Our Franklin

[firefighter]

Hi all
Here are some pics of my recent buy.
Franklin 4 berth 12’6 Caravan about 1959/1960
We happened to be in Bendigo for the weekend, found the van sitting beside a house. I knocked on the door and asked if the van was for sale.Would you beleive it within in 5 min it was mine. The owner had purchased the van to use the fridge and stove in an old bus that he was converting into a motor home (he had not yet done so) I bought it back to Melbourne. 6 days later we went to Adelaide to the Bay To Birdwood Rally. In the 6 days we washed & painted the inside – white/yellow, Gay made new curtains, I fitted new fly wire to 1 window and the door. Outside I fitted new couplings and ball, new wheel cyl, repacked the wheel bearings and re registered the van, got 3 new tyres I also put a new annexe strip on the van and painted the stripe and weheel spats the same colour as the Chev. The only thing missing from the van is the water filler cap and the alumimiun needs a good polish






Cheers Geoff ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Deleted]

nice looking caravan Geoff .....and good condition ......

One of our members over here in the West (Snail) has a Franklin the same as yours .....in near as new condition .....

Looks great behind your Chev .........

[313royal]

A great find, cant believe the similarities inside and out to my recent acquisition of a 1964 Globetrotter.

Was there some connection between the two manufacturers ?


When I master photobucket I will post my photos.

[firefighter]

Hi 313 Royal
I have no idea if they were connected but I guess someone in the V V world will know
Geoff

[virago]

I was interested to see your Frankin.I have purchased a 1964 Franklin that is in 100% original condition.It is very similar to yours except mine has single beds instead of a double.It has been sitting under a tree for the last twelve years and there is no evidence of leaks.However it is still sitting under the tree as to get the van out the tree(which is huge)has to be cut down.Will post some pictures when I move it.

[firefighter]

HI Virago
If you go to the For Sale & Wanted section page 3 , thread started 28 /8/06 there is a 1964 Franklin with single beds and photos of inside & out ,this could be like yours
Geoff

[fbmad]

Hi Geoff, nice clean van you have there.

I agree with with Chris (313royal) comments on the interior layout of your van being very Globetrotterish in looks.
When I saw your interior shots I thought I was looking at a different model Globetrotter!

Bakelite cupboard door knobs,sink/stove arrangement is same and even the fold down table is identical as is the laminex pattern/colour!
The shelf above your sink (nice "westclox" clock there) in my Globetrotter there is a long watertank with a brass tap.

Maybe someone at Franklin started working at Globetrotter or vice versa hence the design similararities??.

Terry and Grum.

[firefighter]

Hi Terry & Grum
From what I have seen of intetior layouts / fittings of late 50,s early 60,s vans a lot of the fittings are the same , perhaps they all bought cupboard doors & fitting from the same supplier ? perhaps some of older members of this site (not age) can answer this queiry, Franklin were made in Ballarat where were Globetrotter made
Geoff

[fbmad]

Geoff, all I know about Globetrotters is that they were made in South Australia by Globe caravans but don't know where.
Globe may have been an engineering mob or something as I know the Globe wheel rims as fitted to LJ XU1 Toranas were made by Globe in South Australia as well so probably the same company maybe??......I'm sure someone out there would know.

Terry and Grum.