Drifta caravans (Maryborough, Qld)

[Franklin1]

DRIFTA CARAVANS

Manufactured by Jack Wedlock
Pallis Street, Maryborough, Qld

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[comment by Franklin1: I have created this new thread based on Drifta being a factory brand and not a "christening" brand. The logo on the front of the van pictured kinda looks like it was painted on a piece of timber and stuck to the front of the van. Could by a factory job or the owners giving the van a family name. Needs further confirmation...]

1963 Drifta caravan:



(source: posted by Ditzy, Aug 16, 2004, on behalf of Tony Wedlock.)

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Editorial note: Below are the full size photos of the restored Drifta caravan included in Franklin1's compilation above. Some of Franklin1's questions are answered in the posts further down this thread. Don Ricardo

[Roehm3108]

On Ebay Dec 2012:

[Don Ricardo]

On 8 April 2013, new forum member Dougs wrote:

Hi There,
I am a new member to the forum and new to the old school/vintage caravan side of things.I am looking forward to being an active member to this nostalgic and interesting past time.
I have just picked up a old Wooden Drifta caravan, to restore back to original, from a person in the Maryborough Area. It has a plate on back that said's J Wedlock Maryborough Qld. It is about 12' long and only has enough room for a double mattress in side. It does have some cupboards up front. It looks similar to those towed by hot rods and small cars.It is only about 5 1/2 foot tall.
I am told it is about a 50/60s Vintage.
I am looking for info about these and would love to talk to some one who might have one similar, or parting one out, and for guidance in resto.
I will try to up load some pics once i can work out how to.
Cheers
Doug.

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On 16 April 2013, Suzanna replied:

hi doug, i was the owner of the drifta on ebay..... i am very interested in seeing the pics of your van... the inventor and wood craftsmen of drifta vans Jack . Wedlock still lives in maryborough qld i am sure he would love to see this van... the house and workshop he built out the back are last on left down pallis st before the river.... he no longer lives there...owned by a panelbeater now.,,,,,, if you want to contact jack send a pm thanks

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It is interesting to note that the photos of a Drifta caravan which start this thread were provided by a Tony Wedlock - presumably a relative (perhaps son) of Jack Wedlock.

Doug has not posted the pics of his van at this point (12 May 2013), but from the description it sounds as if it may be a tear drop, or larger tear drop style van.

Don Ricardo

[Don Ricardo]

Hi all,

Over the last few weeks, I have been privileged to be in contact with Tony and Sue Wedlock regarding the Drifta branded caravans built by Jack Wedlock in Maryborough, Queensland. Tony is Jack's son and worked with him for a period during the construction of some of the Drifta vans.

In the Vintage era, caravans were built on a commercial basis by both large companies and small firms, and everything in between. Some caravans for commercial sale were built one-by-one by people working by themselves in a shed in their backyard and/or as part of another enterprise such as a joinery. Over time on the Forum we've been able to collate quite a lot of information about some of the large companies, but information about some of the small businesses operated by a single person or a small team, is harder to come by. In fact we know next to nothing about some of the small businesses, apart from their brand name.

Tony and Sue have been able to provide quite a comprehensive picture of Jack Wedlock's activities, including lots of photos. It is quite unusual for us to have such a detailed account of one of the smaller caravan manufacturers. 

This photo shows Jack and his dog beside one of his vans in the 1960's...

...and his business card:

Jack Wedlock built caravans on a commercial basis from 1951 right through to 1981, when he closed his business, and then beyond that date.  Over his caravan building career, Jack built at least 28 caravans, as well as some slide-ons and converted several panel vans into campers.  Tony and Sue tell us:

Jack started making caravans in the 1950's as a side-line to his Cabinet making business which he had set up in his shed in the back yard of his home in Maryborough. He never moved from this address in all the years he ran his business. Over the years some of the vans were built for his own use or hire and then sold. One he had for sale on the main road when Mr. Chesney senior drove through Maryborough and saw it - he consequently bought it for re-sale which Jack believes was under the Chesney name. It was a 12' aluminium sheeted van.

In 1971 Tony, Jack's son, started working with him and remained there [un]til 1981 when he closed down and auctioned everything off.

Attached is a list of the vans Jack remembers building. As stated, they may not be in the years he remembers them to have been built

1. 1951 12ft Hardwood frame, sheeted with masonite, fabric roof treated with Aircraft dope – sold to travelling Showman on his way to Darwin.
2. 1953 8ft Ply construction on Morris 8 wheels towed by Morris 8 Tourer – sold to another Showie going to Darwin.
3. 1959 8ft Ply on Austin wheels – used for hire then sold to local Mayor.
4. 1960 16ft built as a basic on-site van to be used at Yaroomba Caravan Park on the Sunshine Coast. Could still be there
5. 1960 12ft Ply construction with underslung suspension fully coated with fibreglass – towed like a bird behind Vanguard Spacemaster – sold to another bloke going to Darwin.
6/7. 1961 2 x 8ft Ply vans – one for self and one for mate who helped me.
8-13. 1962 6 x 8ft Teardrop vans to tow behind small vehicles. One even went to Fraser Island
14. 1962/3 The one bought by Richard Potter [Vantoura] – built to be towed by 1962 Holden and was coloured to match Holden.
15. 1965 14ft Sheeted with aluminium.
16/17. 1965 2 x 10ft Ply – one for self and one for friend.
18. 1966 20ft. Made with giant Redwood sheets for local caravan dealer, to be coated with vinyl fabric. He later became the local Chesney Dealer.
19. 1966 12ft Aluminium sheeted – sold to Chesney who I think onsold under their name. (This date may not be correct. [Jack] had the van for sale on a lot and Mr. Chesney senior came in and bought the van unregistered and paid cash for it.)
20, 1967 12ft Ply.
21/22. 1968 2 Ply one for self and one for neighbour.
23. 1968 14ft Masonite for on-site at Dayman Point Caravan Park, Urangan (Hervey Bay).
24/25.1969 2 Slide-ons – one for [Jack] and one for friend – later on (1970) converted [Jack's] to 10ft aluminium sheeted van which I sold to a Frenchman to tow behind his Mini Panelvan.
26. 1978 10ft Wooden frame Aluminium to be towed by Landcruiser.
27. 1982 8ft Oyster.
28. 2004. 8ft Ply with pop-up roof.

1A. 1980 Back on Hilux like a slide-on for Tony (son)
2A. 1993 Back on Triton for self – later fitted to Mazda 2WD and then Mazda 4WD for Tony.
3A/4A 1970’s 2 Nissan Urvans – lift-up Roofs fitted.
5A/6A 1970’s 2 Lift-up roofs for Kombi’s and fitted out.
7A. 2007 Kia van – Made fibreglass roof and fitted it out by this time he was 82.

These dates may be incorrect and there may be other vans that [Jack] made, but this is as best as he could recall when we approached him when he was in his early 90’s. Tony thinks he also built some Oyster shaped vans with canvas but not sure when.

You'll note that there are several dates listed above after 1981.  That's because, as noted above, Jack's interest in building caravans didn't end in 1981, just that:

From 1981 any vans he did were for family or himself - the last being a Kia van which he put a pop-up roof and fitted it out at age 82 for him and his wife to travel in.

Following are photos of a number of Jack Wedlock's caravans in chronological order.  What is fascinating about the photos is seeing that the vans seemed to have differed quite radically in design and style.  In the case of other small caravan manufacturers who built caravans one-by-one, such as Roadhaven, the manufacturer's designs evolved slowly over time with small, incremental external and internal changes being incorporated in each new van as it was built.  However, one gets the impression that Jack Wedlock may have enjoyed the challenge of building something a bit (or radically) different each time, or at least every several vans.

Van No 3 (1959):

Van No 4 (1960) - built to be an on-site van:

Note the louvre windows.

Van No 14 (1962/3) - now owned by Richard Potter (Vantoura):

It was specially ordered in pink trim to match the man's early Holden (as seen in the photo). Also, that is the perspex Drifta sign that is still on it.

Van No 18 (1966):

Van No 21 (1968):

Van No 24 (1969) - after conversion from a slide-on:

Van No 26 (1978):

Van No 27 (1982) - 'oyster' design, the description reflecting the construction using upper and lower 'shells':

Van No 2A (1993):

Van No 28 (2004):

Van No 7A (2007) - Jack's last van, built when he was 82:



Special thanks to Tony and and Sue Wedlock for being so willing to share this insight into Jack Wedlock's involvement in the caravan industry which represents a lifetime of achievement.

Don Ricardo

[hughdeany]

Hi all,
How amazing are those vans and what a great story of such a clever man!
I feel sad that there aren’t any people like this left ( or not many) that had such talent to build anything.
Nowadays not many people know anything about building caravans,except us oldies and that will die out with us.😥
All the young ones of today are only interested in their phones and not much else.I remember growing up with neighbors that built their own homes,boats ,caravans etc that are still going today because they had pride in what they built.
Modern caravans are put together with unskilled labourers and most wouldn’t have a clue about the use of a caravan.
Now I know that there are people that know what they’re doing with caravans,but most don’t anymore,which is my point.
I always remember the bondwood Aerolites that were built in Melbourne ,and what a genius the builder was! He built his own houses,caravans,boats and even cars! Amazing!
End of rant,I am sounding like my Grandad!
Cheers
hughdeany