Wilson Wheel Works (Mayne, Qld)

[Don Ricardo]

WILSON WHEEL WORKS

Mayne, Brisbane, Queensland

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On 12 February 2012, Nemesis wrote:

Hi Everyone..
We have had this little ripper for a few years now and it has never let us down.. BUT, Time for it to "Get Out in the World" again, ..
Vintage Caravan 1950.. Located in Townsville, ... Wilson Wheel Works (Bris) DIY Ply Kit. Still registered and used till late 2011 .. (Melb – Bris Return .. Plus weekend trips thru Nth Qld) .. Been sitting under cover since 12/11 ...Needs some TLC but overall a usable van as is...

Later that day Nemesis provided the following additional information:

...Length 11 feet,.(+ A-Frame/Draw bar 2 Foot6 Inch).
Width 6 foot 8 inch
Height 7 Foot 6 inch (+ 4 inch liftable Roof Vent)
Tare unknown as it was under the weight/size to require this for rego...

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On 14 February 2012, Nemesis made the following photos of the Wilson Wheel Works van available:

























Note that the van appears to have two sets of double bunks on either side of the rear of the van, with two windows on each side to suit this arrangement. Quite an unusual layout for a van of this size and era.

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After some discussion back and forth between Nemesis and Don Ricardo, Griffin wrote on 17 February 2012:

Hi Don R

The suggestion seems to be that the Wilson Wheel Works provided the whole kit for this van to be home built, as did various other parts suppliers but WWW at least put an identity tag on their chassis.

Others, such as Henderson's Federal Spring Works, Central Spring Works, and others, supplied all the chassis doings for home builders and I think Henderson's even offered full kits later on. Did they tag their chassis though?

The attached advert for Austral Motor Wheel Works shows they also offered the complete chassis frame, wheels and axle, springs, jacks and couplings. No offer of any frame or other type of kit but if they attached a nameplate to their chassis then any home built van surviving would appear to be an AMWW make.

Does this in some way detract from inventive home builders who built their own designs on readily available chassis?

The advertisement is from 'How to Build Caravans' 1948-49 edition, by John D. Porter.

Just some food for thought.

George

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Don Ricardo replied later that same day:

Hi Griffin,

Yes, I'm sure you're right. The WWW nameplate actually says 'Prefab & Do It Yourself Caravans and Trailers'. It's a whole other angle on V V history, isn't it?

Interestingly, a Google search seems to indicate that Wilson Wheel Works were around until around 2003 or 2004, and used to get quite a few pats on the back for their work, although the general view seems to have been that they were expensive.

Maybe Rollydog can tell us a bit more seeing that he is in the tyre/wheel business in Brisbane?

Don Ricardo

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To which Rollydog responded on 19 February 2012:

Wilson Wheel Works were the main wheel / axle specialists in Brisbane for many many years. When I was 17 (now 50) I remember buying parts off them at Abbotsford Road, Mayne, corner of Burrows street. They were the main ones doing trailer axles/springs etc so may have done complete caravan kits. WWW closed down many years ago but someone said they were still operating in a small way a short distance away. I'll have a sniff around and see if I can find any more info on them with caravans.
Rollydog

[cruisindoug]

A couple of weeks ago we went away on the spur of the moment up to Noosa North Shore for the weekend.

While we were there a couple of people came over for a chat, one of the guys said his father built a Wilson Wheel Works caravan from a kit (and it looked just like our Skyline ).

He said he distinctly remembers picking up the chassis ready to tow, with the complete van kit packed on top as a flat pack. Must have come pre registered or maybe it was on a permit, because he remembered his father towing it home.

[johno]

I have just purchased a Wilson Wheel Works which has been stored and not used for 20 years absolute original inside with ice chest and metho stove and upholstery trying to download photos but no success

[brucenan]

Pics and plans of Johno's van he sent to me.

[Don Ricardo]

Further photos of Johno's Wilson Wheel Works 'Sapphire 12' ' kit van, as listed on Gumtree in September 2017...

...except I'm wondering if it looks a little longer than 12 ft?  Perhaps the builder extended the length?



















A photo of the plans for the van, and some other photos supplied by Johno before it was painted and refurbished can be seen higher up this thread.

[Don Ricardo]

Wilson Wheel Works kit caravan listed on Gumtree in October 2016 and September 2017:















Nice annexe too!



Note that the first photo is from the September 2017 Gumtree listing, while the remainder of the photos are from the earlier listing.  The photos indicate that the coupling was changed over from the original in the intervening period.

Don Ricardo

[kenny]

Hi Don, happy for you to move this post to the most appropriate spot.

A colleague of mine at work provided me these photos recently. It depicts a Sapphire 12 Caravan.  I believe the two photos are of the same van.  The owner was plumber/handy man so minor adjustments (ie trim) are probable.

This van still exists today and with its paperwork was this blue print. The blue print shows "Wilson's Wheel Works". I've seen that sign from the train at Abbotsford Road for years going to work. I'm going see if its still there (it was attached to the rear of the building facing the railway line - long forgotten about). Enjoy!

[Don Ricardo]

HI Kenny,

Thanks for the post about your colleague’s photos of a Sapphire caravan.  They’re great to view.

As you can see, I’ve moved your post to the Wilson Wheel Works thread, because this Sapphire van was based on plans apparently sold to home builders by Wilson Wheel Works. The WWW Sapphire is a different caravan to the Sapphire vans built in NSW for sale through Carapark.

As you’ll see from some of the posts higher up this thread, there is at least one other van built that was based on the Sapphire 12’ plans, although it looks as if the design and shape of that van was modified from the specifications.

(I’ve also replaced your photos with copies which will be more permanent. ‘Attachment’ photos disappear after a while. Hope that’s ok?)

Don Ricardo

[kenny]

Thanks Don!  As more come through I'll post.  Currently the house and shed have been sold where the caravan is.  The house has to be raised by the new owner to extract the van (due to other properties building up around it since the 70s) and returned to the original family, and then the new home owner will build in underneath.  I understand works are commencing soon on the raising of the house.

Regards kenny