Who can identify this one???

[little-ply-doozie]

I've recently had the good fortune to find this 'little ply doozie' sitting in a shed near Launceston Tasmania. So I'm now chasing your collective wisdom for it's age and maker.

Having surfed the vv site a little, my impression is that she would have been built in the early 50's, ( or the very late 40's?). As to where and by who ... I've no idea.

Your responses on this thread will be most appreciated.

Neil H.

[JBJ]

Hi Neil,


First things to look at with an obviously unmolested (IE as the original builder put it together) van, are the wheels & tyres.

While its possible that older wheels were used, Its unlikely to be any older than the wheels.Its possible wheels were updated, but that doesnt seem to have been a common practice with old aussie vans

On your van they are 5 stud, & appear to be 13" Holden, which first came out on the FE late in 56.

So its unlikely to be older than that date.

The windows appear to be aluminium framed, again mid 50"s at the absolute earliest.

Lots of bits are out of time sequence to me, namely jockey wheel bracket, gas bottle bracket, fridge, & all the lights externally are late 60's probably at earliest. Its possibly a 60's van, but without records no one ever knows


My guess is homemade, & possibly updated as it was used by the owner at the time.

No matter how old it is, its still a genuine old ply van, well worthy of repair & use.

JBJ

[Deleted]

Hi Neil H ;D

Bloody great to see someone from Tassie here on the forum.
WELCOME
Love the little van.
Cant help with the pedigree but as JBJ has stated .... somewhere between 56 and as late as the early 60's.
Definitely a worth while project..
As with all old Bondwood vans they each have their own character.


A bloke by the name of "Keith Winser" put out a stack of magazines back around this period and your van may have been home made built based on plans in K.W's mags.
No matter what.. You have a unique piece of Australias Touring Heritage and we all look forward to you posting photos of its "road to recovery"

Reddo.... Lake Macquarie ..NSW

[Roehm3108]

Hi Neil

Welcome to the forum, a special welcome to your find! I would reckon that this van has seen some changes over the years - would even go as far as suggest that the aluminium windows were added at a later stage Reason for saying that is because the rear window looks to be wood framed. But I agree with JBJ about the wheels, so my guess would be mid fifties - well, it's as good as anyone else's!!

Certainly looks home-made. But what's important is that it's YOUR find, and will be YOUR resto, no matter how you go about doing it, which means that another little van has been given a new lease of life.

So go for it, and keep us posted on the resto ;D ;D

Ray

[Don Ricardo]

G'day Neil,

Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of V V's. As Reddo said - it's great to have another person hailing from the Apple Isle posting. There are far too few of you, or maybe you're all just the shy and retiring types (like Reddo - well maybe not like Reddo ).

I pretty much agree with JBJ. However, he commented on the windows, and I note that the metal frames seem to have square corners which have been mitred (is that the word?) together and look similar to the steel window frames fitted to houses in the 50's and 60's. In comparison the aluminium windows frames fitted to caravans from the mid-50's on had rounded corners (or rounded bottom corners). This may point to your van having been home built. But can you tell us what your window frames are made of? Are they aluminium or steel?

I was also wondering if you could tell us what the roof of the van is made of? It it treated canvas or fibreglass or what?

Just for what it's worth - I note that your van has an Electrolux fridge of the type fitted from the late 70's or early 80's onwards. So I'd say that there has definitely been an update in that department at some stage.

Don Ricardo

[little-ply-doozie]

Thanks for your welcomes, responses and encouragement!

Yes I’ve noticed Tassie to be poorly represented in the membership. Maybe our shack culture (many Tasmanians built shacks on the coast or ‘up the lakes’ – often on land owned by the crown), and the relative difficulty in travelling off the Island with van in tow, led to a low take-up of vans down here. Besides, Taswegians don’t have much to leave for ….we’ve got it pretty good down here!


Yes JBJ, Holden wheels, 14” across the rim extremities which I think means a 13” wheel.

So, as you say, for it to be earlier than ’56, the wheels on it would need to have been changed post construction.

BUT the windows …… not aluminium ……not steel …………they’re all TIMBER! They’re rebated, butt jointed and dowelled. I’m not sure at this stage, but they’re probably cedar, possibly king billy, and unlikely huon. The small awnings are made from ply, and the gutters/flashings are of metal (the same profile as the corner / edge strip on the van). The flyscreens are all wooden framed. These wooden windows are what led me to the idea of an early 50’s van.



The basic structure of the van is in very good condition, just as when built. The obvious changes since the time of construction are the fridge, stove, floor lino tiles, outside lights, the gas bottle bracket and jockey bracket. And the chrome towel rails I don’t know about. When did these come into use??

These inside shots might give further clues about age…… the cupboard door knobs and hinges, the window and screen mechanisms, the clock, the water tap/pump, the original fabric(?) under the newer mattress covers, etc







Don, the roof from the top of the front windows to the top of the back windows is ply and is covered with what looks to be a very fine weave canvas which has been painted. The most recent coat of paint is black.



One other thing. The copper water tank can only be filled through a bung situated directly in the top of the tank accessed through a hole in the middle of the floor. When did the convenience of external water filler ports become popular?

Reddo, your idea that this van was home-built with reference to the Keith Winser mags seems to me likely to have merit. The craftsmanship is of a very good standard, so whoever made her was no dill.

Looking forward to any further thoughts.

Cheers,
Neil H

[philouise]

hello neil.
great little van.
glad it's vital parts are in good order for you.
love the moon roof look to the rear windows.
love the way the door opens reverse to most others - keeps out unwanted guests, i guess.
and we do have a tassie man in the "classic" section.
all the best. -phil

[Roehm3108]

WOW timber windows all around (photos can be deceiving), copper water tank, timber framing underneath, gotta wonder if it aint more towards the early fifties as you say Neil.

I reckon from here on we would probably be guessing, but, as Reddo would say - It's ALL good cos it all WOOD!

Ray

[morry]

G'day from another Tassie dweller, I've only been here 12 months so I'm still getting my bearings Good work on spotting that little beauty - I've been keeping my eyes open for one but haven't had that kind of luck yet. All the best with the rebuild, Morry