1949 Bondwood Jennison Pathfinder Conservation/Restoration

[cobber]

Struth Andrew that sounds horrible Jack Nicholson famously said "I'd rather stick needles in my eye" but...... he didn't have the guts to do it

I hope it comes good quickly with no residual problems.

Cobber.

[shesgotthelook]

All the best for a speedy recovery

[murray]

Andrew,
I could say something about the "nice" hairnet but I have restrained myself.
I had to wear one at work myself for a few years . 

Get well soon as I (no pun intended) will be up to visit soon.
I bet you know all the staff there because of your work.
cheers
Murray

[Mustang]

Things we do, familiarity breeds contempt!!!
We must be forever careful of those power tools

[seeshell]

Nov 7, 2015 15:39:13 GMT 10 murray said:

Andrew,
I could say something about the "nice" hairnet but I have restrained myself.
I bet you know all the staff there because of your work.
cheers
Murray

Oh dear!

I hope you wear hairnets and know the staff because you're a healthcare worker, not a "frequent flyer" as we used to call certain visitors to the ER.

Get well soon Andrew -
Seeshell

[Don Ricardo]

Well, Akeepsake, I really enjoy your posts - but not this one. Definitely not punching the 'Like' button on this one.

Good to hear that you missed all the vital parts of your eye. I trust that everything heals well with no continuing issues.

Don Ricardo

[akeepsake]

Thanks all So far so good! Will take a while but no infection which is the main concern now ! ( (I service and calibrate/qualify the sterilisers at the eye hospital so would be a bad advertisment if I did!) Heading home today which is good but have been well looked after by the nurses here at the hospital . They are a great crew! Back to eye Doc Wed !! Will keep u posted!

[Jennison]

Crikey Andrew
you were lucky
get better soon
jenno

[humpyboy]

Ouch!!!!!! Why the hell would you want to go and do something like that?
Hope it all comes good for you and there is no lasting damage.

[akeepsake]

Thanks guys . Home from hospital and feeling good! Can see a little bit every day but it still looks like I'm peering in the dark. I will have to go back and get an oil change ....yes you heard right! They drained my eye in the op and replaced the fluid with silicon oil This aids the healing of the retina and stops it wanting to detach after it was spot welded with the laser. They have also put a silicon band around my eyeball to help with this as well, Apparently I will get a cataract as well but this is small stuff compared to what the eye has been through!
I take my hat off to the doctor ,They do amazing work in such small spaces ! ..... Hang on isn't that what us vintage van restorers do???

[akeepsake]

Just goes to show you can fit big things in small places!!!

[akeepsake]

Ok yes I know , sick of pics of bung eyes and nails etc. well with plenty of time on my hands been doing some pic enhancements!

[aussieute]

Nov 9, 2015 14:19:47 GMT 10 akeepsake said:

Just goes to show you can fit big things in small places!!!

Andrew you are one very lucky person not to loose your eye sight looking at the size of that nail a should have read this before today
with all the demolition and rebuild work i have done in the last two weeks take care hope your well soon chris

[akeepsake]

Chris .... Three words ....wear safety glasses!!

[akeepsake]

Well you know what they say....the sooner you get back on the horse the better ! Which is good advice when your off work with a bung eye and kicking around the house driving everyone bonkers ! I still have one good eye so donning the safety glasses I sheepishly opened the shed door and ventured inside to find things pretty well how they were left before my dash to casualty ! The piece of timber I was running through the table saw lay menacing on the floor and I thought to myself how on earth was I going to finish cutting it with out spraying nails everywhere !!! I only had to rip 10mm of it so in the vice it went and out came the trusty hand plane and 45min later standing in a puddle of sweat I was done!! Whew! Oh and if you're wondering ,yes I have used the table saw since but only on virgin timber that hasn't been nailed yet

First job was to build a door as originally there was one before the bunks were installed


All back together just needs a paint!


Door works !


Not having any storage long enough to store to store the annex poles apart from the wardrobe I had an epiphany and made a removable section so now the poles can slide through and be stored under the bed



Panel lifts up to allow access under bed


Plenty of storage up the end of the bed


Back on the horse!!!!

[akeepsake]

Pulled out the old original foot pump today as it was a no-goer! I spose after sitting around for 45 years not doing anything I'd be a no-goer too! Gave it a clean first and found out it was brass to my surprise .Turns out the whole thing is a sealed unit and it had been silver soldered together so after sticking it in a bucket of water and pumping furiously till my arms nearly dropped off I was about to chuck it . In a last resort I filled it with CRC and let it sit for a while and stone the crows it worked like a charm!!! Must have had a stuck ball bearing , who knows Anyway now it works a treat !


I stuck it back in and guess what ....no water Turns out there was a one way valve in behind it in the cupboard that needed a clean and so after wrestling it in a confined space and water going everywhere after 4 1/2 decades we have water in the sink..... Yaaaah !

Polished up the sink ....Now you see it !!


Now you don't!!

Really impressed with this design as as well as the lid doubling as a drain board you can leave the dirty washing in the sink, close the lid and no one knows

[aussieute]

i like your idea of washing up. Your pump is the same as mine it moves in and out but no pressure might try crc on mine and hope for the best
i thought there was a plunger set up inside. Like the idea for the poles it hides them well cheers chris

[akeepsake]

Nov 22, 2015 18:48:10 GMT 10 aussieute said:

i like your idea of washing up. Your pump is the same as mine it moves in and out but no pressure might try crc on mine and hope for the best
i thought there was a plunger set up inside. Like the idea for the poles it hides them well cheers chris

Giday Chris yeah take your pump out and fill,it with Crc and leave it for awhile and see how you go you may have a check valve somewhere that most likely will need attention as well Mine was in the cupboard below the sink behind the pump
Hope you can sought it
Cheers Andrew

[akeepsake]

Well it was a long weekend last week so spur of the minute decision to take the van out of the shed for some fresh air with my #1 caravan van, my 10 year old Sophia


First stop Mole Creek caravan park where joined by a mate and his freshly registered 1966 valiant we chose an unpowered sight by the creek complete with fire pot and picnic table










After setting up ( which really means lowering the stabilisers and making sure the beer was the right temperature!!) I had to try my Atomic coffee machine ( patent 1947) on the metho stove to see if I could make the perfect espresso with frothed milk while camping without power!! It was an intense moment as the importance of success was up there with making sure the caravan wheels don't fall off or the roof doesn't leak!!!!


SUCCESS!!!!! It works and no caffeine deprived headache for me Infact the power of the metho burner carried on to breakfast!!! Who needs gas! If you have one in your van and it doesn't work there are a couple of tricks but if you get them going right they are as good as gas . I'll post a "how to" later if anyone is interested.


Oops another shot of the Jenno!


And the Valiant


Day two: we parted ways with the Valiant and friends and headed off to Deloraine where the banks of the Meander river play host to a wonderful caravan park! ( great spot for a Nationals!!)


Magic spot ( one of many in paradise )


We settled in for the evening watching at least 4 platypus meandering up and down the river and fed the ducks that seemed to smell food from a mile away!




I must say its a it addictive I still have heaps of work to do on the van but wondering if using it is going to get in the way... Maybe all that work will have to wait till winter!
Stay tuned

[mel]

Hi Andrew, Deloraine was first on my list of places to take our van. However time has gotten away from us and instead our first trip will be the big trip to Victoria.
I so want that coffee machine!! Where did you find it?

[akeepsake]

Hi Mel yes Deloraine is a top spot ! One of many in Tassie ah!!
Your trip should be a hoot but maybe go for a couple of overnighters to iron out the bugs??
In regards to the Atomic coffee machine I have collected vintage ones and have had 4 of them
I still have a couple to refurbished and sell
Send me a pm if your interested
Cheers Andrew

[mel]

I agree, at least one overnighter would be a sensible thing to do. Unfortunately the van is not ready and we set sail on the 20th. Aaargghhh!!! So that leaves this weekend, where we plan to pull apart and modify the bunk that I have had made and just finished painting. Then the weekend after the husband and kids are off to Melbourne while I stay home to sew the awning. Then the weekend after that we will pack and leave on the Sunday. Oh well, any bugs will just need to be ironed out along the way.

As for the Atomic coffee machine...... I have a birthday coming up in March. I will be putting it on the top of my wish list. I will PM you once we have returned from our Christmas trip.

[akeepsake]

Mel it sounds like by the time u get away you'll be needing a holiday!!!
All the best for your trip Trust it all goes smoothly!
I'll keep a machine for you but no pressure
Cheers Andrew

[akeepsake]

Ok haven't really put any propa pics of inside the old girl so here ya go . Cushions aren't original but will get them covered in a more traditional tapestry at some stage .
Internal paint all original and will only polish as too good a nick to repainted . Table top is covered with original dark brown lino which was originally on the floor as well but was replaced in the 50s to lighten up the interior. Curtains are a 50s addition.
I

This pic is out of the Jenno files (thanks Jeff) of a 48 16 foot pathfinder interior. What really interests me is the overhead cupboards that sit above the dinette and return around each side to meet up with the overhead kitchen cupboards Very tempted to add them to mine minus the radio which looks a bit clunky??


Shot of the rear. Still have to touch up the paint from the bed rebuild but it's getting there !

[akeepsake]

Well I was going to paint all the bare timber from the bed reconstruction but got a bit sidetracked and decided to sort out the annex etc, starting with the draft strip clips which were polished up an pit back where they originally were. Some holes were covered up from repairs so had to attach clips where screw holes were visible and then work the rest out!


Jennison in a skirt! You saw her naked a few pages back but now she's looking very modest ( even though the skirt is very short!)
Skirt has stripes on the other side that matches annex.Very important to have a matching outfit !


After that I pulled out the annex to reunite it with the van and realised it had a tear in a strategic spot so off to the canvas guy to mend... Stay tuned!