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Post by pimpdog on Mar 20, 2016 7:48:05 GMT 10
Hi All, I'm new to the vintage caravan site, im from Angaston in the Barossa Valley, SA. Last week I found my 1st project, I think its a Don but haven't found any ID tags, can anyone help with any info on this caravan? ![]() ![]()
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Post by kingswood308 on Mar 20, 2016 10:12:45 GMT 10
A photo would help !!!
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Post by pimpdog on Mar 20, 2016 14:13:45 GMT 10
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Post by Don Ricardo on Mar 20, 2016 15:23:25 GMT 10
G'day Pimpdog,
Great to hear about your project, and great to have you onboard.
Unfortunately for various reasons you can't post photos on the forum using the 'Add Attachment' button, as you've discovered. You'll need to post them via an online photo storage website such as Photobucket or Flickr. There are instructions on how to do it in the 'Forum Guidelines & Helpful Hints' section. Most of us on the forum use Photobucket. Alternatively, if it's easier, you can email some photos of your van to me and I'll be happy to post them for you. If you click on my forum name in blue in the panel to the left of this post, a new window will open up which will give you my email address.
I'm very familiar with Don caravans, so when I see the photos, I'll be able to tell you whether your van is a Don or not. If it isn't then I or somebody else hopefully will be able to identify your van for you, and possibly give you an approximate build date. There were quite a considerable number of firms building caravans in South Australia back in the 40's and 50's, so your van may be a Don, or may have been built by one of the South Australian builders. It will be interesting to see.
Don Ricardo
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Post by Don Ricardo on Mar 21, 2016 12:00:51 GMT 10
Hi all, Following are photos of Pimpdog's caravan that I am posting on his behalf:       Pimpdog, having looked at the photos of your van I am able to tell you that it isn't a Don. There are a couple of similarities in shape, but apart from that there are too many differences. Your van is also different to any of those built by the the South Australian manufacturers I referred to in my earlier post. My thinking, based on the shape and construction, is that the van is probably home built, and I would estimate it's age as late 40's/early 50's. Hope that helps? At least it eliminates some possible origins for your van. Perhaps some other forum members will have some comments as well. Your van has a really interesting hitch on it. Do you have any more photos of it from other angles? It's marked J Todd & Son, Adelaide, and I don't think it's one we've seen before on the forum. Cobber (another forum member), keeps a listing of all the caravan couplings that have been used on vintage vans, so will be very interested to see yours, I'm sure. From your comments, you're intending to restore the van, which is great. We'll look forward to hearing more about it as the project proceeds. Meanwhile if you have questions or want to chat through things as you go feel free to ask/chat away. Don Ricardo |
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Post by King Fisher on Mar 21, 2016 12:08:18 GMT 10
My feelings would be to agree with Don, the relatively flat roof tends to give it away as being a home build. That was often done that way because it was a lot easier to use straight timbers, rather than bending timbers to a curved shape.
She/he needs a lot of work but will be really beautiful when done. I look forward to following the progress of this van
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Post by Don Ricardo on Mar 21, 2016 14:38:24 GMT 10
Hi Kingfisher,
That's a very useful observation regarding the roofline.
Don Ricardo
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Post by Don Ricardo on Mar 21, 2016 21:14:48 GMT 10
Email from Pimpdog:I have attached more pic of the coupling also some of the brake set up
I hope someone out there has more info, its very intriguing trying to find out stuff.     
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Post by cobber on Mar 22, 2016 9:55:31 GMT 10
G'day pimpdog, & Don R  Thank you for the nice photos of the 'silent coupling' fitted to this mystery van. My initial impression is that it was designed for agricultural use in 1932, and a few googles confirm there was a J. Todd & Son in Adelaide from 1927, at least, engaged in general engineering and Blacksmith work. Coincidently there is even a 1927 brochure on ebuy at the moment for Todson Bumper Bars.  I reckon it was developed for use on the pig food trailer so you don't wake the neighbours early in the morning  I wouldn't like your chances of getting it approved for use on a caravan, it breaks just about every requirement there is for a caravan coupling. Sorry that info doesn't help with identification or age or.... anything much  Cobber. |
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Post by pimpdog on Mar 27, 2016 10:12:39 GMT 10
Thanks everyone for your help and info!
I am sure ill be needing more help as I go on.
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Post by King Fisher on Mar 30, 2016 7:20:57 GMT 10
Hi Kingfisher, That's a very useful observation regarding the roofline. Don Ricardo It was something that was said to me in conversation by the man I met on the way to the last nats, we believe he helped make the roof on my 59 home built van. It makes sense though as a lot of home builds seem to have more flat roof. Thinking about it I probably would have made it flat too to make it easier to build myself. That side picture with the exposed frame, looks like the frame is generally still in very good condition from that picture. Shes a great van and well worth the effort. Looking forward to seeing the project evolve. |
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Post by pimpdog on Apr 2, 2016 19:00:26 GMT 10
i was doing some more work on the van this week and had a better look at the roof and all the roof ribs are curved.
also I have been sanding all the window frames and the timber has this dark red colour with very nice grain so I had someone look at it and they said it was Red Cypress, it seems to be a rare timber.
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