Globe (Trotter) caravans - Bowden SA.

[Franklin1]

GLOBE (TROTTER) HISTORY:

In 1964 documentation, the company name is shown as "Globe Products Limited". The patent badge, found in Globe caravans, shows a company name of Globe Caravans Ltd.

Head Office address: In 1959 and 1964 documentation, the address of the Head Office is shown as 43 Port Road, Bowden, South Australia. The address may also be considered by current locals to be in the suburb of Hindmarsh.

Factory address: In documentation from 1964, the factory address is shown as 988 Port Road, Albert Park, South Australia.

In 2007 or 2008, one of our members took his Globe Trotter van to the now defunct Head Office location, and photographed his van under the old Globe Trotter sign that still exists on the brick wall in the back street...



If you ever want to have your own historical photo of your van under the sign, the Globe Trotter sign is in First Street laneway, behind the 43 Port Road location. It seems to line up with No.10 First Street...



Globe production: At this stage it is not known exactly when Globe Caravans first started. We have an example of a Globe Trotter van purchased new in 1950 (see harriet's van further down in this thread), so the origin of the company is some time before that.

The Patent badge: If you come across a Globe caravan, have a look for the Patent badge in the van. It is not the number of the van, rather it is the number of the Patent for the van design. This photo shows the badge inside one of our member's van, on the cupboard above the front offside window...



The Globe Trotter name: The story about adding the word "Trotter" to the name Globe is not yet clear either. It is possible the company made caravans in its early years that were just known as Globe caravans. Not all examples I've seen of the very old Globe caravans has any mention of the word Trotter attached to them. The advertisement for Globe caravans in the next box below makes no mention of the Trotter tag. However, at some point in the Company's history, it seems that all its vans were given the monicker of Globe Trotter. Note that it is two words, not as one word 'Globetrotter'. If you look through the photos in this thread, you'll see early examples of a painted kangaroo on the side of the van with the word Globe on one side and Trotter on the other. The logo seems to have then evolved into a boomerang shape with the Globe symbol, positioned on the lower front wall of the van.

In January 1959, Globe Caravans announced they were entering the Sydney market, and were advertising for distributors (Agents). The advertisement confirms the words Globe and Trotter to be two words...





Globe only lasted in Sydney for about three years. By 1963, they had retreated back to Adelaide. The Sydney market was dominated by Carapark and the upcoming Viscount and Millard brands, and it was a real cut-throat industry. Prices were being reduced year by year as mass-production methods made construction cheaper. Transportation costs for Globe caravans from Adelaide to Sydney would have been uneconomic, I should think.

Globe models and prices: The following information comes from the Keith Winser 1960 Caravans and Touring Guide, published in May that year. The information was therefore probably collected in late 1959 or early 1960. Note the 12ft van that was available in aluminium, and also note the largest size was 15ft at that time...



In September 1960, Sydney dealers were advertising the new Wrap-around window models...



...and in December 1960 were advertising a new 5-berth model...




Chassis numbers: We are still trying to work out the connection between the chassis number and the year of manufacture. It seems that Globe have numbered their vans starting from a certain time period, and then continued counting onwards, irrespective of the year of manufacture. At the time of writing, we are still collecting information to determine which chassis numbers relate to which year. For your use as a guideline, this is the information we have...

This van has Globe 603 on the coupling

Chassis no. 1281

Chassis no. 1647

Chassis no. 1759

Chassis no. 2542

Chassis no. 2617
(2617 was bought new in 1964)

Chassis no. 2813 [beetlesbailey's van - photo to come]

Chassis no. 2839 [wrecked for parts - beetlesbailey - photo to come]


------------------------------------------------------

There are a number of references to Globe Trotter vans throughout the forum. Click on these threads to see more information about Globe/Globe Trotter caravans:

How old is my Globe?
Globe Trotter factory
Rescued Globetrotter
Globetrotter Anyone
Globetrotter
ID GLOBETROTTER
Can anyone help? - possible vans of Globe origin but not certain.
Trish's Globetrotter. Aka:lacem
1964 Globe Trotter
Chassis Number
New Van found by Harriets owner
Globetrotter
Look what I found !!
Restoring the side of the Globetrotter
HELP !!!!! How do I put in the windows
Introducing Miss Twiggy
Globe to go behind my 34

[Franklin1]

1957 advertisement for Globe caravans:



(source: 1957-58 RACV Caravan and Camping Guide.)

[Franklin1]

Photos of early Globe Trotter caravans:

(source: posted by 313royal, Jun 11, 2007, who wrote: "Hi All, I have been fortunate enough to borrow some photos from a family member of the now defunct Globe Caravan Co. here in Adelaide. There are quite a few of them so it will take a couple of sessions to display all of them. I own a Gold Coaster built by Globe in 1964 but am no expert of them, so welcome comments as we go. The period seems to span mid 50s to late 60s."

Here we have their sale yard at what I assume is 988 Port Rd., Alberton. The lower photo is titled - "1960 Motor Show Sydney Miranda Caravan sales". Billboard at front of caravan says: "Ultra Lightweight (under 8cwt) to suit Volkswagen, etc. 483 Pounds 15 shillings, or terms 123 pounds and 65 shillings weekly"...



-----------------------------------------------------------

A very short wheelbase Gold Coaster at top, don't know what the lower one is - any comments? Notice they both have external switches / sockets at front which appears to be a Globe trademark at one period...

[Franklin1]

Possible early model Globe caravan: If you compare this van with the advertisement for Globe above, the general shape of the roof is similar, however the van in the photo below doesn't have the "bulging" front and rear under the windows. Not conclusive that this is a Globe...





(source: taken from this forum, but I'll have to check details...)

-------------------------------------------------------

Here is another van that looks similar to the one above...



(source: taken from this forum, relates to punkyfunster )

-------------------------------------------------------

This van also has the same shape as the two above, however this one has a Globe Trotter logo painted on it. Note the logo is quite different to the boomerang Globetrotter logo that later vans had. Is it possible the brand started as Globe, with a "Trotter" model, and then evolved into the combined name of Globetrotter??...



(source: taken from this forum, relates to Wendy )

[Franklin1]

1964 Globe Trotter caravan:



(source: posted by 313royal, )

[Franklin1]

1960s Globe Trotter caravan:



(source: posted by ??, owned by Colin and Liz )

[Franklin1]

1960s Globe Trotter caravan:



(source: posted by Kingy, Oct 28, 2007, who wrote: "Hi All,
Found this globetrotter when returning from Coledale, appears to be used as a weekender and seems to be in good cond., at least on the outside. Van is not far south of Nowra".)

[Franklin1]

Early 1960s Globe Trotter "Gold Coaster" caravan:



(source: posted by trev, April 18, 2005.)

[Franklin1]

1960s Globe Trotter caravan:



(source: taken from a Trading Post advertisement, 9 Feb 2008.)

[Trish_M]

Here is my Globe circa 1950's...it measures 12 ft long by 6ft 8 in. It is entirely original right down to the cushions.
To view a slideshow inside and out click here:
s290.photobucket.com/albums/ll245/globetrotter_2008/?albumview=slideshow
Cheers,
Trish xxx

[313royal]

OK folks here is an attempt to restore some of the missing Globetrotter photos that I had previously submitted:

Globe Surfsider:



Aluminium & bondwood:



Globe spraybooth:



After spraying:



15ft Clipper Mk 11:











there are more to come but it will take some time to ferret them out so be patient

313

---

Broken link for last photo in series corrected by Don Ricardo

[313royal]

More Globetrotter discoveries:







most of these photos were lent to me by a member of the Globe manufacturing family, although he never participated in this side of the business and cannot share much in the way of information with any of the above.

I find it interesting that quite a few of the styles never seemed to make it onto the market, or if they did where are they now ?

313

---

Editorial note:  The caravan shown in the last two photos appears to be the 15 ft Clipper Mk11 referred to by 313royal in the previous post.  Don Ricardo

[313royal]

Hi lacem, unfortunately the original photos have been returned to the owner, I do recall that the one with the roo logo was printed in reverse so that the writing was a mirror image of what it should have been.

As to any further information re dates etc. I cant shed any further light at the moment, the family member who has these pics cant elaborate much more info as he was never directly involved in the manufacture of these vans, however I do intend at some stage to meet with him again just to see what other info might be revealed; in the meantime here are a couple of photos taken last year outside what remains of the original plant at Port Rd.Hindmarsh :

[Franklin1]

I have magnified a couple of 313royal's photos, from Page 1, to see if the wording with the kangaroo can be made out. In the first photo, the words look like they could be Globe and Trotter...




In the second photo, which I've reversed, the first word doesn't clearly look like Globe, because the 'b' is the wrong shape (looks more like a 'y' or something like that)...

---

Editorial note: Later discussion led to the conclusion that the signage on the second caravan reads 'Way farer'. Some Globe Trotter caravans were also branded and sold as Wayfarers in Victoria. See here for further discussion. Don Ricardo

[stato]

Hi Folks, its Jill and Dave from Thailand here. Our van is the one posted by Franklin 1, 3 exterior pics and 2 interior pics that is a possible Globe. We are coming home to Adelaide in June and are very sad to leave Bangkok, but the dream of restoring our van is something wonderful to look forward to. A few years ago we had to pull out the ice box for repairs and found that its only insulation was old newspaper from the 1950s as I recall. This is the only date clue we have on the van as there was nothing else in it when we got it. It had rotted sides and no windows when we bought it 10 years ago for $100. We fixed those bits and rewired it and put in new bearings. We have collected an old annexe with wooden poles, wood and canvas camp beds, drop side toaster and look forward to the continued 'hunt'. Ten years ago there was very little info on these restorations and how to go about them. We sanded back the roof as it was in bad condition and re primed and painted it using acrylic paint but now we want to do it properly and after reading the tech board am not sure whether to go for the calico and paint or 'grain silo' paint. We also have to restore the aluminium on front and rear and can see that theres lots of info on this on tech board too. We had to replace the original two part door as it was rotted beyond repair and now we want to make a copy one to replace the new one. We are not clever with woodwork stuff, so will have to pay to get bits made/repaired. We really look forward to meeting you all at future events and any tips you can give us will be really appreciated. Over and out, from Bangkok!

[Franklin1]

1950 Globetrotter caravan:





Posted by harriet, Sept 9, 2008: [one of the photos shows] "Side view of latest van picked up cheap at Bowman's S.A."
..."cleaned some old paint of the back today and found an old dull globtroter name could this be an old one."
..."Removed some of the aluminium off the front today and under it there is masonite that has been painted. The roof is metal and the back is masonite, and the sides are plywood."
..."the logo from what i could see was a round ring with globe up the top and trotter under it with a small kangerroo below that . dont know what was in the ring . then it fell to bits."

(and from a pm to me: "ask the man i bought it from and he confermed it was a globe trotter he bought it new in 1950 . have no photos of when he bought it.")

---

Post by Sportsman1 on 19 November 2008:

"just noticed Harriets post in the Globetrotter section in D H L.

Apparently the ali windows in his globetrotter were fitted as a one off job in 1952!"

And further post by Harriet on 20 November 2008:

"hi harriet here .since found out the ali windows where made by Fred Clark the owner of peninsula carstings at wingfield in sht.aust. then in 1956 he made a lot more for caravans in S.A."

[harriet]

harriet hear . talked to the old owner of the van . he told me he payed an extra fifteen pound six shillings to have ally put on the front and back and three pound for ally windows . he said a bit bloody dear but made the wife happy .

[harriet]

hi harriet here .found out the ali windows and the back and front were instaled in 1952 as one only job . the old wood windows were destroyed .

[Franklin1]

1965 Globe Trotter caravan:



(source: listed on ebay Dec 2008. No useful description included, and no inside photos. The two windows at the rear of the sides suggest a double bunk sleeping arrangement across the back.)

[Don Ricardo]

Globe dual axle caravan refurbished and offered for sale on the forum by Compact in April 2009:

[Franklin1]

1964 Globe Trotter 14ft "Gold Coaster": This van now belongs to winterwood, and was originally purchased new in 1964. The following photo group shows the van when it was acquired by winterwood, and what it looks like after a repaint. Note the "Treg" coupling (...called a "Rubber Block Coupling" on the Order form). The original Order form and Invoice from 1964 can be seen below...

---

Editorial note: The serial number of this van is 2617 as recorded in this post. Don Ricardo

[Deleted]

Here's another 1964 Globe trotter Goldcoaster advertised for sale on ebay in May 2010.

At the time of sale the van was located at Port Pirie South Australia and is serial number 2756.













This was the description the seller had for it.

CARAVAN BONWOOD ALUMINIUM IN VERY GOOD CONDITION FOR IT'S AGE 46 YEARS. DOES NEED SOME WORK INSIDE, CLADING AROUND WINDOWS FLOOR IS OK TWO BEDS AT THE BACK, TABLE AT THE FRONT COPPER WATER TANK. NEEDS FRONT AND BACK WINDOWS REPLACED STILL HAVE ONE WINDOW I CAN BOARD UP FOR TRAVEL. IT IS TOWABLE. HAS BEAN IN SHED FOR 4 YEARS 7ft x16.5ft from towbar to the back from van price two sell.

[Don Ricardo]

Mid- 60's(?) 10 ft Globe Trotter caravan advertised on Ebay, March 2011:

[Don Ricardo]

Hi all,

Discussion about Globe caravans over the last couple of weeks has revealed that all the caravans posted on this thread up to this point seem to be from the mid-50's onwards. The exception is the van acquired by Harriet and shown in Reply #15 (see later comments).

My reason for saying that all the vans (apart from "Harriet's van") are mid-50's is that all the pics show vans that have either (a) aluminium windows, and/or (b) full width, one-piece front and rear windows. We have worked out that, with only a very few possible exceptions, aluminium windows weren't introduced into Australian vans until 1955 onwards. Similarly, full width, one-piece front and rear windows seem to have been only introduced from the mid-50's on (1957?). Some vans in 1955 and earlier had full width front and rear windows, but these were all made up of either two or three separate panes.

The following photo, posted by 313royal above, shows Globes with aluminium windows (left) and full width, one-piece front and rear windows (both left, middle and right):



The photo shows a display of Globe caravans presented by John Bowman of 116 McKillop Street, Geelong, who I suppose may have been an agent for Globe. We can hazard a guess that this photo was taken sometime in 1958 because it also incorporates an Australian Austin Lancer, Series I (on the left), which was was only produced from 1958 to 1959, and an Austin Cambridge model (on the right) which ceased production in 1958. It seems unlikely that John Bowman would have included superseded car models in his display.

Note that as well as the full width, one-piece front and rear windows, the van on the right of the pic also has Bosse & Eunson style wooden side windows, which were introduced around 1953, but were used by some caravan manufacturers, including Globe, into the 60's.

Globe quite probably produced vans with Bosse & Eunson style windows well before 1958, and possibly soon after they were introduced around 1953, but the main point is that Globes with the full width, one-piece front and rear windows seem likely to be built no earlier than the mid-50's.

What came before? We have a few pics of vans which, by their design and shape, seem likely to be early Globes. I will present them below in what I think is fairly probably their chronological order.

Katiejane's van found at Marree, SA near Lake Eyre, and posted in 2008 here:



The second photo shows the same van after restoration had commenced. Note the side profile, the relatively large full width aluminium(?) stone guard at the front, the stable door, the wooden windows including opening front windows, the full width 'eyebrow' over the front windows, and the additional reinforcement under the A-frame.

Caravan sighted by Retro1 (and intrepid companions) at Waikerie, SA and posted in 2005 here:



Note the side profile, the relatively large full width aluminium(?) stone guard at the front, the wooden windows including opening front windows, and the additional reinforcement under the A-frame. No full width 'eyebrow' or stable door on this one though.

Caravan seen in footage in the ABC's recent "Wide Open Road" TV program:


(Source: Australian Broadcasting Commission, Wide Open Road, screened on ABC1 on 30 October 2011. Program no longer available but previously at www.abc.net.au/iview/?WT.srch=1&WT.svl=TV_iview_au#/view/842986 )

Note the side profile, the relatively large full width aluminium(?) stone guard at the front, the wooden windows including opening front windows, the full width 'eyebrow' over the front windows, and the additional reinforcement under the A-frame (the latter was visible as the caravan passed by). It also appears that the windows in this van were of the Bosse & Eunson style with rounded corners, as opposed to the square corners on the windows in the previous vans, dating the van as post-1953.

Van acquired by Stephen&julie in November 2011, which looked like this when found:



Note the full width stone guard.

After some work by Stephen&julie:









Note the side profile, the remnants of the 'eyebrows' over the side windows and door, and the stable door type arrangement. However, there is apparently no additional reinforcement under the A-frame as was typical of Globes through to at least the mid-60's. We don't know what type side windows this van had - whether Bosse & Eunson or square cornered. However, it has fixed front and rear windows with rubber seals as seen on later Globes.

The difficulty with all of this is that no manufacturer's signage was found on any of these vans. However, the shape and features all point to them being Globes built before the mid-50's.

So the final question for this post is: Where does "Harriet's van" fit in? The shape of the van is quite different to any of the caravans shown above, and one would have to assume that it pre-dates any of the others. As indicated in Reply #15, the aluminium cladding and aluminium windows were added after market. The previous owner told Harriet that happened in 1952, but given what we know about the introduction of aluminium windows in Australia, you'd have to think that in fact it was unlikely to have occurred before 1955. Perhaps the van's previous owner's memory of when that occurred was a bit inaccurate on that point, even if they did "keep the wife happy" as the man reported. ;D ;D ;D

This post contains a lot of conjecture and presumptions. As always I am open to correction and/or discussion if you disagree with what I've presented.

Don Ricardo

[relmhayd]

Hi VV’s
After browsing through the forum on Globetrotters, I thought I would add our bit of history on to the site. In January 1968 we hired a 10ft Globetrotter Goldcoaster, from Mal Bamber, Frederick Road Seaton, a suburb in Adelaide, for our honeymoon. Our tow vehicle was a 1963 Morris Elite and to my memory we never used sway bays and referring to the photo we apparently did without towing mirrors. We toured though Southeast South Australia to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road, on to Bendigo returning to Adelaide all in about 10 days. The trip was trouble free except for a slight mishap in peak hour traffic in Melbourne.
Bob