...what year do you think it would be and what signage would it of have...
Hi Gilbert,
A couple of interesting questions you've asked there!
Although Globe produced caravans for around 20 years - maybe even 20+ - we don't know all that much about the history of the different models they produced. One reason for that is that not much information about Globe caravans is included in the early editions of Winser's caravan manuals. In fact that's true of most South Australian caravan manufacturers, so that possibly indicates that Winser didn't have many connections in the South Oz caravan industry. However, I've done a bit of research about Globe vans and reckon that we can make a couple of educated guesses about the age of your van and the signage it would have had on it, so here goes...
Firstly, the age of your van. It is apparent that Globe produced your model van for a relatively long period. We have photos of earlier versions of your model with square cornered wooden framed windows, and two windows and/or window panes front and back
here. We also have an advertisement showing the Wayfarer version of your model dated April 1958
here, a photo of your model van alongside what is most probably a brand new Austin car which was only produced in 1957 & 58
here, and finally adverts for Globe vans from the 1960 and 1961 Winsers showing a later version of your van (see below). So your model van was produced in various versions from the early 1950's (possibly earlier) until at least the early 1960's.
The critical thing to note in the photos I've referred you to is the construction of the opening side windows. Your van has
Bosse & Eunson style windows with the wooden frames and curved inside corners. According to one of Winser's comments this style of window was introduced on some vans in 1953 and replaced the square cornered wooden-framed windows. However, the Bosse & Eunson style of window was also still clearly being used by Globe in 1957/8 (as shown by the 1958 adverts referred to above), although by that stage many (but not all) manufacturers had begun to change to aluminium framed windows. By 1959 or 60 Globe itself had begun to use what appear to be an aluminium version of the Bosse & Eunson windows (as did Rowvan incidentally), as seen on this van, which is a later version of yours:
So what I think what that means is that your van was built somewhere between 1953 and 1958. Not very specific, I know, but as close as we can get at this point (but see my question about the serial number of your van below).
Now the second question about signage. I've looked at photos of quite a few Globes of your model, and it's clear there was a bit of variation over time. However, the closest to what I think was probably on your van is shown in this advert:
(Source: K Winser,
Australian Caravan and Touring Manual, 1960 edition, page 135)
The advert is from the 1960 Winser and shows the van with the later style aluminium windows, but the livery is the same as on the photos I've looked at of caravans with windows like yours - compare it to the van in the 1958 Wayfarer advert for example and you'll see what I mean. (I actually think that the picture in the Wayfarer advert is a Globe because Globe used the same illustration in its own adverts and stationery.) The flash down the side of the vans was quite consistent over a number of years on your model, and the kangaroo on the side to the left of the top corner of the door with the words 'Globe Trotter' either side of its legs was also a consistent motif (although I've seen some alternatives). The circle in the middle of the 'V' at the front is a globe, but there is no boomerang or words outside the globe on this model.
I'm happy to discuss further if you like - I've got more photos and variations on the livery we could discuss if you are interested - but I figured rather than deluging you with a whole lot more info the above may be as much as you need at this point?
I mentioned the serial number of your van above. That relates to the fact that some Globe owners have been able to find a serial number engraved on the A-frame of their vans, either three or four digits (or I suppose one or two digits in theory if the van is early enough). This is different to the patent number 15369 on the brass plaque inside the van. For example, as you'll see from
this post, Trish_M found the serial number 603 on her van. If you can find the serial number of your van on the A-frame it will help us date it, or at least to get an idea of where it fits in amongst other Globes. You may have to scrape off some paint or rust off the A-frame to find it, but if you can locate it that would be really useful information.
Hope that helps...
Don Ricardo
