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Post by hilldweller on Nov 15, 2012 16:30:12 GMT 10
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Post by Roehm3108 on Nov 15, 2012 16:58:44 GMT 10
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Post by hilldweller on Nov 16, 2012 16:11:32 GMT 10
Impressive willpower Ray Only one pic as I haven't got the new-old van home yet and it is FULL of random stuff and bits of fabric pinned everywhere so I haven't been able to have a good look, but there are a few gems including a cool set of steps and a 1930s touring guide among the 'stuff'. I've been stalking this van for a couple of weeks , making unnecessary detours in order to catch a glimpse - can't wait to get it home and sort it out and take stock. Can post more pics in a few days if the mods are OK with pics of another NZ van.
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Post by Roehm3108 on Nov 16, 2012 16:54:38 GMT 10
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Post by shesgotthelook on Nov 16, 2012 16:55:53 GMT 10
I understand completely. My darling hubby understand me & my need for another van, but how to explain it to others??? That is my biggest fear is the comments like 'what are you going to do with it?' Because I don't really have the answers
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Post by barkpaint on Nov 16, 2012 18:42:27 GMT 10
I will not repeat this, more piccies pleeeeeeese......... that old van is soooooo cute. Cannot wait to see what is inside...... cheers, Heather
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Post by DC3Td on Nov 17, 2012 9:51:20 GMT 10
I`m with Barkpaint on this...more pics please.
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Post by humpyboy on Nov 17, 2012 11:36:43 GMT 10
I`m with Barkpaint on this...more pics please. Some people are bit slow aren't they?
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Post by Don Ricardo on Nov 17, 2012 14:33:23 GMT 10
Can post more pics in a few days if the mods are OK with pics of another NZ van. Hi Hilldweller, While the forum is obviously about Australian caravans, I think that most members find it interesting to hear a bit about V V's from outside our island continent providing they don't flood the forum (which they haven't). Indeed threads about vans from overseas have been well received - yours included. Apart from that, in the case of NZ, it's posts like yours about your Caravelle that have uncovered some of the connections between the vans built in Australia and those built in NZ, which is a very interesting facet of the history of Aussie (and Kiwi) caravanning. No doubt there are more connections yet to be revealed. So I reckon the answer is - post away. My only suggestion is that we move this thread to the "Members' Photo Album" section. which I'll do if you're OK with that... Don Ricardo
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Post by hilldweller on Nov 18, 2012 16:48:57 GMT 10
Thanks Don Ricardo, and yes feel free to move this thread as you see fit.
Now I was going to post some pics, but the new photobucket has other ideas. Will try again later or tomorrow.
The van's now home though and I've spent today turfing out stuff and cleaning. It still doesn't feel clean, but it's better than it was and will hopefully have lost some of the awful musty smell.
Couldn't decide whether to risk towing it home or get it trucked, then realised there was a WoF station only a few hundred metres away. Towed it along there very very slowly to see what it failed on and to my surprise it nearly passed! The inspector let me go down into the pit to see the chassis and it's bloody marvellous ;D. Very minimal surface rust and the floorboards look pretty much perfect, give or take a few cobwebs. With a temporary light board in place all it failed on was tyre tread (x2) and the bearings on one side 'a little rough'.
More soon, photobucket willing....
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Post by cobber on Nov 19, 2012 13:07:34 GMT 10
G'day Hilldweller, Now.... Who wouldn't be interested in a coupling like that one Can you lay on your back under the van and take a photo of the inside of the coupling just to give us an idea of how it works.... What size ball did it fit onto ? The van sounds very interesting, I hope you get photobucket sorted so we can see lots of photos of this one. The jockey wheel looks good too... and the outside light, and that's just from what we can see from this one photo keep 'em coming How about putting the tow coupling photos in the "tow coupling thread" Cobber.
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Post by firefighter on Nov 19, 2012 14:14:37 GMT 10
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Post by hilldweller on Nov 19, 2012 18:59:03 GMT 10
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Post by hilldweller on Nov 19, 2012 19:00:39 GMT 10
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Post by hilldweller on Nov 19, 2012 19:01:25 GMT 10
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Post by barkpaint on Nov 19, 2012 19:31:49 GMT 10
Heathers two cents worth. The squabs are definately very old, reminicent of lounge suites of the fifties, maybe late forties. Always hard to date due to post war shortages. Would look at possibly keeping same if possible, could be original. The lino has me flumoxed, it looks original as well, if its in good nic...ditto. The cream paint must be original, but the green one, not so sure. Nice colour though. The dinette table, with offset spacing is easy ..... mum and dad had longer legs..hahaha cheers, Heather
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Post by Roehm3108 on Nov 20, 2012 5:55:06 GMT 10
Now I wonder who previously needed the extra wide bed - hubby or wifey ;D ;D Thanks so much for your pics - life is again worthwhile HD. A very austere van, but simply fascinating. Going to stick my neck out and say "home-made", due to the simplicity of construction and its similarity to available caravan around the 1940's. The eschutcheon plate on your lock is similar to the one on my Rowvan. If you're going to replace the roof, why not consider a Tudor style roof, with longditudenal framing as well ala the Rowvan? But of course if you're rebuilding with ply, that may not be necessary. Love the challenge you've given yourself, and going by your workmanship on the Caravelle, I'm confident you'll have this van ship-shape in about 6 months. ;D ;D ;D ;D Ray
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Post by seeshell on Nov 20, 2012 12:29:24 GMT 10
Hi Hilldweller I second Ray's comments - your past project has shown how very able you are to manage the challenges of this project. And won't it be worthwhile! She's very interesting for sure - and I would agree quite early and probably homemade (based on some quirky elements like the different size beds, and the table leg). I like the special touches like the deco handles and the very nify window supports, with their tap-like knobs, the stairs, fittings for plates and bowl containment, the tow coupling (I am sure Cobber has squirreled those pictures away)and the cool jadite colour. I can really picture the family that might have used it - Mum in her apron and dress and Dad in some good slacks and a shirt and vest away on holidays! I look forward to how you progress and make this prize your own. Cheers Seeshell
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Post by cobber on Nov 20, 2012 16:39:13 GMT 10
G'day Hilldweller, Thanks for the extra photos of the tow coupling..(I don't know where the first two went, I think we might have to speak to F/F about that) but I have copied them and pasted all four in the tow coupling thread. Not sure I can see how it works but I hope you are able to keep it if it works OK. Here in Oz you would have to stamp a makers name and weight capacity on it to make the blue slip brigade happy, but that's not hard to do Cobber
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Post by hilldweller on Nov 22, 2012 8:30:26 GMT 10
Thanks to all for the encouraging comments and especially to Seeshell for that nice image of the original occupants (it is helping dispel pictures of more recent occupants and their handiwork!). I think you guys are right that it's a homebuilt. There's no branding that I can see and a few little things like joins in odd places that I think would not be present in a manufacturered van. And as Ray has said it's somewhat austere (I prefer to think 'simple and elegant' ) in its design and construction. Having said that I've been reading the book 'Vantastic', which I think some of you are familiar with, and am wondering if there may be links with a manufacturer called Tanner. The book has a couple of pics of vans which look as if they could be related, and it says Tanner began manufacturing steel chassis/hardboard cladding/painted canvas roofed vans in the 20s, was Auckland based but had a South Island distributor, and by at least 1945 was supplying chassis to home builders. I found a reference elsewhere to Tanner supplying plans as well. So possibly it's a homebuilt made by someone who'd seen a Tanner, or used/adapted Tanner plans and/or a Tanner chassis. Oh, I did find one bit of branding LOL. The round insert in the top of the tap says 'Cold', and also 'Frederick Ltd Phone 93'. With a bit of research I could probably find out when two digit phone numbers were the latest thing in telecommunications technology In the meantime, since it's unbranded and at this point only very loosely dated I need to think of a name - 'the new old van' isn't quite cutting it!
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Post by Roehm3108 on Nov 26, 2012 18:05:25 GMT 10
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Post by seeshell on Nov 26, 2012 19:02:27 GMT 10
Hi HD
While for various reasons (mainly because of the paint issues) we are not going with calico, I certainly would have loved to do so with our van to keep it looking period appropriate. It's a charming look - and as I mentioned has done a good job of keeping the roof in good nick on ours for some 60 years.
In some ways I'm glad - I'm too chicken to take it on. But I bet you're not, after how game you were with the first project!
Cheers Seeshell
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Post by hilldweller on Nov 27, 2012 15:00:27 GMT 10
Ignorance is bliss ;D ;D ;D It's only a bit of canvas and some paint on a 10ft van and there isn't even a hatch to work around: how difficult can it be? And as you say, Fisher and Kaybee (thanks Seeshell for pointing out those two) and no doubt others have put some great stuff on here to guide the way. It will be a while though before I need to make any final decisions on what to do, and what not to do, to the newly christened Mabel. I am conscious that her age and largely original condition mean she'll be a different sort of project than the stripped-out Caravelle, and I probably won't get to use up any leftover bright yellow and orange paint
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Post by DC3Td on Dec 8, 2012 16:19:11 GMT 10
You`re very right in the art deco pieces/looks HD. The squab fabric in particular can be seen on many Club/Genoa lounge suites. gordon
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Post by seeshell on Dec 8, 2012 16:55:25 GMT 10
Hi HD Fabric looks right for about the 1930s - the heavy velveteen/velour was used for upholstery. What is distinctive of the period is the striping in it, as well as the deco pattern. Later patterned velours used in the 1950s and 1960s usually didn't have the striping effect. Here's a club chair with a similar type of velveteen upholstery from about the same vintage.: Cheers Seeshell
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