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Post by exocet on Aug 9, 2007 20:05:16 GMT 10
Has anybody seen the story/pictures in Caravan World, page 138 in this months editon. Its about whether there is room in Aus for a caravan museum, OF COURSE THERE IS! Anyway the pics are only small, but i think one may be a Don and another that would have to be Australia's first Poptop, anyway it's worth a look!
Cheers Exocet
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2007 20:39:13 GMT 10
speaking of Pop Tops, when were they first mass produced by the Aus manufacturers  Some of those with CW mags dated around late 60's early 70's may know ...... |
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Post by exocet on Aug 9, 2007 20:59:56 GMT 10
Hi Mark T hazarding a guess i reckon '73 to '75. There was story about one either on here or was it Caravan World?? I think that was about a '73, but i'm sure somebody else will know.
Cheers Exocet
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Post by dntpitts on Aug 9, 2007 21:08:20 GMT 10
Dave P
There certainly would be some oddities for a museum if one was set up, I remember a 2 story van in Victoria, it was in a magazine I have somewhere being towed by a struggling Landrover, and in Victor Harbor South Australia I remember a T model Ford with a Gypsy style Van on Its trayback, it would be good to preserve some of the bigger vans that get overlooked because of their size.
Bye
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Post by paparazzi on Aug 10, 2007 10:27:49 GMT 10
Hi,
There was an article about a 1973 Duncan poptop caravan in the July 2007 issue of Caravan World, page 125. It's believed to be one of the earliest around.
Papa & Mama Razzi
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Post by exocet on Aug 10, 2007 20:03:01 GMT 10
Hi Papa & Mama Razzie, the story about the Duncan poptop was the one i was trying to think of, ah well i remembered the year anyway!
Exocet
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2007 17:56:28 GMT 10
thanks Papa & M$#@ Razzi .....well ......whoever you are ;D I worked with a woman few years back who had a 1972 pop top caravan ......... I don't buy the CW mag, so didn't see the article you're referring to, maybe next time we catch up we can have a drink with  I mean over the Duncan....... poptop ;D |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Sept 6, 2007 23:36:24 GMT 10
Has anybody seen the story/pictures in Caravan World, page 138 in this months editon. Its about whether there is room in Aus for a caravan museum, OF COURSE THERE IS! Anyway the pics are only small, but i think one may be a Don and another that would have to be Australia's first Poptop, anyway it's worth a look! Hi Exocet, I caught up with a copy of the September edition of Caravan World today at the local library, and had a look at the article you mentioned. The caravan in the photo you referred to looks a lot like a Don, but in the end I'm not sure that it is. There are a few unusual features: 1. The front window is mounted higher than I have seen on a Don. Normally the bottom sill of the front window is in line (or slightly below) the bottom edge of the side windows. 2. The beading to cover the joins between the panels on the front of the van are vertical rather than horizontal. 3. As far as I can tell, the tow coupling and A-frame don't seem to match the famous (infamous?) Don set-up. 4. The waste bucket appears to be on the wrong side of the wheel for a 12 ft or 14 ft Don. 5. The windows don't appear to be leadlight, although it's really hard to tell. So, maybe only a Don look-alike? Others may think differently. What do other Don tragics who have seen the photo think? And if it isn't a Don, what is it? Apart from the van we've been discussing, the article is accompanied by photos of another couple of really interesting vans including the early pop-top you mentioned. I wouldn't mind knowing a bit about them. Regarding the argument the author of the article (Lloyd Junor) makes for a National Caravan Museum, I agree with you Exocet - there is undoubtedly a strong case for a museum to preserve caravan history and heritage. But Lloyd seems to be unaware of something happening over on the other side of the continent that we all know about. Who's going to tell him Mark T? ;D Don Ricardo |
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Post by cobber on Sept 7, 2007 9:04:39 GMT 10
All of the above guesses regarding when the first “Pop Top” hit the market are apparently spot on. But apparently what led to the invention of the “Pop Up” was the prior invention of the “Pop Down”. This article from the January 2000 “On The Road” magazine makes for interesting reading (don’t give up before you get to the last few paragraphs).  Gerry Ryan unfortunately passed away last March. Jayco is now under the control of Gerry's son. Regarding Lloyd Junor’s item in “Caravan World” he does say in the last paragraph “ If there are people interested in bringing this idea to reality, let’s hear from you.”I did fire off an email to him letting him know about this site and Marks initiative in W.A. and got a nice response from the editor ........ the more positive responses they get to the idea the better...... “where the bloody hell are youse”...send him an email at..... caravanworld@traderclassifieds.com.au Cobber. |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Sept 9, 2007 20:53:01 GMT 10
Hey Cobber, Your email to the Editor of Caravan World re the need for a National Caravan Museum made it into the Letters page in the October edition. You got in a plug for www.vintagecaravans.com and Mark's dream as well. Nicely done!! Don Ricardo |
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Post by cobber on Sept 10, 2007 8:56:05 GMT 10
Thanks Don,
That would be the first “letter to the editor” I have ever had published (not that I am a serial "letter to the editor" writer you understand).
Just goes to show, you have to be careful what you write.
Cobber.
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Post by Roehm3108 on Sept 10, 2007 18:59:16 GMT 10
Watson Caravans in Coffs Harbour have a Propert which has a poptop in the rear inner shell section. Watson claims it was an original. If so, perhaps Tom Propert was the originator of the poptop ;D ;D ;D  Ray |
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Post by cobber on Sept 11, 2007 19:32:35 GMT 10
Are you there sutcac..... Clyde !!!In the October “Caravan World” on page 22 there is an item (from a reader) about their “Mintern Expandavan” that appears to work on exactly the same principal as your “Scharf” van, except it only expands on two sides. The article says only eight were made in the 1970’s, by which time they had regressed to making them in fiberglass   Do you know if there is any connection between this Mintern mob and your Mr. Scharf? if not, may I respectfully suggest you email “Caravan World” and let them know the design principal was invented in the late 60’s, in plywood, by Mr. Scharf. (They do ask for some feed back on any information available) Cobber.
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Post by humpty2 on Sept 11, 2007 20:22:49 GMT 10
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Post by sutcac on Sept 11, 2007 21:40:00 GMT 10
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I mean over the Duncan....... poptop ;D 
;D