More photos of 1946 bondy

[jackie]

Here's some more now that i'm an expert!

[kingy]

WOW, - TELL US MORE

[firefighter]

Hi Jackie

your van looks great .........whats the bulge out the back ..... looks like its a part of the van
F/F ;D ;D ;D

[Roehm3108]

Congrats on mastering p/bucket, Jackie ;D ;D
Like the rest, would be really interested to hear the history of this van - she is certainly cute!! Good luck
Ray

[jackie]

Heck, it's got a few people a bit excited hasn't it? I'm chuffed!

Now, I'm the fourth caretaker, apparently. I bought it off a man who bought it off a man who bought it off a man who was an engineer, and he had a son who was an electrician+/or carpenter. They built it in 1946. I think the rego disc proves it's 1946 (or at least it was registered then).

The bulge on the back houses an electric compressor, which runs the fridge. The compressor housing is made of stuff (? like lath and plaster?) with straps to form the shape,which could be leather? The little lid is a vent, I guess to help stop overheating. The compressor and fridge work like a dream (or did last time)and are incredibly quiet.

It has a bit of damage - one fist sized hole in the front from some idiot (probably a bloke - oops) towing it with a ute with a big pole in the back, and a long gouge down the drivers(?) side from when we towed it home, got stuck up a dead end dirt road, and had to do a turn in a very small driveway. A fencepost got in the way. (Bloke).

Did you notice the old sink drainer and plugs for vents in the front? It has a curved glass front window. Mmmmmmmm. The door has a hatch and screen for ventilation.

It's a five berth; 2 bunks, one double and a tray serving as a baby cradle that slots in over the foot of the double. Could make a good breakfast tray (children and I aren't compatible! And a bath, under the dining seat, which turns into the double bed.

The door has warped a bit. Hence my working so hard to get money to build a pergola for the sweet thing. Before it's too late.

Is that enough info for now? Keep asking - I'll keep answering. Oh, we had a party in it and got sixteen people inside. (Sorry, is that blasphemous?)

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Jackie,

Love the photos of your van. The 'ducktail' rear is quite unusual, although there are a few photos around of vans with a similar treatment at the rear:

nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an23504488
www.slv.vic.gov.au/pictoria/a/5/3/doc/a53073.shtml

I've got a vague memory that there is a 'ducktailed' van in the collection of V V's at Warrak, near Ararat in Victoria, but it's not in the excellent condition that yours is.

It's great that you know the history of your van, and a bit about the chaps who built it. They were obviously pretty innovative for their time, as shown by the placement of the frig compressor, amongst other things. Do you know if the compressor was an original fitting or added later? Most vans (almost all?) in the 40's and early 50's were fitted with ice boxes, so if the frig was in yours from the beginning that would make it well ahead of its time.

I was particularly struck by the 'quarter' windows. I note that they have fasteners on them, which I presume were used to fasten canvas blinds? If this is the case did the blinds come with the van?

You're going to have to find some way of getting the van back out through the carport so that you can bring it to Mount Gambier. I'm sure that there are lots of us who would love to see it. How much higher than the carport is the van? Is Cobber's idea of taking air out of the tyres a goer? There are a few people on the forum who have had to use this trick to get out of tight corners!

Mind you I have noted your comment about the van's stability, so I guess you have to be confident about its safety before going too far. Re-reading your posts from last year, it sounds as if you have a bit on your plate with other projects, so we may just have to wait to see the van 'in the wood'. Thanks of getting the photos up though, your van is a ripper, and well worth preserving.

Don Ricardo

PS You may like to ask Kris B or Mark T to combine your latest two threads ('More photos of 1946 bondy' and 'Lordy if this doesn't work...') so that all your photos are in the one place. It will make it easier for us when we are trying to find your thread and info later on. Just a suggestion...

[jackie]

Thanks Don, good suggestion re linking my threads, not sure how to get direct to Mark T or Kris B through this website, but if you're out there - you know who you are!! Any chance of some assistance to do what Don suggests? Thanks heaps. And yes Don, I let the tyres down, and yes it has canvas blinds with it. Lucky me!

Jackie

[krisbee]

Hi Jackie, have sent you a PM, look at the top of your screen where it says Hey Jackie, ,click on the blue bit that says you have ?? messages.Cheers,Kris.