And so it begins ...our Sundowner ..and now a Holidaymaker

[willow5075]

As I mentioned over in the other thread we finally have our VV home.
vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=chat&thread=10385&page=1

HISTORY UPDATE 22nd February 2015

Make - we now know this is a bespoke van built by a gentleman by the name of Arnold Priess
Model - He named it "Sundowner"
Year - completed in 1946 it was originally bondwood then Arnold revamped it in he 1950's with aluminium cladding and windows.

History
Family van of our friends from about 50 years ago, our friend was about 10 or 11 when the family bought it secondhand from the original owner.
Fast forward to 1981 - we rented it from the Ralph for about 12 months and parked it in the in-laws driveway while we built our house.
From there it went to sister-in-laws, more or less on permanent loan, where they were building their house and stayed there for nearly 10 years.
In 1992, they no longer needed it and it was suffering from the wear and tear of 3 lively boys. So we picked it up, brought it home and renovated it. At that time we put new wheels on it, repainted the wood work inside, removed the ancient (and probably dangerous) old gas gear. Put in a bar fridge, resealed the roof.
We also had a new skirt made for it.
We took it on one holiday and when we got home, Ralph, who had heard it was deteriorating but not that it had been done up, decided he wanted it back. He owned it so there was not a lot we could do. He was pleased when he saw that we had done it up and re-imbursed us for the repairs. Anyway, he took it home, parked it under the garage, and there it stayed until now when his lovely daughter gifted it to us.

The Second Reno begins

This weekend was the first opportunity to start looking at what needs to be done. So step one has been to strip it out and clean it all .. curtains down and in the wash, vacuum cleaner busy etc
And also to document everything ..

So starting at the front .. the towing bit ...we think this is OK and we plan to sand blast the old paint off and repaint thsi and all the metal work underneath black.


Sundowner by Willow5075, on Flickr

And from a different angle ..


Sundowner by Willow5075, on Flickr

Inside, I pulled everything out, took down the curtains and gave everything a good vacuum and a wash


Sundowner by Willow5075, on Flickr

While we had morning coffee we enjoyed "Sunny's" profile


Sundowner by Willow5075, on Flickr

[willow5075]

We had a good look underneath - one of the springs had collapsed a bit before it was moved but it seems to have recovered a bit.
Not sure if the nice oak boards give any clues to age or origin?


Sundowner by Willow5075, on Flickr


Oak boards from inside

Sundowner by Willow5075, on Flickr

[willow5075]

We decided to put the annexe up and see how it was and at this point realised there wer no poles - so off to the local camping store ...

Sundowner by Willow5075, on Flickr

And voila ....this is the original annexe



Sundowner by Willow5075, on Flickr

It's in amazing condition!

[willow5075]

We checked all the power - the 240 al works just fine still and there is the framework in for 12volt but some of the wires appear to be disconnected

This is one of the 12v switches


Sundowner by Willow5075, on Flickr

[willow5075]

The MOTH has been trying different polishes for the aluminium and here is a before and after shot
before on the left ..


Sundowner by Willow5075, on Flickr

[willow5075]

So we have a to do list but its not too bad

- roof needs redoing and the hatch which has been sealed up with silicon needs releasing and fixing properly
- polish up the aluminium all over
- replace the fly wire in the door
- get the running gear checked and fixed as needed - we think new springs are needed, we're wondering about brakes but not sure if we need them
replace all window rubbers
- ?replace the water tank - existing tank is copper and was dry - we washed it through and the water is running pretty clear but has little sparkly bits in it - definitely wouldn't use it for drinking and we're thinking maybe we should replace with a new plastic tank - any comments for or against, we'd be interested to hear
- We have booked a site for the Australia Day long weekend as our first major trip to give us a goal but we hope to ready to do a one nighter as a trial before that - maybe just down to West Beach
- Oh and we need to orgainise cushions for the cafe benches that become the double bed!

One thing we did find which we'd forgotten about was old lino - there was a large piece under the front bunk which was loose so we have removed and bagged for disposal but the under the carpet we laid there are lino tiles which we suspect are old enough to contain asbestos so we are pondering whether just to leave them covered because otherwise its a dangerous job to pull them up.

[willow5075]

And here is the original awing s well - still in great condition


Original awning by Willow5075, on Flickr

[shesgotthelook]

Fantastic. What a great history & thanks for sharing.

[Don Ricardo]

G'day Willow5075 and MOTH,

You can never say I'm not persistent!

For what it's worth, I reckon your van is almost certainly no newer than mid-50's and possibly even from the 40's because of it's shape and such things as the hitch, which is quite an early design (to my eyes anyway). After looking at the cladding I am confirmed in my view that the van has had the aluminium sheet added sometime after it was built and has had its original wooden windows replaced with the aluminium framed versions, which are probably larger than the originals.

Having said that, I'd like you to look at the caravan shown in Reply #5 on the Rowvan thread here. That van is on the Rowvan thread because there are some similarities with some Rowvans, but there is no real evidence at this stage that that van is actually a Rowvan. It is only a hypothesis on my part.

However, I think that there are also a number of similarities with your van. I have noted the following:

• Tudor ceiling (which just really indicates that it is an SA built van)
  
• Location of the single windows on each side.
  
• Shape of the wheel arch (quite a shallow curve)
  
• Design of the handles on the A-frame
  
• Not dissimilar hitch design (sort of...) No, I take that back! Having had another look at the hitch on the van I saw, they are almost identical!

AND...I'm wondering if your van has the same stove alcove as shown on the van in Rowvan Reply #5? I can't quite see from your pics, but from what I can see from one of your internal shots it looks as if it may be the same. That style alcove is very unusual, and the only builder we know who used it consistently was Rowvan (one of the reasons I wonder whether the van in Reply #5 is a Rowvan).

You are the ones who know what your van looks like in the flesh, and of course the shapes of the two vans are somewhat different (particularly the back ends). But I am really interested if you agree about the similarities I've mentioned, and whether or not you can see others...

Don Ricardo

[willow5075]

Thanks Don for your great sleuthing!
We do agree that the trailer hitch is almost identical . Having a look at the actual Rowvans pictures available the van doesn't quite look like any of those does it, but I note from their advertising that they did custom built models. The MOTH recalls Ralph saying he' d bought it from a fairly wealthy fellow so perhaps he had it custom made?
Also, the MOTH having had a good look at the "innards" so to speak, doesn't believe it was ever bond wood. we do know that Ralph did not do any refurbishing of that kind.
Does the use of all timber help date it all? Ie no laminates on the door but classic old Formica on the table top only.

The van does have a cooking alcove which is in stainless steel cooking alcove - it did have a cooker very like those in the Rowvans pictures - I'll post a better pic of it later, pretty sure I have one.
Hopefully Ralph's wife may be able to provide some more info in a few weeks time but I think we're getting closer!

[willow5075]

The Moth said their are 4 bolt Holes on ours which may well have been for the folding wheel on the tow hitch which is pictured on the other thread

[willow5075]

A picture of our cooking alcove - still needs a good polish!


van-pic-19-11-12 by Willow5075, on Flickr

[willow5075]

So the family have very kindly dug around in their memory banks and photo collections - here are two early pics of the van


Sundowner History by Willow5075, on Flickr


Sundowner History by Willow5075, on Flickr

And yes, the MOTH had loan of that old Zephyr once too - at the time he nicknamed it the "Cooky Monster "

[cobber]

G'day Willow5075....and DonR,

I would venture to say this van could be from the Western caravan company.

Have a look at the style of how the word "Sundowner" is written in the photo in reply #2 on the Sundowner thread in DHL Here

What do you reckon ?
Cobber.

[willow5075]

Hi Cobber
Although the writing is similar and the name is the same, the similarities seem to end there. I think there are more similarities to the Rowvans

[willow5075]

I searched through all our photo albums and boxes of pictures and this seems to be the only capture of the van when we had it in the 1990s - I take so many photos I'm cranky with myself for not taking more back then

So apologies to my friends who seem to have some rather odd expressions on their face ! Couldn't be to do with the cat on the table could it?

What we are pleased about is that you can see the old number plate which might help us track down when it was registered. We will try through the Birdwood Motor Museum but if anyone has any advice on how to go about a historical rego search then all advice is welcome!


1992smll by Willow5075, on Flickr

[willow5075]

So latest news is that via the Birdwood Museum we have found that the number plate was a car number plate originally registered in 1923! How it came to be on the caravan remains a mystery ......

Sunny is all booked in early in the new year to have her running gear re-furbished - count down to Australia DAY long weekend ...

[willow5075]

We are getting ready to take the van and have the running gear refurbished so the MOTH has been busy stripping the paint on the towing gear and some writing revealed itself



After photos, pencil rubbings etc we think it says:

Lawtons

Pat _ _ _

Trailerhitch

PA _ _ _

455/_ 6

He's also been trying out different polishes and looks like the Purple Polish might be the best.



Ugly green paint has also been stripped off the hubcaps revealing that they were once chrome - we'll be getting them rechromed.

[cobber]

G'day willow 5075,

Those hubcaps appear to me to be what they call "moon hubcaps". If they are pitted you might find it unsatisfactory to get them re chromed.

I got replacements from a local truck accessory place.

Cobber.

[willow5075]

Jan 5, 2013 19:14:59 GMT 10 cobber said:

G'day willow 5075,

Those hubcaps appear to me to be what they call "moon hubcaps". If they are pitted you might find it unsatisfactory to get them re chromed.

I got replacements from a local truck accessory place.

Cobber.

Oh OK thanks for the heads up - I'll pass that on to the MOTH

[cobber]

G'day willow 'n moth,

That trailer coupling you have sure sounds as though it could have come from the US of A.......aye ?
Is there any chance you might be able to decipher the numbers on it as it is possible to do a patent search which might prove interesting

Cobber.

[willow5075]

Jan 6, 2013 11:40:14 GMT 10 cobber said:

G'day willow 'n moth,

That trailer coupling you have sure sounds as though it could have come from the US of A.......aye ?
Is there any chance you might be able to decipher the numbers on it as it is possible to do a patent search which might prove interesting

Cobber.

We'll certainly have another look but will have to wait until we get it back from the caravan place where we have sent it for review and quote to bring the running up to current safety standards. WE had hoped to go away on for the Australia Day long weekend but that is not quite going to plan - I've just cancelled the booking and will have to set a new goal for our first trip.

[cobber]

G'day Willow,

Can I just say ...... what you have is a unique vintage caravan and if you intent to keep it original you don't have to go over the top bringing the running gear up to modern specifications.
Just as long as all the original fittings are working as they were when it was new you are permitted to keep it as it was...... Just like it is with vintage and historic cars

Especially the tow coupling.... It worked then and it'll work now

Cobber.

[jenniewren]

Willow & Moth....that is one very gorgeous shaped vv you have.....and I have always loved the shape of the rowvan....which is what I thought it was when I initially saw your post. I really can't wait to see your vv when you have completed your refurbishing.....and how cool you know it's history! Jenniewren

[willow5075]

Jan 20, 2013 21:17:13 GMT 10 jenniewren said:

Willow & Moth....that is one very gorgeous shaped vv you have.....and I have always loved the shape of the rowvan....which is what I thought it was when I initially saw your post. I really can't wait to see your vv when you have completed your refurbishing.....and how cool you know it's history! Jenniewren

Thanks Jenniewren, we are currently waiting with bated breath for the van repair people to give us the pricing on the running gear etc .....