oupa
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Post by oupa on Apr 17, 2014 21:00:49 GMT 10
Having recently sold my 1940's home built (just too heavy for me to handle and a lack of undercover parking), I cast my line out to see if I could find a smaller VV locally. I like to work with my hands and do not have any projects at the moment so, one that needed a bit of work would suite me just fine. I stuck a few "WANTED" posters around town. The very next day the postie told SWMBO that there is a old, small caravan parked behind a shed in the yard next to her mother's house. I drove there and asked about the van. The owner took me on a guided tour of his workshop and shed. Jail-bar Ford truck hot-rodded in chilly orange ; early 40's Ford with suicide doors at the rear - original and fully restored ; model "A" that looks its age, but starts first time, every time ; early sixties Valiant 4 door ; Cortina GT ; couple of unrestored Falcon utes and two WWII BSA motorbikes.....quite a collection! "About the old caravan behind the shed, is she for sale"? I asked. "No" he says "could not possibly sell that to anyone, you going to fix her up? If you are and I can tow her to a Hot-rod club meeting one weekend, you can have her". He told me that the caravan was full of his mother's stuff as she used it as a store room for the last 20 years. He would help her to clear it out and get back to me. That was yesterday. This afternoon there was a knock at my door. "So, where do you want her parked"? he asked with a broad smile on his face! Got to love the people who live in small farming communities. So, allow me to introduce Button to you. She is 10'6" long and 6' wide. I suspect she is home built, but how old I cannot say. There is old newspaper under the lining of the cupboard dated 1965, but I suspect she is quite a bit older than that, as there is an ice box built in. It looks like the outer cladding is plywood with seriously thick aluminum sheeting very professionally fitted over the plywood. No inner lining at all and I suspect it has always been like that as the frame is exposed and sports many layers of different colored paint.      Dirk |
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Post by akeepsake on Apr 17, 2014 22:23:31 GMT 10
Gotta love these stories!! Well done Dirk! Can't wait to see what's under all that sheet metal. Look forward to seeing it unfold
Cheers Andrew
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oupa
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Post by oupa on Apr 19, 2014 19:46:14 GMT 10
I have stripped the inside of the caravan and a few interesting clues have been found. Although there was an icebox built in, there also was a backup gal metal ice back-up tank (drain hole through the floor and all). It was located at the bottom of the wardrobe. It was very well insulated and what makes it interesting is the brand and stamping on the metal: "Queens Head War Finish"  The square wheels arches are also stamped as "Queens Head with 49 below that. So, late 40's early 50's seems to be favoring as the build date. Dirk |
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Post by humpyboy on Apr 19, 2014 20:17:37 GMT 10
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oupa
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Post by oupa on Apr 19, 2014 20:35:09 GMT 10
Yes I have read that thread.
What I found interesting as regards the stamp in my caravan are the words:
"WAR FINISH" on the sheet.
Dirk
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Post by humpyboy on Apr 19, 2014 20:41:32 GMT 10
Might it be an indication that it was produced after the war?
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oupa
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Post by oupa on Apr 19, 2014 20:48:24 GMT 10
Or perhaps the factory had a different finish on their sheets during the war due to the lack of lead/zink or whatever.
Change from their normal specs?
Dirk
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Post by humpyboy on Apr 19, 2014 20:52:35 GMT 10
Or perhaps the factory had a different finish on their sheets during the war due to the lack of lead/zink or whatever. Change from their normal specs? Dirk Was just now thinking along those lines myself, or perhaps it had a special finish for the war effort? |
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Post by Geoff & Jude on Apr 19, 2014 22:17:19 GMT 10
Yes I have read that thread. What I found interesting as regards the stamp in my caravan are the words: "WAR FINISH" on the sheet. Dirk hi dirk check this story out on flickr, www.flickr.com/photos/56581352@N08/9131629850/geoff 'n jude |
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oupa
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Post by oupa on Apr 19, 2014 22:41:33 GMT 10
Great photos and a wealth of history you got there mate.
Dirk
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Post by cobber on Apr 20, 2014 8:22:18 GMT 10
G'day Dirk,
I hope you don't mind, but I've taken the photo of your tin and used it to update the thread on galvanised iron, interesting info keeps popping up aye ?
Cobber.
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oupa
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Post by oupa on Apr 20, 2014 14:04:17 GMT 10
No problem.
Dirk
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Post by Miss Molly on Apr 22, 2014 14:52:29 GMT 10
Oh MY! (LOVE)
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Post by cobber on Feb 12, 2015 12:34:14 GMT 10
G'day oupa, As recently revealed in your post in the for sale section the ice box in this van is a 'Paterson' ice box. A search of Trove shows the iceboxes were 'made especially for Patersons Stores' .. A home furnishing business. Patersons add. 1939, the iceboxes are in the bottom right corner. They apparently did sell them 'Lacquered' as well as in 'Australia Oak'. CLICK HERE An interesting thing is.... in 2006 a former forum member  , Belinda, told us that T.G. Paterson was a firm who made the metal components for 'Atlantic Caravans' , including the ice boxes so.... is the badge on the icebox Paterson the furniture business or...Paterson the manufacturer ( my guess is the latter) and.... is your caravan an 'Atlantic' ? From inside the van can you see evidence that it once had two windows up front ? I tried to ring T.G. Paterson on 95582494 and "my call could not be connected"  . so I'd say they are no more  Cobber. |
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oupa
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Post by oupa on Feb 12, 2015 12:46:48 GMT 10
No sir, just the one window. Here is a close-up of the ice refrigerator's badge:  Dirk |
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Post by cobber on Feb 12, 2015 12:58:47 GMT 10
No sir, just the one window. Here is a close-up of the ice refrigerator's badge: Dirk   |
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oupa
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Post by oupa on Feb 12, 2015 12:59:35 GMT 10
We have been working on our little van. Decided to personalize it, quaint, with lots of character. May not be "traditional" but it will be practical and reflect our needs (and sense of humor)! Dirk      |
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Post by humpyboy on Feb 12, 2015 17:06:17 GMT 10
Well done, she looks a million dollars now.
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Post by akeepsake on Feb 12, 2015 17:17:58 GMT 10
Oupa it's come up a treat Well done! Maybe if you park it out on your front lawn the postman will think it's an oversized letterbox! Cheers Andrew |
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oupa
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Post by oupa on Feb 12, 2015 19:41:03 GMT 10
We are working on the inside now and the layout may just shock some traditionalists......there will be NO cupboards!  Dirk |
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Post by DC3Td on Feb 12, 2015 20:40:13 GMT 10
Soupa doupa Oupa.Sweet looking van.Guess you`ve got some method in keeping everything in place given that you won`t have any cupboards.
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Post by atouchofglass on Feb 13, 2015 2:34:08 GMT 10
Great thread and story. Glad to see your new home away from home restored. The extra window/windows are a top addition. You have to show us the interior now. I see many hours of travel behind and in front of that van.  Atog |
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oupa
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Post by oupa on Feb 13, 2015 11:03:56 GMT 10
You know, what I like about living in a small country town is the people.
When I was removing the old louver windows, my 85 year old neighbor asked me if I needed some stout glass to use for the new windows.
I ended up with two large sheets he gave me...."left over from when I had the house built in 1958" he said.
"Go and see Harry in Darts avenue - used to be a top cabinet maker and still has his workshop" he said.
And so I did.
Harry came to my place, measured the windows, took the glass sheets and told me he had just the right wood for the job....."floorboards from when they demolished the Station building in the seventies" he said.
Then we talked price - "$50 for making the four windows sound fair"? he asked!
Dirk
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oupa
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Post by oupa on Feb 13, 2015 11:44:42 GMT 10
I will post pictures of the inside as soon as its is presentable. As I took out all the fittings/fixtures inside, I was in the lucky position to engineer out original flaws and impractical utilities. I could apply a few principals (as dictated by SWMBO and I) in the new layout: 1. The Layout would sleep two grown-up people (one 6'4" and the other 5'10"), in comfort and without needing them to fold double because the bunk is so short! 2. Major cooking will be done outside the van and thus the designated kitchen area will only cater for the storage of utensils, pantry items, and making coffee/tea and the like. 3. In a small caravan open space is preferable to an enclosed area to hang a suit, ballroom gown and other nice-to-haves. 4. The practice of cluttering the inside of the van with hundreds of quaint little cupboards will be avoided as this only leads to the practice of carting along non-essential paraphernalia that tend to be forgotten and sometimes hide in cupboard corners for years on end. 5. Storage space will only cater for the clothing, food and basics for two people over a one week period. 6. Fresh water and a bowl to dispense it in is a priority. 7. 12v as well as 220v appliances must be catered for. Dirk |
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Post by Little Lucy on Feb 26, 2015 15:52:42 GMT 10
Congratulations on a gobsmacking renovation. It looks truly amazing.
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, Belinda, told us that 
. so I'd say they are no more 
