Glida Caravans - North Parramatta

[azimuth]

Hi Vintage Caravan History buffs,

I am wondering if anyone can shed any light on Glida Caravans? It appears they started manufacturing 1951 / 52 as an ad appeared in Keith Winser's BOOK 4 showing their location etc. What I am trying to find out is the destiny of the company. It looks as though they manufactured into the late 1960s when it appears (from reading the posts) that perhaps some were built by or at least badged by Newlands Does anyone know if Giuseppe (Joe) Mio who started Newlands is still around? I would also like to know if I need to seek copyright permission to re-print the Glida advert from Keith Winsers BOOK 4 and if so from whom can I seek it? 

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Azimuth,

Welcome to the Forum.

I presume you've seen the thread on Glida in the 'Down History Lane' section here?

There's not a lot of history there, but I've done a quick search via Newspapers.com and dug up a little bit more info that you may be interested in. We are fortunate because Glida placed advertisements in the Sydney Morning Herald on a weekly basis for 25+ years. Sorry, I haven't had time to properly document what I found, but will do so at some point because there's some interesting stuff there.

Glida first started advertising caravans in November 1948, and I judge that they were their own products at that stage. From around about 1960 Glida became dealers for caravans built by other manufacturers. Over the years they were dealers for Gipsy, Millard, Cargill, Olympic, Wayfarer, Chesney and others. In 1963 they were advertising 'custom built' caravans, but it is uncertain whether those vans were built by Glida themselves or for Glida by one of the other companies. Certainly, we have several examples of Glida putting their badge on vans built by other manufacturers such as Newlands (ie badge engineering). But the interesting little, forward leaning Glida - of which there are several examples of on the Glida thread I referred you to - may have been Glida's own product (it is not similar to any other van we know about from another manufacturer).

Glida continued to advertise until at least 1974, although the adverts at that stage were focusing more on repairs and accessories, rather than sales. Adverts for used vans had begun to peter out after about 1970.  That was a trajectory followed by many post-war caravan companies - building their own vans, then becoming a dealer for someone else, before ending up doing repairs and accessories.

I hope that helps? Do you have a special interest or a family connection to Glida? If so it would be great to hear about it, and whatever you might be able to add to the Glida story.  Or is Newlands your main interest?

I can't help you with the question about copyright permission. I also can't help you regarding Guiseppe Mio, although Hughdeany may be able to tell you something.

Don Ricardo

[azimuth]

Dear Don Ricardo,

Thanks so much for your response to my post. Yes, I have enjoyed the "Down History Lane" section on Glida and appreciate you pointing it out. What I also appreciate is your further research which was really interesting. I am actually writing a biography on a guy who, with his father, purchased the Glida business some time in the early 1960s. The subject of my book is a guy named Max Mason and I think his father Hilton probably funded the purchase of Glida which I am informed was settled for Three Thousand Pounds. The Masons took over and started selling all of the brands you noted from the same site in North Parramatta and Max struck up a good business relationship with Joe (Guiseppe) Mio , Newlands, as they were selling him vans. This explains the Glida badged Newlands built vans as I guess the Masons owned the Glida name. I am really interested in finding some of the Glida adverts from the Sydney Morning Herald. I will take a look at Newspapers.com but if you have anything or any links I would be really pleased if you could share with me. Max did a lot of interesting things during his life. He was President of the CTIA NSW at state level in the latter 1960s and went up to President of CTIA at Federal level until about 1974. Among his achievements, he started Barbeques Galore which is one of the main subjects in the biography. Joe Mio went on to start Windsor Caravans I believe but no one knows too much after that. Am I able to get my email address to you some how? It may be a better way to exchange some info. Thanks again and kind regards. Ken.

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Azimuth,

Great to read about your research on Max Mason, and to hear a bit more about his involvement in the caravan industry.

I'll be glad to have a chat with you and to exchange some information about Glida (and Newlands).

You can email me on [e-mail]

Regards,

Don Ricardo

[azimuth]

Cheers Don Ricardo, your 1949 Don makes for a lovely family story which I just read on your "1949 Don" site. Email noted and I shall drop you message down the track as I get closer to finishing the book.

Regards,

Azimuth.