The oldest tandem vintage van????

[JBJ]

Hi All,


As I have a 1956 tandem, I've been looking around trying to determine when the first tandem was commercially produced in Australia.



This should get you historians going, as its something that doesnt seem real easy to determine.

Could it be that our Deejay is the oldest regularly used vintage tandem van in Australia ?

By regularly used, I mean registered, & used on a regular basis, every couple of months or so.

Just a discussion point.

I'd love to know that there are older tandems out there still in use, or if not, still in storage

JBJ

[Jennison]

The jennison trailer engineering ambulance caravan produced for trials for the aust army during WW2 would be the earliest commercially built tandem axle VV I reckon. ;D ;D
jenno ;D ;D

[JBJ]

Hi Dave,

There is an advert showing my van( or an identical one. I dont think a lot would have been built the same) in the Deejay history dated 1956.

The original owner stated to the previous purchasers (I believe) that it was bought in 1956.

As I wasnt present when it was bought originally, I can only go by what I'm told.

I know aluminium windows were used in vans in mid 50's from other sales brochures, so I see no real reason to disbelieve what I've been told at this stage.

But this is only meant as a "find out" thread, so lets see what eventuates before we split hairs on it.

I just love the early tandems. They are so much easier to tow & reverse than the big single axle vans.

JBJ

[cobber]

G'day Den,

I think the short answer to your Question....”could it be that our Deejay is the oldest regularly used vintage tandem van in Australia” is.... yes..... maybe.
Bit of a toss up between your Deejay and oldfarts Fiesta aye?.

Regardless.................what you have is a unique part of Australia's Touring Heritage

If you click HERE you can see a post from the 1948 “The Caravan & Touring in Australia Magazine where they claim the “Roven Pan American” caravan is “the first with the 4 wheel principal with an over-riding brake system” …... but I don't think we have seen one of them in the flesh....... yet.
It has chromium plate on brass windows, hard to distinguish from aluminium in photos. Also the 1948 Springbok” by New Horizon's had chrome plated brass windows..... but again, none of these exist today..... that we know of, and it wasn't a tandem anyway

1959 Roadhavens had metal windows..... and it wasn't a tandem anyway

There is a discussion about aluminium windows HERE ( that needs a bit of updating me thinks) but it does seem to indicate that they would have been available in 1956 for certain sure.

Anyway..... when it comes to tandems I reckon it's between you and oldfarts ;D

Cobber.

[raym]

Hi JBJ

This is a newspaper clipping from The Adelaide News – the Adelaide evening newspaper dated Thursday 12th April 1955.

It is about a caravan built by my father and his partner who traded as Broadway Caravans. It was a 20’ long tandem, commercially built although a one off special.



As the wording on the newspaper clipping is hard to read it is retyped as follows:-

A Brompton caravan firm has built a 20 ft. long American-style caravan for a travelling salesman.
The trailer has a four wheel bogey system, instead of the normal two wheels.
• Right: Mr. H.J. Mossop, of Mossop & Murphy, gives the caravan a touch-up with the paint brush.
The caravan was ordered by Mr. H. Mayfield, of Kingston Park, a sewing machine salesman.
Mr. Mayfield will use each end of the caravan for living purposes, and the centre will be converted into a showroom during the day and a lounge at night.
Mr. Mayfield is a Canadian by birth but his idea for the “long, long trailer” came from an American magazine.
The caravan which is 8 ft. wide, is fitted with air brakes and will be towed by a powerful car.
First in SA
Mr. Mossop said today the trailer was the first of its type in SA to his knowledge.
“The beauty of it is that another 10 ft. can be added to the chassis of the caravan with no trouble” Mr. Mossop said.
Mr. Mossop said this type of trailer would not be suitable for the average private man, but could be used by large firms.
Four men took seven days to construct the caravan.

raym