what is this van

[what is mrytle]

hi people i am new to this site and would like to know if anybody knows or suspects what my van (her name is mrytle) is she is 12ft x 6ft6 wide ,made of timber frame and bondwood cladding . She also has backalite nobs and styleish hinges an old primus stove and a ice chest, if anyone can help with an approx age or make i would be stoked ,i have attached some photos which may help
thanks paul

[paul]

s541.photobucket.com/albums/gg388/pumadecals/
photos are at the above link

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Paul (and Myrtle),

Welcome to the forum. I'll start the ball rolling on your van and see how many people disagree with me! ;D ;D ;D

Regarding age, the things I notice about Myrtle are:

• Aluminium windows - at leat mid-50's
  
• Full width front and back windows - probably at least late 50's
  
• Bondwood and not aluminium - probably late 50's at the latest.
  
• Four seasons hatch - probably at least late 50's
  
• Quite rounded shape where the roof meets the front and back walls (rather than a rounded rectangle) - probably at least late 50's
  
• Ice box rather than a fridge - probably not later than early 60's
  

Based on the above, I am guessing late 50's.

As for make, that is a lot harder. She has a porthole and the door appears to open right at the bottom of the frame - maybe there is a step inside the van? She also has a 'lip' at the back where the back wall meets the floor (and maybe at the front as well, but I can't tell from the pics?). The lip and the porthole were features of some South Australian Clipper caravans, so maybe that's a clue...or maybe not!

A couple of questions:
(1) Does the porthole have a picture sandblasted onto it, or is it just plain glass.
(2) What is the floor covering made of and what does it look like? Does it have a design inlaid into it?
(3) From the pics, the van appears to have an external vent where the wardrobe seems to be. Does the vent serve a purpose?
(4) There seems to be a blue sign above the front windows. What does it say?

Answers to some of these questions may help to work out a bit more about the origins of Myrtle.

Let's see what others say. There are internal features which will help to date your van which I am sure that other folks will be able to help you with better than me.

Don Ricardo

[paul]

thanks don
it does have a step going in the door ,the porthole is a very heavy frosted glass no ectching visible,the vent is where the previous owner had a small fridge which is also the warddrobe , the floor is tassy oak with a grey and white checker pattern old lino
i want to reclad the old girl with fresh ply and see if i can find the origonel rear window as the full size window has been put in at a latter date
thanks any help would be appreciated paul

[paul]

the sign is just a vinyl sticker with her name on it mrytle