DOLLY WHEELS

[cobber]

Dolly Wheels.

From the 1962 “Caravan and Touring Manual” an advertisement for both the “Jones Dolly Wheel” and the “Hutchinson Caravan Dolly”.
I think both were around long before 1962.... maybe somebody has knowledge of when each of them hit the market ?

THERE IS NOW A SEPERATE THREAD PERTAINING TO THE 'JONES DOLLY WHEEL' IF YOU CLICK HERE





The Hutchinson add. also appeared in 1961 and showed the "new Level -Ride Dolly" at that time, note it only has one ball socket which fits on the car ball... the 'van "A" frame is bolted under the "U" channel on the Dolly as shown in the next add. from 1961 that also asks "Is a Dolly Wheel necessary ?"



This photo of the real thing is fitted between an FJ Holden and a “Roadhaven” caravan that was on display at the “Cora Lynn” show 5th Oct 2008..... notice how the photos below show this model Hutchinson Dolly Wheel has provision for using "Load Levelers".



And the photos below are of a Hutchinson Dolly Wheel on ebay June 2012.






Cobber.

[Don Ricardo]

Hi all,

In answer to Cobber's comment a while ago about when dolly wheels were introduced, here is a 1956 advert for the Hutchinson model:


(Source: Keith Winser, Australian Caravan & Touring Manual for 1956, p 139)

So Hutchinson dolly wheels were around in the mid-50's. The car (an early 50's Austin??) and the caravan pre-date 1956, although of course that doesn't really tell us anything. You can put a fridge in a 1949 caravan, but that doesn't make the fridge 1949. ;D ;D ;D

Cobber - interesting to see the Odgers name pop up in the 1962 Hutchinson advert...

Don Ricardo

[cobber]

What are you saying Don R........ it's a wonder Mr Odgers didn't claim to have made the Hutchinson Caravan Dolly

Cobber.

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Cobber,

I wasn't saying anything except that Mr Odgers' name keeps turning up... He seems to have had fingers in a few pies.

Don Ricardo

[sportsman 1]

Hi Don,

I spoke to Larry in S.A. about the Clipper and he is going to copy some stuff for me. During the conversation he mentioned that Keith Odgers was involved with the Clipper brand in Adelaide. Thought I had read something about him in here recently!

I dont know if you knew this connection, hopefully I can find out some more in due course. We are picking up the Clipper this weekend so will be in touch a little later.

cheers, Leigh.

[cobber]

G'day Leigh,

The little exchange between Don R and myself above was to do with the fact that Keith Odgers name keeps popping up associated with various caravan brands, the amusing thing from my observations is that his advertisements sometimes give the impression that he is the manufacturer of the 'vans, as alluded to in the thread at--
vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=chat&action=display&thread=2081

What I am thinking is that he was a fairly energetic dealer who sourced 'vans from various makers and possibly fitted them out to his customers requirements...... no shame in that, I think lots of dealers were doing that back in the 1950's particularly.

I'll see if I can find any reference to Keith Odgers & Clipper.

I can tell you are getting excited about picking up your “Ripper Clipper”.... enjoy .

Cobber.

[Flattop]

Aug 22, 2008 11:03:00 GMT 10 cobber said:

Dolly Wheels.


This photo of the real thing is fitted between an FJ Holden and a “Roadhaven” caravan that was on display at the “Cora Lynn” show 5th Oct 2008.



Cobber.

But did he actually tow with these in place? I have an idea they were banned some years ago. I have a very good Hutchinson set (minus levelling bars), but at this point dubious about using them.

[cobber]

G'day Flattop,

I contacted the RTA here in NSW and they say that both the "Hutchinson" and the "Jones" dolly wheels are still legal to use, in fact they said you can make one ourself ..... I'm not sure I would go down that track though

Best shot is to contact your own traffic authority and see what they say.

Cobber.

[exocet]

Gidday Cobber, our 1952 VV Dorothea had Dolly wheels when we bought her in 1997, fine to tow with, terrible to reverse though, from what info i have of her history i think they with her from new. Unfortunately because we didn't use them, my wife sold them in a garage sale she had while i was away fishing. they were in excellent condition....... $20!

Exocet

[Flattop]

Thanks for the info cobber and exocet, think I will just park them up, as my view on reversing with the dolly wheel would be tiresome to say the least. Plus the weight will lower the old car another couple of inches (-:

[cobber]

A 1959 advertisement for the “Hendy caravan dolly” by “Hendy Trailer & Caravan Pty. Ltd." Melbourne Vic.

The "Hendy" patent number can be seen HERE






Cobber.

[Don Ricardo]

Hutchinson Caravan Dolly

Listed under "Van Aids: Latest Developments" in the 1956 edition of Winser:


(Source: Keith Winser, Australian Caravan & Touring Manual for 1956, p 159)

The trailer conversion is also seen in the 1962 advertisment posted by Cobber above. Judging by the overall dimensions of the caravan dolly, the trailer would have been pretty small. Presumably the trailer tray came with an extended bolt-on draw bar.

Don Ricardo

[cobber]

This advertisement from the November 1959 Motor Manual extols the virtues of the "Hutchinson Mini-Dolly" and also claim that Hutchinson and Carapark also offer single wheel Dollys.

An advertisement in the same magazine shows the familiar two wheel Hutchinson Dolly so ......... has anybody seen a Hutchinson or Carapark single wheel Dolly

The fact that the text is under the wrong photo and heading might indicate that Keith was having a bad day



Cobber.

[Franklin1]

What was on Murray's old van??...



...and there was the Jennison Pathfinder that kingy found a year or so back. Dunno the brand though...




cheers,
Al.

[Franklin1]

...and of course, "Charlwyn" had the Jones dolly wheel with the Houdaille shock absorber...



_{[...do I sound like I know what I'm taking about...or what??!! ]}

[tubbygra51]

i can find out more info onhutchinson dolly wheel i have set 4 sale 0409173461

[dave]

I contacted VicRoads about the Hutchinson dolly last year.

They told me it wasn't legal , but there was a permit available on a "case by case" basis from the permits department.

The first trick is to get them clear on what you're talking about.

You may be more successfull if you take in a photo and tell them you will be using it for vintage club runs, not for general towing.

[cobber]

These photos were contributed by Jennison, showing the Jones Dolly Wheel setup as fitted to a 1959/60 16ft Jennison Caravan



Showing the components of the “really fool proof coupling” referred to in the blurp






Cobber.

[seeshell]

Hi All

In the investigation about our van, The Blue Flyer, I have been able to get in touch with the builder's wife, Noelene, who is now 91 years old - and sharp as a tack!

She mentioned there is a permanent on site van with a Jones Wheel at Shoal Bay Holiday Park, 71 Shoal Bay Road, Shoal Bay NSW 2315.

Someone who is nearby may wish to stop in and have a look and get some photos of it - I'm curious about what kind of van it is attached to!

Cheers
Seeshell

[Franklin1]

The following Viscount caravan was listed on the internet recently. It might date from anywhere between 1969 and 1971, but I post it here out of interest...






I didn't think the Jones Dolly Wheel company lasted to the end of the 1960s, but I don't know for sure. Which means I'm not sure if this was fitted originally or was retro-fitted some time after the van was built, using a second-hand Dolly wheel.

cheers,
Al.

[cobber]

A couple more “Jones Dolly Wheels”

Note the different ways the ball is retained in the socket.

This one on seeshells “Blue Flyer”

THERE IS NOW A THREAD DEVOTED TO THE 'JONES DOLLY WHEEL' YOU CAN SEE IF YOU CLICK HERE



And this one submitted by humpty2 appears to be the more usual way of retaining the ball... note the way the knurled nuts are prevented from turning loose



Cobber

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Cobber,

Glad to hear there's someone else around who hasn't headed off for Cowra yet. I was beginning to feel lonely! (Yes, I know there are quite a few others, but all those posts saying "only one more sleep" have been giving me itchy feet!)

Regarding the way in which the balls are retained in the socket on those dolly wheels, am I right in thinking that the ball stays in the socket permanently, and the bolt part is the bit that's attached to the tow bar each time - a bit like the Don captive ball system?

Don Ricardo

[Jennison]

DonR
From what I can work out, looking at the one I photograghed and the bits of the jones assembly I have at home the answer to that is effectively yes. A lot less mucking around anyway, than going to the trouble of separating the 2 piece "ball clamp" (for want of a better name)
I guess seeshell must be considered our guru on this question since she has one in full working order!
jenno

[seeshell]

Hi All

As seen in the other Jones Wheel, the ball is captive within the socket. It certainly looks as if they other wheel can more easily remove the ball. We could remove ours if we undo the bolts, but to me that seems like it was intended really for maintenance. Mostly, we:

a. undo the bolt underneath the tongue and take the ball off the tongue (tongue stays with the car).

b. pull the removable tongue out of towbar, leaving it connected to the ball (tongue stays with the ball on the van).

In both cases we don't take the ball out of the Jones assembly. Murray who owned the van before us must have done the same; you can see the end of the ball dangling down...(uh, that sounded bad...)

I think that our arrangement is original because there is a Jones plaque on the top of the ball coupling which matches all the others on the assembly, and there's no evidence of later welding or repairs around the tabs. Though the ad is small, it also doesn't appear to have the hand locking system, either.

So, I wondered which system came first - the total captive system, or the one with the very nifty lock down handles which also captures the ball but is a bit more "removable". Based on the advertisement for the Jones wheel that "eliminates greasing" it might suggest a captive ball during the time that ad was running - but who knows what went before or after.

Thoughts?

Cheers
Seeshell

[cobber]

G'day Don R 'n Jenno,

Yes we will wait to get the good oil from seeshell but in the mean time here's my take on the situation

If you were disconnecting the van and not intending to use it again for some time one would undo the nut under the goose neck but.... if you were just disconnecting overnight in the caravan park I reckon it would make it easier to reconnect in the morning if the two knurled nuts were undone and the van lifted off the ball in the usual fashion.

Now.... with the two ordinary nuts and bolts set-up on seeshells van you would have a dilemma in the overnight stay, undo one nut or undo two nuts ...... sorry seeshell I don't think your set-up is original

Cobber.

P.S (seeshell and I were both talking at once)...I should have waited for seeshell to give us the good oil.....OK i'll take back the bit about your's not being original sunshine and stick my neck out and say yours is the most recent original one.

One can see that if either one of the knurled nuts was to become loose and slip sideways disaster would happen so.... the later models were modified by doing away with the knurled nuts.......... phew !

Cobber.