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Post by cobber on Nov 18, 2014 19:15:33 GMT 10
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Post by Koala on Nov 18, 2014 19:26:05 GMT 10
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Post by Koala on Jan 24, 2015 18:19:50 GMT 10
So after waiting for the stars to align sufficiently, we were finally able to set a date to recover this van today. A good neighbour who just happens to own a tilt tray truck was enlisted to do the pickup but last night rang to say that he had busted his ribs and would not be able to help which I thought was a pretty feeble excuse. In the next wheezy breath he said that I could take his truck and do the job myself............which made me feel lousy because of my previous ill thoughts So I located another healthier mate and we headed off to play tilt tray truck operator and pick up the van from a historic sheep grazing property call `Kildare' which is near Tarago outside Canberra. We made it to the property with enough gears still intact and loaded up the van after demolishing part of the front of the shed where it has resided since 1962. It was rather a family affair with the owners family being there to witness events and `auntie' sitting under a tree in the shade to supervise. Apart from flat tyres it was fairly easy. All loaded. And home she arrives. A wash down and all looks OK and the old girls seems to be in reasonable condition. The complete van appears to be covered in canvas. And it was nice to find that the flat tyres pumped up and held air after 50 years. I found a 1928 edition of `The People Home Library' in one of the cupboards so it anyone is feeling unwell and needs help with Boils, Felon, Cholera, Elipesy, Scarlet fever, Abscess of the Kidney, Pyelitis, Stone of the Kidney and pretty much anything else then please contact Dr Koala as I am sure that there is a remedy in the book. Koala
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Post by Jennison on Jan 24, 2015 20:16:14 GMT 10
So you drove past my place koala to collect that an and didn't collect me on the way??!..... I know ... The truck was a two seater!! What a good pickup Shows they're still out there even in our district Jenno
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Post by akeepsake on Jan 24, 2015 22:25:57 GMT 10
Great Van ! Really looking forward to seeing this unfold as the resto progresses! Reckon you could open up a collectables shop with all the contents inside!
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Post by cobber on Jan 25, 2015 8:33:41 GMT 10
G'day Ken, Nice recovery mate and you didn't even loose the roof hatch on the way home ....1928 with Bosse and Eunson windows ...I think you might be pushing it a bit to prove 1928 DNA mate but ..... I look forward to seeing photos of the interior and hearing what else you find in there. Interesting that she's covered all over with canvas Cobber.
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newbug
Junior Member
"Nothing succeeds like a toothless budgie".
Posts: 50
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Post by newbug on Jan 25, 2015 9:34:12 GMT 10
Just found the thread this morning but if I'd seen it back in mid-November I might have put you all out of your van-dating misery quite quickly. I don't know diddly-squat about vv's (yet) but those internal window frames scream 1920s to early 30s for any girl into the restoration of Queenslander houses, and coincidentally I was looking at some on the dog walk early this morning on a couple of houses in the Clifton Hill area of Bris which was developed in the 20's.
Have also seen that style for window and door framing on an early 30's railway workers cottage in Queanbeyan.
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Post by Koala on Jan 25, 2015 10:48:21 GMT 10
Cobber I have absolutely no idea how old the van is and just guess that it may be late 30's to 40's. By the way it is 15 foot long. Will post some detail interior photos later today. Koala
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Post by Koala on Jan 26, 2015 8:19:18 GMT 10
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newbug
Junior Member
"Nothing succeeds like a toothless budgie".
Posts: 50
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Post by newbug on Jan 26, 2015 10:05:26 GMT 10
Hi Koala,
Well I'm adding one more vote for the 1930's faction: the first two photos show the very distinctly 20s-30s window frame design (but happy to be contradicted if anyone's seen them on later vans/houses), and photo 3 shows the same window latches as my first house which was built in 1931.
I'm totally loving the creepy little bakelite (?) guy lurking above the sink, never seen anything quite like it and I know a few retro-kitchenalia enthusiasts who'd gladly swap a kidney for him if you should ever feel the need for one.
A question though: the earlier photos you put up showing inside the radio cupboard gave me the idea that the doors might be silky oak? ...and if so stripping the paint off would be well worth the effort. I'd try it with a heat gun first before getting messy with stripper. (feeling oh so envious...) Judy
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Post by Don Ricardo on Jan 26, 2015 12:47:32 GMT 10
Hi Koala, Fantastic to see a few more pics of Grandad's van. It certainly looks worth the effort of rescuing and restoring it. I'm intrigued with the little exhaust window over the stove recess. They certainly became common with the introduction of aluminium framed windows, and before that porthole windows were also used for the same purpose. However, it is pretty uncommon to see a small wooden framed window providing ventilation in the galley. It appears that one of the previous owners had to deal with a few medical problems while out about, what with the atomiser and the 'urinary appliance' (and I'm saying 'him' because of the description of the last named item). Well good on him, I say. He obviously didn't just stay at home saying "woe is me". I was interested to read Newbug's comments regarding the design of the window frames and the fact that they were used on houses in Queensland in the 30's. That adds an additional dimension to our knowledge of what we call the Bosse and Eunson style windows. Personally I'm still opting for a late 40's/early to mid 50's build date because of the overall shape, basically rectangular with rounded corners. It actually puts me in mind of the early 50's Arrow vans which as it happens also had the little inverted 'V' shaped rain channels over the windows. I'm not suggesting that your van is an Arrow (there are too many differences), but I'm just referring to the general early 50's shape. I'm also thinking late 40's/early 50's because of what I think I can see of the lino on the table top. It is lino isn't it? It's very similar in design and colour to what was used in Dons in that time period. Are you able to provide us with a more direct photo so that we can have a better look at it, please? That would be great. As you say lots of possibilities but we may never be able to pin the build date down. All I can say is, soooo inconvenient of the builder to use bits and pieces in the van that were used over a period of two or three decades. What was he or she thinking?? Don Ricardo PS Just found a photo higher up the thread that shows the lino on the table. And yes, almost identical to the lino on the floor of our 1949 Don. Of course none of these things are conclusive - this lino might have replaced some earlier lino, or - going the other way - could have been an offcut which was used at a much later point for the table.
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Post by Koala on Feb 2, 2015 17:17:26 GMT 10
I have been having a bit of a fiddle with Grandads van mainly to evaluate what I have managed to get myself into. It would seem that the van is home built as on one side alone I counted 14 separate pieces of ply joined to make the side, this is not something that I would expect to see from a factory van. Maybe the builder had access to many packing cases as a readily available source of material. I have been instructed that I have two other projects which must be finished before I commence restoration of the van. My interpretation of this instruction is that I am able to source materials but not actually touch the van sooooooo............. does anyone happen to have laying around any of these window catches and lights or know where I may purchase them?? Koala
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Post by Koala on Feb 4, 2015 15:13:20 GMT 10
This is the tow coupling on Grandads Van which I would like to retain rather than just cutting it off and fitting a modern coupling. I am interested if anyone has any experience with this original coupling and can tell me whether I am missing any parts or just bolt it to a tongue on the tow car. The ball is actually flat on the bottom and I suspect that there is supposed to be something else for this flat to rest on. Without something under the ball there is far too much movement and the coupling will just flog itself to death if I try to use it. Koala
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Post by cobber on Feb 4, 2015 16:36:41 GMT 10
G'day Ken, There are a few examples of that coupling in the Old Tow coupling thread. HERE and HERE and that's just on page two, you might find others if you search all 11 pages. I doubt that all of the owners of those coupling have retrained them, so that's where you might get your missing bit Cobber.
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Post by Koala on Feb 4, 2015 17:27:06 GMT 10
Thanks Cobber, Have reviewed the tow coupling thread but it does not answer my query completely and I suspect that the ones shown are similar but different to mine. As my coupling has a half ball in the top (on the van) I guess that there must have been a corresponding half ball on the bottom (on the car) which is held captive with a cap the same as the one on the van. The two halves would then be bolted together. Otherwise the half ball would hold the van rigid. I'm confused Koala
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Post by akeepsake on Feb 4, 2015 17:41:55 GMT 10
You'll have a ball figuring it out!
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Post by Koala on Feb 4, 2015 18:42:59 GMT 10
Here is a photo of the 45mm half ball arrangement. You would think that you would need a minimum of a full ball to perform the task adequately. The arrangement on Grandads van is a mystery to me............the ball is upside down to a modern arrangement and the ball needs a seat to take the weight of the van. Maybe there was a spring under the ball on the flat. Koala
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Post by cobber on Feb 4, 2015 18:57:45 GMT 10
Ken, Did you see this coupling ? I'm thinking the lower half of the coupling, that you don't have, would contain the other half of the ball, or just a flat base that your half ball would sit on.....what do you think ? I had this coupling in my hot little hands and didn't take the opportunity to pull it apart to see how it was constructed Cobber.
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Post by Koala on Feb 5, 2015 15:03:47 GMT 10
Cobber, you couldn't just tighten it down on the flat because this would cause the ball to lock up instead of being able to move withe the van. The solution is looking more like a oxy torch followed by a modern coupling.
Koala
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Post by cobber on Feb 5, 2015 16:36:26 GMT 10
Yeah g'day Ken, I was going to delete that theory about the flat before anybody saw it ( let's call it a seniors moment ) but...... I've been out all day :(but...... how about the other bit about the ball being in two halves and you need the other half ? ? MAYBE SOMEBODY WHO HAS ONE OF THESE COUPLINGS OR.... HAS PULLED ONE APART CAN CLUE US UP....... AYE ?
Cobber.
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newbug
Junior Member
"Nothing succeeds like a toothless budgie".
Posts: 50
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Post by newbug on Feb 5, 2015 18:50:01 GMT 10
......... does anyone happen to have laying around any of these window catches and lights or know where I may purchase them?? Hi Koala, I'm pretty sure I have a few similar window catches lurking under the house and will recruit a small expeditionary force for a thorough search over the weekend. Wish me luck, I may be some time ......   Judy
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Post by Koala on Feb 6, 2015 19:37:46 GMT 10
Until I see anything different, I am of the opinion that the bottom of this coupling arrangement is simply a duplicate of the top and the two halves are simply bolted together. Koala
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Post by Koala on Feb 7, 2015 10:59:21 GMT 10
The water tank in Grandads Van is located under one of the single beds. I was having a bit of a scratch around today and found these down behind the tank. Koala
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Post by Don Ricardo on Feb 7, 2015 11:37:06 GMT 10
G'day Koala,
That's a great find, but you can't just leave us in suspenders like that! Is there a date on the newspapers when you unrolled them??
There's no doubt about it Grandad's van keeps coming up with some surprises and treasures. Do you think the rolls were there to stop some rattles?
(Just thinking, if there isn't a date on the papers, you might still be able to work out the date by putting a phrase or headline from one of the articles into the Trove search engine and see if you can find the articles there. You've probably already thought of that...)
Don Ricardo
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Post by Koala on Feb 7, 2015 17:18:46 GMT 10
OK Don Ricardo, here is the answer to your question as to the date of the newspapers. I seem to remember somebody being famously quoted as saying that life was not meant to be easy so you are going to have to figure it out. Now I don't expect any cheating on Google or any other site. Here is your clue; Best of luck. Koala
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