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Post by shesgotthelook on Dec 10, 2015 8:17:53 GMT 10
Some time ago, forum member pmandlm offered Mr & Mrs SGTL something very special. It took a long time to find a time that suited us both to go & have a look but finally we got there. Of course I was smitten & we had to bring her home. Paul (pmandlm) went above & beyond & delivered her himself. Some excerpts from Pauls original email to me; ''1947 bondwood built by Keith David Ryan, of Ryan & Kronk, master builders, Bendigo. (there’s a Kronk St in Bendigo). Originally had dinette table at front, and a transverse double bed at the back. When two kids came on the scene, he altered the internal layout putting two removable bunks where the table was, and making two single beds down the back. Also originally had wooden windows, but he replaced these with aluminium around 1958 – see Bairnsdale pic: front windows are aluminium, side windows are still wood. We bought it from builders son, Stuart Ryan, who lives near Harcourt, in 2012. He claims it had been shedded for about 40 years, but he wanted the shed space. We named her ‘Rita Eileen’, which was Stuart’s mother’s name. She has a type of lantern roof – but no windows as with a traditional lantern roof. It allows extra headroom inside the van, and in place of a roof hatch, there is a flap at the font of the raised roofline which opens for ventilation. You can see the flap is open in the Bairnsdale photo."          |
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Post by cobber on Dec 10, 2015 10:11:03 GMT 10
G'day SGTL, " All things in moderation & an ounce of common sense " & a complete lack of self control   I know the feeling  That is a nice old time capsule, you will no doubt tell us more about it soon, like what keeps the kitchen cupboard draws shut ? what's the icebox look like inside ? What's the water pump on the wall for ? Is that a socket or a plug down low beside the door ? What is that under the van in front of the wheels ? Has it got a tea towel rail ? You don't have to tell us where you got the photo from you posted in the Lino thread a couple of months ago A little bit of water damage up front, not a problem as long as the frame is OK aye ?
Cobber. |
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Post by akeepsake on Dec 10, 2015 11:36:50 GMT 10
So many questions Cobber!!
SGTL you were holding out on us What a top caravan! Now you have hit the elite pre1950s vv club!!
I presume it's a 16 foot bondy? I reckon where the table is now there was a chest of drawers ??
Even got the annex!!
R u planing to restore it?
Did u get the dolly wheel
R u going back to wooden Windows ?
Oops Cobbers questioning is catching!!
Btw no such thing as hoarding when it comes to VVans!!!
Looking forward to more!!
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Post by shesgotthelook on Dec 10, 2015 11:57:12 GMT 10
Steady on, don't want all the excitement to be over & done with in one day! Ice box  The water pump is very interesting. Water tank underneath is filled via a pipe on the outside. It is then hand pumped into tank above sink (which goes to roof of van, not just what you can see). Little outlet tap is seized solid atm but pump handle appears to move. Power inlet socket where even I can reach it! Hutchinson dolly wheel came with the van. Might have to approach Brenten for some lessons.  Paul couldn't believe no-one commented on my photo in the lino thread Paul has already removed the rotten timber from the front & the middle window. Rest is superficial & we plan to only patch her up, re-paint exterior & put some new running gear underneath. Because the original builder put the metal window frames in, I am happy to leave them there. Think she's 16ft & probably quite heavy. |
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Post by cobber on Dec 10, 2015 16:36:08 GMT 10
G'day SGTL, Nice ice box thanks for the photo and the water tank set up is one of those strange things people did in days of old  Let Paul know I gave your post in the Lino thread a 'like' , which is probably one of the reasons that a lot of posts that once upon a time got comments now only get a 'like', probably not such a great idea aye ? But at least a like is better than..............nothing  I do have something to say about that post so, I'll say it on that thread, when I get a round tuit  ? Cobber. |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Dec 10, 2015 17:27:06 GMT 10
G'day SGTL family, What a fabulous caravan... Congratulations on your acquisition and also to Pmandlm for finding someone to care for the van who will look after it and treat it well. I say 'finding someone to care for the van' deliberately, because I really do view us V V'ers as stewards or custodians of vans like these, not just as owners. Keith Ryan was obviously ahead of the pack in terms of caravan design because in many ways the van looks more like a 50's shape rather than a 40's shape, so that makes it interesting in itself. The livery in the 50's photo is also typical of the 50's, although Jennison was using a similar paint scheme in the 40's. Do you know if the photo with the Chev shows the original livery, or had it been redone at some stage? The only problem I can see with this van...is that Cobber and Akeepsake have already asked all the questions and left none for the rest of us. No, hang on, I do have one... What's the handle on the side to the right of the door? Looks intriguing. Don Ricardo |
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Post by mel on Dec 10, 2015 18:16:56 GMT 10
Congratulations on your new addition to your caravan family.
I have tried to convince my husband that we need a second van but he won't even consider the idea!!
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Post by shesgotthelook on Dec 10, 2015 19:12:15 GMT 10
Don Ricardo, I am unaware as to it's original colour scheme but assume it was always this way. The 'handle' you refer to, is actually the water filling pipe. Ideal for banging ones legs on no doubt but so unusual I like it. Mel, give him time, wait for the bug to take hold. Do a bit of van spotting on your travels, peering into folks back yards to see if you can spot a gem that you simply have to have & then they sell it to you for a song This rarely happens of course, but you can dream! |
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Post by mel on Dec 10, 2015 19:15:05 GMT 10
Yes, should probably use the van we do have, at least once, before talking about getting another one!!! Good advice.
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Post by shesgotthelook on Dec 18, 2015 10:32:47 GMT 10
Interesting 'smoke stack'. Although not in use since reconfiguration. I gather Keith Ryan removed the lower part of the kitchen to put in the single beds. The chimney is now inside a high cupboard that looks ideal for hiding a microwave in if one was so inclined! I'm really at a loss as what to do cooking wise.  Chimney in cupboard to right of pump handle  |
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Post by shesgotthelook on Dec 18, 2015 10:36:46 GMT 10
The interesting lantern roof & 'hatch'. No chance of blowing off in transit!  AMENDED 2017! THE HATCH DID BLOW OR TEAR OFF & IS HANGING ON BY SOME CANVAS. YET TO BE REPAIRED. I was following the van on the way to the Lockington Steam Rally & saw it happen |
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Post by akeepsake on Dec 18, 2015 10:55:24 GMT 10
SGTL looks like you have been busy cleaning and prepping to get the Dinette back in Who needs bunks! The kids can rough it in the annex! You may even learn to love the old girl They ooze so much character . For cooking it probably had a metho burner which if you made a fold up shelf where the bed is now and a fold down section Ai the bottom of the cupboard where the flue is you could restore your cooking area and still have the single bed ! Just a thought??
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Post by shesgotthelook on Jan 8, 2016 17:06:53 GMT 10
We've started!   Trying to work out what the roof is made of & what would be the best product to paint it? It's not canvas. Feels like a vinyl, calico over caneite maybe? |
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Post by akeepsake on Jan 9, 2016 12:51:45 GMT 10
SGTL I reckon this will be your best Reno ever! You are going to fall in love with this Bondy I'm sure! But you may need a bigger tow car |
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Post by shesgotthelook on Jan 9, 2016 13:12:54 GMT 10
The 1950's Buick? etc, will have to wait Andrew. Agriculture ain't been kind to us this year.
I have tried to research what to paint the roof with but there's so many variants & lots of resto's that started from scratch. We simply wish to repaint what is there. What sort of paint should we use?
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Post by akeepsake on Jan 10, 2016 9:44:36 GMT 10
The 1950's Buick? etc, will have to wait Andrew. Agriculture ain't been kind to us this year. I have tried to research what to paint the roof with but there's so many variants & lots of resto's that started from scratch. We simply wish to repaint what is there. What sort of paint should we use? Morning SGTL Ah the paint dilemma ! Your roof ...is it canvas painted over with silver paint . Other variations I have seen is like a fly screen material painted with a black bitumen paint then painted over with a colour etc etc etc I have found using acrylic ( water based ) paint on the roof is the best solution as unlike enamal it is flexible and waterproof. Dulux Weathershield Gloss is what I used on the Jenno and really happy with it ! I did use a bathroom waterproofing ( exterior use ) membrane after a good sanding of existing paint then an undercoat x2 then 3 topcoats I found the waterproofing an exceptional "filler" for cracks etc as it has a 5mm stretching ability and it is quite thick in consistency . If you roll it you will get a textured effect which I did but wanted a gloss look so lightly sanded it back after Anyway it's all in Jenno thread . Just remember prep is everything so a good sand of existing surface is paramount ! CheersAndrew |
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Post by shesgotthelook on Feb 29, 2016 13:58:28 GMT 10
I think the roof is going to be a tad more complex than initially thought I absolutely do not have the skills to re-canvas it so what are my options? Thinking along the lines of light sanding & clean, then glue down the worst of it. I like the idea of Akeepsakes bathroom membrane but I cannot get that product here so will keep researching that. Any suggestions on sealing the edges where it meets the bondwood? Should I buy some L moulding, apply butyl mastic or sikaflex & cover it with that?   |
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Post by akeepsake on Feb 29, 2016 17:54:33 GMT 10
Lindsey I'll give you a call soon re roof
Cheers Andrew
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Post by brenten on Feb 29, 2016 19:57:17 GMT 10
Hi lindsey as you know i just done a canvas roof its easy i can suppy the canvas in one piece and tell you how to do it yourself. ..brenten
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Post by shesgotthelook on Mar 10, 2016 19:40:36 GMT 10
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Post by shesgotthelook on Mar 10, 2016 19:45:43 GMT 10
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Post by morgan865 on Mar 12, 2016 19:17:08 GMT 10
Great effort but looking allot of work.
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Post by shesgotthelook on Mar 16, 2016 20:20:27 GMT 10
Had an electrician friend out to look at the wiring, showed him two loose hanging wires in the cupboard & they zapped me! The van tried to kill me! Heavens knows what was done back in the day. There are more wires in another cupboard with black tape around the ends of them. Sparky has decommissioned them & left strict instructions to not plug her in.  12v set up?  |
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Post by shesgotthelook on Mar 16, 2016 20:24:24 GMT 10
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Post by Mustang on Mar 17, 2016 7:15:31 GMT 10
Looking at those alligator clips (haven't seen those for a long time) I can feel the 12v boot going up my elbow  |
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