Tourmaster caravans [A Metcalfe] (Wallsend, NSW)

[Don Ricardo]

TOURMASTER CARAVANS

Built by Alfred (Alf) Metcalfe
Wallsend, NSW

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Photos of a caravan built by A Metcalfe and sold on Ebay by Reddo in October 2017:























Note the flywire screens which slide up and down out of the wall cavities:



We don't have any other records on the forum of caravans built by 'A Metcalfe', but the professional looking nameplate on the van suggests that he (I am presuming a 'he' given when it looks like a 50's build) may have built, or intended to build, more than one. Or perhaps he also manufactured some other product requiring the nameplate? Wallsend is close to Newcastle.  The van has a touch of the look of a Supalite about it. Interestingly, there is a Metcalfe Street in Wallsend.

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Extract from Reddo's Ebay sale notes bout the caravan:

Measurements are...
9ft 7" Long
6ft 6" wide
Approx 7ft 6" high from ground to top of hatch
Bondwood and aluminium construction
Approx 450Kg

Has 15" FJ Holden wheels on drum braked axle...Brakes are mechanically operated by what is known as a Newcastle safety hitch coupling with 1 7/8 " towball size...

Original owner has used 1" x 1" aluminium angle on wall to roof edges .. however, has been cut in v sections to form radius...

Photos show it in as found condition with 47 years of accumulated dust ...and is much tidier now after a clean up.
Has all the original features of a 1950s van..
* Ice chest with galvanised iron ice tub,
* 3 burner enamel gas stove that appears to be as new / unused.
* Green plastic sink with brass hand pump.
* 2 seater dinette at front that folds down to make a single bed
* 4 seater dinette table at rear that folds down to make a double bed.
* All original cushions...
* Has a porthole in right side wall.
* Has fly screens on timber windows that slide up out of wall cavity.
* Timber windows are in very good condition...
* All cupboard doors are stained timber in good condition..
* Original yellow pattern lino floor
* Green laminex table tops in good condition

Door was originally a 2 piece barn door style set up but has been modified so as to operate as a normal door...

Large front window allows good light into the van. Rear is 3 separate sections of glass
Roof / front and rear is clad in aluminium...
Has small awning over rear window

Van had been stored in large farm shed by previous owner since 1970 so has escaped the ravages of time and weather and has survived quite well for its age.

Don Ricardo

[murray]

Well the vintage van state has come up with another one
a 2 door 20 foot bondwood tandem by A Metcalfe has been unearthed (you know what I mean )








uploa image

[Roehm3108]

Hey Murray, what's with the van next to it in the first pic?😏

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Murray and Roehm,

Murray - that's a great find!! It goes to show that (presumably Mr) Metcalfe built more than one van, and so may have built a number. I've changed the heading of the thread accordingly.

Interesting to see that this one is quite a bit larger and a different style to the one found by Reddo. The large bulkhead above the front window suggests early 60's.

I wonder if he called his vans Tourmaster, or whether this was added by the owner of this particular van? Some more research to do...

Roehm - Murray has posted photos of the other van in the first photo here.

Don Ricardo

[shesgotthelook]

Oh my! Apart from the mission brown paint on the near side, that is amazing!

[sportsman 1]

Come on SGTL, you know you want it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[stevem540i]

Hi, my name is Steve Meldrum & A. Metcalfe was my maternal grandfather.
Hi name was Alfred (better known as Alf) & Tourmaster was his brand name.
Unfortunately he passed whilst I was very young but I do have a vague memory of riding with him in his Austin A40 ute with a timber tray.
Fortunately my mother is still alive & would be able to provide more info if you have any queries.

Cheers

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Stevem540i,

Welcome to the forum, and thanks for telling us a little bit about your grandfather, Alf Metcalfe. It is always fantastic to hear from the families of the people involved in building caravans in the vintage era. Some of the major brands we know quite a bit about, but it is the smaller builders like your grandfather - and who were often the most creative - that we don't know a lot about.

It's also wonderful to confirm that 'Tourmaster' was your grandfather's brandname for his caravan. I'll add that to the 'Down History Lane' index. I might also change the name of this thread, just to make it easier for people to find.

We'd love to hear more about your grandfather's activities, so anything your mother and you can tell us will be interesting. We've only seen the two of your grandfather's vans so far, and they look like late 50's/early 60's caravans. Do you know when Alf Metcalfe began building vans, and how long he built them for? Was he building them himself one at a time in his backyard or similar, or did he have a factory and employ other people? How did he get into the caravan building trade?

Don Ricardo

[Don Ricardo]

Hi all,

The tandem Tourmaster caravan shown higher up this thread has now been restored by Paul J who posted photos on the Tasmanian Vintage Classic & Retro Caravans Facebook page on 27 February and 17 March 2022 here and here:

What a difference some TLC makes! 

According to Paul J's posts this van will soon be available for sale.

Don Ricardo

[Mustang]

Just magnificent !!!! hope it goes to a forum member, maybe me ?

[wendyevans]

Apr 2, 2022 18:40:47 GMT 10 Mustang said:

Just magnificent !!!! hope it goes to a forum member, maybe me ?

[wendyevans]

Well this awesome van has gone to a great home. We viewed today whilst at the ASRF Hot Rod Nationals in Tasmania - fell in love & bought it.
Stay tuned for some updates & photos when we finish her resto & disclosure of our future plans for her.

[Mustang]

Apr 9, 2022 0:06:36 GMT 10 wendyevans said:

Well this awesome van has gone to a great home. We viewed today whilst at the ASRF Hot Rod Nationals in Tasmania - fell in love & bought it.
Stay tuned for some updates & photos when we finish her resto & disclosure of our future plans for her.

Great news , I hope you have a comfy shed .