49?? paramount Van

[paramount49]

Hi Everyone,
What a fantastic Site!
We have only just Joined,so please bare with Me. Hopfully we are in the right Area.
We Have just become the proud owners of a 1940something? Unmolested 12ft Paramount caravan fully sheeted inside and out including Cupboards and Doors In aluminium inc framing. Original icebox and aliminium Pelmets all in place.
The newspaper under the Lino was dated 1949 . As i we havn,t been able to find a chassis #on the draw Bar,or any other method of identification I was wondering if we go with 1949 or if someone may Know how to establish if it is older. ?
Not sure if the photo Worked ,but will post more photos somewhere soon
Thanks
Rick and Deanna

[shesgotthelook]

Wow, that is special! Try looking under the table, under the sink, inside cupboards. Sometimes the year of manufacture was written in pencil in these spots.
In the meantime, have a look here

vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=chat&thread=3097&page=1

& here for some paramount history

vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=chat&thread=5351&page=1

[paramount49]

I,ll Check first thing in the morning and post result
Thanks

[griffin]

Hi Rick and Deanna

What an interesting looking little van, '49 sounds like a good year, I'm a product of it myself I'm sure it doesn't matter, as long as you are happy with it and we get to see some more pictures

George

[paramount49]

Thanks George,
Still finding our way around Site. Will hopefully have more photos up tomorrow night
Cheers

[paramount49]

No luck as yet on more I.D
Will post more pics tonight but looks look 1949 it is.

Rick and Deanna

[foxy]

Hi Rick & Deanna

Welcome to the forum.

Does you van have a stove if so check to see if it has a manufacturer"s plate (which normally has a date on it) should give you an idea of year of manufacture.

There are a lot of guys on this forum who would be willing to pass on their knowledge just ask if you get stuck, and take lots of photo's, we all love to see the progress at each stage of any van being lovingly restored.

Regards

Foxy

[shesgotthelook]

Go to your thumbnail pic on photobucket. Hover over the top right corner where a cog will appear,left click on 'get links' then left click on the words 'IMG codes' & it will say copied. Come back here, right click & paste.

[paramount49]

Hi Foxy,
We don't have a stove. Just an icebox.
I am trying to upload some pictures and have tried what you also said, shesgotthelook.
Hope this works...

Thanks for your help.
Deanna

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Paramount49,

You're going in the right direction with the links for your photos, but SGTL is correct - copy and paste the link that's tagged 'IMG' and the photo should display ok. If you still have trouble let us know, and I'm sure that one of us can assist you. Once you get the technique, you can post as many photos as you like in the one post - just keep copying and pasting the links one after the other.

I've had a look at the pics of your van using the links that you've already posted. And I have to say that it really is an intriguing caravan. As you've probably figured out from the Down History Lane (DHL) threads SGTL pointed you to, your van is a Victorian Paramount, and not a South Australian Paramount. According to the information we've been given by the daughter-in-law of the founder of (Victorian) Paramount, he started building vans in the 40's and we also know that production continued on into the 60's. So that means it is quite possible that your van was built in 1949. Also if you compare your van with the pics in the 1956 Paramount advert on the DHL thread, yours has a relatively small single windows at front and back and smaller side windows than the '56 model which is a clear signal that it is an earlier model. All good!

However, what is so especially intriguing is the fact that it is clad in aluminium inside and out, and that it appears to have metal window frames and a metal flash around its waist line (am I right about the last?). These are all very unusual features because (a) generally speaking, caravan manufacturers didn't start using aluminium/metal window frames until the mid 50's, (b) they didn't start using aluminium cladding until the second half of the 50's or later, and (c) hardly any used metal cladding internally.

There were some exceptions to the above - Carapark started building steel then aluminium vans from the late 40's, and Jennison started experimenting with aluminium cladding in the late 40's and began selling aluminium vans in about 1953. However, in 1956 Paramount was still advertising its vans as being clad in marine ply and they were still using wooden framed windows. Even in 1961 Paramount vans were advertised as being clad in Rescote which is a type of plastic covered bondwood. So that's why your van is so intriguing!

There are several possibilities:

• Your van was some sort of experimental/prototype caravan.
  
• Your van was built to special order for some purpose.
  
• Your van was clad in aluminium 'after market'.

I think we can probably exclude the 'after market' option, because although a few vans have turned up having been clad by someone at some stage, very few of them look to have been done as professionally as yours. In addition, I have never seen an after market aluminium cladding job include metal window frames + the shaped guttering above the windows + a metal flash decoration. I have also never seen an example where it has been clad internally in aluminium after market. And did I see that some/all of the cupboards are built out of metal as well??

So...it looks to me as if you very probably have a very rare caravan, which may even be a one-off. Of course we don't know that - and may never know whether that is correct - but I think you're safe to think that you have something very unusual. Was the previous owner able to give you any background or history on the van that might give you a lead as to its history?

Don Ricardo

[paramount49]

[paramount49]

Hi Don,
Thanks for the detailed response.
Have added several more Photos showing extent of Ali for framing,drawers,table top ,the works!inc Framing .by the way the Metal Flash is correct.
All very fascinating. Previous owner had in storage for about 3 1/2yrs with no prior history Info unfortunately.
Stay tuned more photos are coming
Rick and Deanna

[DC3Td]

What a great `van & the construction detail is amazing. Look forward to its progress.

[humpyboy]

I'd need to see the other side to be sure but in the third pic you have a round plastic lens, from what I can see it looks to me to be a lens from an interior light for an FX-FJ Holden ;D

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Paramount49,

The more I see of your van, the more amazing I think it is.

Given that it's virtually 100% metallic construction I am certain we can definitely rule out the 'after market' conversion option. So either an experimental model, a prototype which never went any further, or a special order. But even the special order seems a bit unlikely - it's not just a modification of an existing model, but a whole new model requiring quite different skills and tools.

Just one question. Have you tried passing a magnet over all the internal fittings, etc? You said that it was all aluminium, but I just wondered if maybe the drawers or the ice chest internals were possibly galavanised iron?

Thanks for the additional photos. I'm still shaking my head in disbelief and lifting my jaw off the floor!

Don Ricardo

[paramount49]

Hi Don,
Ice chest internals (excluding tray) and all drawers and doors , do not respond to Magnet.
How cool is That!!
Shame your in Vic. Would love for you to see our Van and would Value your Input for her Restoration.
Talk soon
Thanks Again for your help to date.
Rick and Deanna

[paramount49]

Hey, What happened to are Photos?

[paramount49]

Ah ha
When are else fails, Read the instructions!!
Sorry all ,will attempt to fix Photo fail tonight
Rick

[paramount49]

Better Luck this time, hope everyone has a great weekend.

Cheers
Deanna

[humpyboy]

I now see the lens and the base and yes they are from a 48-215 so your van would most likely date around the 1949 mark as you suspected, seeing these lights came out in 1948 (late) as you can tell the base is pretty much gone but if you keep an eye on ebay they do come up from time to time and if you decide to replace it with something else may I have first dibs on the lens

[paramount49]

Thanks Humpyboy for the Keen Eye.
Hopefully we will be able to find Base to suit,but I will Keep you in mind if things Change.
Thanks
Rick and Deanna

[paramount49]

Hi Everyone.
Quick Question .
Does anyone have any suggestions on someone to help or guide us with some aluminum repairs (nothing serious or structural)in or near Toowoomba Qld.
Love this Site
Thanks
Rick and Deanna

[paramount49]

Finally the Panel beater is almost Ready.
Hope to be posting some progress shots soon.
Was Aiming to be on the road for X mas ,but having lost this much Time, will see how we go.
Rick and Deanna

[willow5075]

looking forward to new shots!