saw it around Tatura way back in 2006. Will load up a pic for you when P/bucket works.
Ray

[Roehm3108]

Here you go Murph

[Murph]

Thanks Ray, this is fantastic. The left hand front window has rotted down the bottom since then. The drawbar has been lengthened too, otherwise it looks exactly the same on the outside. There's no secrets in the vintage caravan world with enthusiasts taking every opportunity on their travels to get pics of vintage vans. I really appreciate you digging up the old pic and sending it to me. Best wishes. John

[Roehm3108]

You're welcome John. That window probably rotted there because of the way it was parked at an angle as seen in the pics. I like the corner edging on that van. Can you tell if its just painted or actually brass?

Thanks

Ray

[Murph]

Hi Ray. It appears to be powder-coated brass-coloured alloy. Brass would have been nice. It's in good condition though. The whole caravan appears to be in good condition overall. I had it checked before I bought it by a local caravan maker. Cheers, John.