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Post by sarahlou on Feb 24, 2015 16:20:16 GMT 10
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Post by Koala on Feb 24, 2015 16:49:23 GMT 10
Congratulations Sarahlou, I think that we are both in the same position with our vans. It is called `potential'.
Best of luck with it, it will look a different van with a paint job.
Koala
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Post by akeepsake on Feb 24, 2015 17:58:59 GMT 10
Sarah I think it may be an Applebee!! I will check back with you when I get home and study pics i have!
Where are you located Do you know any history on the van?
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Post by sarahlou on Feb 24, 2015 18:09:25 GMT 10
Hi Andrew - ooooohhhhhh I had talked myself out of it being an Applebeeeeeeeee. Can't wait to hear back from you after you've had chance to study your references. I'm down in Huonville. I think we met (well, sort of met - by text) just before Christmas or just after Christmas. The only history that I have is that it came to Huonville from Primrose Sands some time around-about winter 2014. At Primrose Sands it belonged to a family and they used to sleep 8 in the caravan and they towed it behind a 1948 Chevrolet. Inside the van under the bed at the back was found a comic dated 1952. That's all the history I have. We just spent a couple of hours poking around and pulling up the 1980s lino - it has Tas Oak boards throughout. Hope this helps when you are going through your photos.
Sarah
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Post by cobber on Feb 24, 2015 19:25:08 GMT 10
G'day Sarah, Yes I reckon it looks very much like the Applebee caravans as shown in THAT THREAD IN DHL even though I can't see the tow coupling in your photos  Andrew will have a better idea but regardless...... it's a nice van to get hold of  Cobber. |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Feb 24, 2015 19:52:16 GMT 10
Wow Sarahlou, You'd have to think there was a reasonable chance your van is an Applebee - shape, roofline tapering down towards the rear, lantern roof, etc.  Be careful when your removing the army green paint. With a bit of luck you may find a mural under there! Then you'll definitely know for sure, eh? Don Ricardo |
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Post by murray on Feb 24, 2015 20:05:29 GMT 10
Sarahlou, Congratulations, some of Tassies caravan history . I had taken a few cruises around Primrose Sands/Carlton looking for old vans - always one hiding somewhere Well done Now you have a big decision ............penguin or pelican on the side  Murray |
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Post by akeepsake on Feb 24, 2015 23:32:52 GMT 10
Hi Again Sarah . Yes after a close look at the pics I took of the Applebee van for sale last year and the study of the pick below I would be almost certain you have a home grown built in Ulverstone Tas van! The first van on the left has a very similar straight drawbar the same as yours . It also has a similar vent in the lantern top located in the same place as yours . The front profile on the second van is the same as yours. The jointed outer panels are the same as the one I looked at and also the unusual window position ( high up near the roofline) are a feature as well. There are many internal features with the cabinet cut outs etc I suspect the earlier Applebee's were Masonite painted to look like aluminium on top (front left van in pic) and when Ali came into use in the 50s Masonite was replaced With that being said I suspect your van is very early 50s or possibly late 40s at a calculated guess! Well done on your purchase! Cheers Andrew  |
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Post by sarahlou on Feb 25, 2015 9:20:02 GMT 10
Andrew, Murray, Don, Cobber, Koala, thank you. What a nice surprise it is to learn that it is "almost certainly" (to use Andrew's words) an Applebee. I talked myself out of believing it was a real Applebee because I didn't think the lantern roof was high enough, I didn't think the vents were large enough, there's no real evidence of holes for water tanks on the outside, it sits very high off the ground, the wheel arch seemed to big, the windows don't feel 'right' - they kind of feel like they were an after-thought(the front and back are the only two that open and they both open outwards, not inwards as pictured in Andrew's photos in the DHL thread).
Andrew, do you have any more photos or information about the internal layout of these vans? I'm very keen to get it as close to how it would have been. In particular, I'd really like to know whether I should have my windows re-made so they open outwards or inwards? Was it common for windows to open inwards like the photos in your pictures Andrew? And also how high off the ground do you think these were? I feel like my van is way too high.
Regarding the mural - I'm really keen to find out the name of the artist/s who painted them. I'm guessing the artist wouldn't be with us any more though, sadly. I wonder if it was just a select few of the 'special' hire vans that they had painted? I wonder how much it would cost to commission an artist to paint a mural like those lovely Tasmanian waterbird scenes. I'm going to try and carefully rub away some of the paint on the front right side to see if there is a mural on my van. The paint is stuck on pretty well on the right side, there's no cracks or peeling there that I can get into easily to have a look. Elsewhere on most of the other exterior panels the paint is cracking and peeling in some spots and I can clearly see at least 4 layers of paint, one of then being cream and one of them being bright orangey/red (which as shown on Andrew's photo the bottom sections are all painted cream). On the sections where the paint is peeling the bare aluminium has been exposed and it's shiny with barely a speck of oxidisation. I wonder if they would have polished the entire exterior before wacking a coat of cream paint on them? I have never polished aluminium before but my feeling is that if I wanted to polish the whole thing it will polish up beautifully (oooohhhhh exciting!!) I haven't been on a ladder to look at the top section where the vans in Andrew's photo are all highly polished like a mirror but I imagine that area would be super shiny under the paint.
The Tas Oak floor boards are in perfect condition and there are no clues as to the location of the cabinetry, dinette, icebox/fridge, etc. It makes me think that perhaps they put lino over the boards and then cabinetry over the lino.
One other thing that I see is that there is no hatch. Perhaps this is part of the reason why there is no real water damage in the ceiling area? I have removed a few sections of the 1970's ply random groove panelling and it looks like it might all be lined with masonite. A few sections of the masonite is sagging a little in the ceiling. I think this could be a pain to replace easily without ruining the beam system in the ceiling. The previous owners built a divider in front of the bed at the back and I hope today to remove that divider and take off a couple more random groove panelling sections.
I think I've rambled on for too long in this post. Thanks again everyone, I'm really excited to have one of these Tassie made vans!
Sarah
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Post by akeepsake on Feb 25, 2015 17:54:51 GMT 10
Sarah I'll check when I get home . So your vans Aluminium ... Interesting ! I only have only seen one van in the flesh but from what I can gather there are lots of variations to to the design so it's a bit hard to tie down a design . The van I looked at sold to a guy in Devonport as far as I know. I left my number with the seller to pass onto the buyer hoping to keep in contact but never heard from him. It would be great for check it out yourself if I can track it down . I will contact the seller and see what I can come up with
The windows may be originally outward opening ?? So wouldn't rush into making them inward until you do some more detective work
Chat soon cheers Andrew
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Post by sarahlou on Feb 26, 2015 7:40:57 GMT 10
Yes - completely aluminium Andrew. It would be very interesting to see that other van in the flesh.
Sarah
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Post by akeepsake on Feb 26, 2015 8:14:12 GMT 10
Sarah I had a look last last night and all the picks I took ended up on the DHL thread on Applebee caravans if I get a chance I'll call the seller of that van and try to track it down. Also have been meaning to pop into the Ulverstone museum and see if they have any info
Cheers Andrew
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Post by sarahlou on Feb 26, 2015 9:04:45 GMT 10
Thanks Andrew!
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Post by akeepsake on Feb 26, 2015 9:38:10 GMT 10
Btw I didn't notice before but the number 10 screwed onto the inside cupboard just inside the door is a real confirmation that this is an Applebee renter as I was talking to a friend of the Applebee family who said he numbered his vans which makes sense !
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Post by sarahlou on Feb 26, 2015 12:47:00 GMT 10
Ha! I was just in there with the crow bar taking carpet tacks out of the floor and I looked at that number 10 and thought "I must get those stupid numbers off before I go in for lunch". I might reconsider that now! I tried to rub back some of the paint on the front right side this morning. It's very difficult as the paint is in good condition but I can't see any sign of a mural.
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Post by akeepsake on Feb 26, 2015 18:38:22 GMT 10
All part of the history and a great talking point!!
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Post by akeepsake on Mar 4, 2015 21:41:16 GMT 10
Hi Sarah have tracked down the Applebee van I took photos of new owner I will call him when I can and see if he is happy to arrange a meet and greet with you
Stay tuned Andrew
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Post by sarahlou on Mar 5, 2015 12:27:50 GMT 10
Thanks Andrew!
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Post by sarahlou on Mar 5, 2015 14:53:57 GMT 10
I have been in contact with the Ulverstone History Museum and Janelle (one of the researchers at the Museum) has done some research on Applebee Caravans for me. She sent me the following photos. Admins, please let me know if I need to re-post these photos in the "Down History Lane" thread. Plaster racks for caravans 19 Water St Ulv  D Wellard and C Applebee  C Applebee 19 Water St Ulv  Applebee's caravan yard 1950s  Dulcie Applebee (Hingston) 19 Water St Ulv 1959  Mr and Mrs C Applebee and Dulcie Caravan yard 1959  |
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Post by griffin on Mar 5, 2015 18:30:30 GMT 10
Great photos Saralou, plenty of detail for a mural in the future. Good luck with the resto, look forward to seeing the end result. Maybe you can locate an Applebee descendant who is handy with a brush?
George
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Post by Don Ricardo on Mar 5, 2015 21:53:34 GMT 10
Hi Sarahlou, Thanks for posting the Applebee photos. How wonderful to see them. Pure gold!! Wouldn't it be great to come up with a photo that includes 'Hire van no 10'?  Hopefully you will at some stage! Yes, please also post them in the DHL Applebee thread. That would be great. The first couple of photos are of the plaster factory jointly owned by C H Applebee and his brothers. He seems to have combined that enterprise with a building business and his hire caravans. I'm not sure if he used any of the plaster in his vans - I can't see any signs of plaster in any of the pics - but no doubt his building skills were the basis for the vans he built. Well done again on the photos you've posted. Fabulous! Don Ricardo |
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Post by akeepsake on Mar 5, 2015 23:29:39 GMT 10
Hi Sarah you beat me to the museum ! Well done they are great pics did you have any dates? Haven't got hold of the other van owner yet but sources say the van resides at binnalong bay . Here's another pic of an early Applebee van Titled "The Densley family with their early Applebee No 3 Plaque on van says "C.R.Applebee Van 3" (Will post in DHL )  Note the stripes below the white top half look the same as the three behind the house Looks like they were in the middle of changing schemes to the new mural type??? |
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Post by sarahlou on Mar 10, 2015 18:08:39 GMT 10
Excellent photo Andrew. That one looks pretty early doesn't it? Again I notice the inward opening windows.
Sarah
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Post by sarahlou on Apr 17, 2015 13:44:42 GMT 10
Just updating this thread for anyone who is following along. Life has got in the way and I haven’t been able to get much of anything organised with my van. But some exciting developments have happened since I posted last. I hope to be able to put pen to paper (as they say) when I have some time and tell you all about it. My van will be getting soda blasted soon. Will be good to get step 1 out of the way!
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Post by akeepsake on Apr 18, 2015 16:59:18 GMT 10
Hi Sarah Yes understand how life gets in the road !!!! Am still trying to get a chance to upload on my thread!! I think I know what your exciting developments are as I had a phone call from the same person that has been in contact with you and am catching up with them next week ....but mums the word!!
I have tried to contact the other Applebee owner but haven't had any luck yet but will keep at it .
Interesting re the soda blasting is it an expensive exercise ?
Any way sounds like you have got your teeth into it! Looking forward to seeing it unfold
Cheers Andrew
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