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Post by Franklin1 on Apr 6, 2009 22:56:07 GMT 10
G'day All, just a selection of stuff I've come across in my research... 1. Franklin caravans: This article I found says Franklin started in 1951, a good five years earlier than I was led to believe they started. If this is true, then it casts some doubt over my van being the first Franklin built. I don't think the aluminium windows in my van were available as early as 1951. I'm hoping the article is a misprint, or I'm in trouble   ----------------------------------------- 2. Murrumba Star: I finally found a photo of that weird looking fibreglass van that pops up on the forum from time to time. This version was made from early 1968, and was called the "Mini Star"  ----------------------------------------- 3. Supalite Amphibivan: Did you know that Supalite exhibited a prototype "Amphibivan" in the 1961 Sydney Boat Show? Made from rescote plywood, it was a caravan on the road, and then two fibreglass pontoons could be lowered down from the roof and turn the van into a 'houseboat' sort of thing, and off it would go in the water with an outboard at the back. It was supposed to be a one-off project, but it created huge interest at that Show, and Supalite went on to make it for a few years at least. They were still advertising it in 1964. Where are they all now?? The van looks similar to the Carapark 10/9 boxy shape...  ------------------------------------------- 4. Millard Sunseeker Sundecker: Millard came out with an unusual van or two over the years (...how about a 57ft mobile home?...towed by 17 Mini Minors harnessed like Canadian huskies, ha ha... [ignore that last bit]...). The Sundecker was introduced to the market in 1968 and was available in 21ft or 32ft lengths. The veranda out the back makes this van stand out as something different from many others of that era. Six of them were ordered by a Sydney caravan park for use as on-site hire vans. They were available for a year or so, so there must have been a few sold to the public. I reckon they look great! I want one!!  A retired Tasmanian grazier put in a special order with Millard to make one 34ft long by 9ft wide(!), for his wife and him to live in. The van was too wide to transport by road, so it was put on the Empress of Australia and shipped down there from Sydney. Goodness knows how they got it from the wharf in Tassie to the bloke's place. ------------------------------------------- Some fascinating stories from the old days... cheers, Al. |
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Post by beetlesbailey on Apr 7, 2009 12:13:59 GMT 10
Well,Well.So that's what that van is that I saw in the Dimboola caravan park on the way to ballarat swap in '08.
It looked like a private long term resident's van way down the back but it may be a park/manager owned thing.
Also on another topic I saw in melbourne inner suburb somewhere yesterday an early? olympic painted silver and perhaps with a different chassis as it seemed to sit very high.
Perhaps it is used as an offroader or road gang van.
Unfortunately I was a passenger in someone elses car who was in a huury so got no photo.
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Post by cobber on Apr 7, 2009 13:25:17 GMT 10
Just showing that anything is possible. Apparently the caravan was attached to the fuselage by four large wing nuts... the controls for the plane protruded down through the caravans roof hatch. The wheel at the front became the caravan's jockey wheel and a telescopic tow bar and coupling protruded from the front.  Cobber  |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Apr 7, 2009 19:42:35 GMT 10
"Apparently the caravan was attached to the fuselage by four large wing nuts..."
Ohhhhhh! Yes, I can see one of the wing nuts, but I just thought it was a propeller... How did the plane fly then?
Don Ricardo
(Sorry, Cobber - I just couldn't resist. ;D ;D ;D)
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Post by Don Ricardo on Apr 7, 2009 19:45:11 GMT 10
Beetles, beetles...
"Well,Well.So that's what that van is that I saw in the Dimboola caravan park..."
There were four, no five, vans in Al's post. Don't leave us in suspenders. Which one did you see?
Don Ricardo
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Post by Franklin1 on Apr 7, 2009 20:54:23 GMT 10
I reckon beetles saw a Sundecker in the Dimboola caravan park, but won't tell me Probably wants to keep it for himself...  But nyah, nyah to him, because I reckon I know where to find one... In June 1969, a massive plan was bought to fruition when 63 Millard caravans were shipped by rail from Sydney to Welchpool in WA. The train was 600 yards long (550m) and consisted of 19 special size platform wagons. Three changes of railway gauges were required during the trip, each change requiring the wagons to be jacked up and the wheel bogies changed underneath. The caravans were left in position during all of the changeovers. The whole shipment included one of each of the various Millard models and layouts available at the time. The total value of the shipment was $200,000 (1969 dollars) and was ordered by just one dealer in WA, Bi Tone at Welchpool.  ------------------------------------ So I'm pretty sure there was at least ONE Sundecker van sent to WA. Shouldn't be too hard to track it down Reckon I might call in and see a bloke in a shed in Beverly...he seems to have a good nose for sniffin' out old vans... ;D cheers, Al. ps. the story happened in May 1969, and NOT 1970 as the photo above suggests...plus it was either 63 or 65 vans depending on which newspaper story you want to believe. [One can only hope the Franklin story above is a similar example of inaccurate reporting. ] |
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Post by Franklin1 on Apr 8, 2009 12:17:12 GMT 10
In early 1968 an English migrant, who was a master coach-builder, came to Australia intending to start up a custom caravan-building business in Adelaide. He and his wife brought with them a 28ft converted Bedford diesel 'mobile home' that he had built in England at a cost of $19,000. From the moment they landed they struck trouble, with the Customs authorities siezing their vehicle for two weeks until they paid import duty on it. Twelve months later, in early 1969, the couple had decided to head back to England, and the vehicle was put on the market. If it hadn't sold by the end of the Sydney Royal Easter Show that year, they would ship it back with them. (...it cost $2000 to ship it out). The vehicle has four berths and has lights that can operate on gas, electricity or batteries. The tiled fireplace has an enclosed burner that uses coke, coal or wood. The driver's compartment is carpeted and has an intercom system. The vehicle has only done 7,300 miles and travels about 25 to 28 miles to the gallon. As you can see in the photo below, it was for sale here at $12,000.  [ And the million-dollar-question is...Did it sell, or was it taken back??  ] |
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Post by beetlesbailey on Apr 8, 2009 15:22:07 GMT 10
Sorry Don Ricardo, it was the verandah type van but weather it was Millard or not I dont know. Did others make a van with a verandah?
The Millards to W.A. story is interesting as I had a '70 Millard 22' with windows like those on the train.
I believed at the time ('73) that in '71 they had the louvre type windows.
can anyone confirm this for our classic vanners?
Cheers Beetles
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Post by Franklin1 on Apr 8, 2009 19:57:22 GMT 10
Beetles, having spent a bit of time lately with my nose buried in the archives, I can tell you that Millard introduced the 3-panel louvre wind-out windows at the Melbourne Caravan Show in September 1970.
The Sydney Caravan Show had been held a few months earlier in May that year, however I can't find any record of the windows being exhibited there. I presume the new design was finalised for the market in the second half of 1970.
Your 1970 Millard must have been made in the period up to, say, September.
cheers,
Al.
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Post by Franklin1 on Jul 2, 2010 11:33:12 GMT 10
G'day All, right at the start of this thread I posted a newspaper photo of a Millard Sundecker caravan (I incorrectly typed 'Sunseeker' in the post). These were one of the more interesting designs in the caravanning world in the late 1960s, incorporating a rear deck on the van. There is a 21-footer currently on ebay, located in SA, chassis number M9637, 1968-build. Peer through the shadecloth hung around the rear, and you'll see the deck...  Great for small intimate V.V parties! ;D cheers, Al. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2010 10:33:45 GMT 10
Amazing,people start talking about sundecker Millards and one pops up!Have never seen one in the flesh,but have seen a photo of one Graham Kennedy had for a dressing room,but it was a 30 fter.A caravan park in Rosebud(which is now a housing estate) had a couple of Roma vans with back verandahs in the late 60s,wonder where they are now?
Cheers
hughdeani
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Post by DC3Td on Jul 4, 2010 12:15:34 GMT 10
It took us Aussies a while to pick up on the 'sun deck' design, for as early as `61 Bluebird Pacific (UK, amongst others) were sporting this style.Similarly Astral Clearview in the same year were selling their full width/height front windowed `vans. Berkeley like others, also produced f/r wrap around & angular aluminium framed windows in `52. cheers gordon
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rex
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Post by rex on Jul 8, 2010 15:28:55 GMT 10
I " think " there is a SunDecker/seeker in the caravan park at Trial Bay , it didn't look that big tho . And it looks pretty permanent !
I don't have a photo .....sorry
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