will
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Post by will on Jan 11, 2007 9:49:13 GMT 10
 ;D ;D ;D    Hi cobber and yvonne Lyn and I hope your1936 project is a show stopper it most certaintly a fantastic restoration and a credit to your persistance and dedication you are the quiet achiever on this site Cobber and it is an absolute pleasure to see you and Yvonne at every occasion possible are you and yvonne going to Bribie Island? tick the box Yes or no have a great weekend Will and Lyn
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Post by cobber on Jan 11, 2007 13:08:52 GMT 10
Crikey Will, I don't know what to say, that's how come I'm quite, eh? Now, I'd better get off my bum and go and achieve something  Bribie ? not this time mate but will get up there one day soon we hope. Cobber...a good listener. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2007 13:30:31 GMT 10
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Post by cobber on Mar 22, 2007 13:49:37 GMT 10
Hey Reddo ! Next you'll be telling me to replace the ice box with a fridge. The old girls got character as she is, with her 3 stud Hillman wheels (or whatever they are). While I'm here I'll take the opportunity to put the Tail board picture on this thread. As Col suggested...do you think your brudder could paint a window on the back to give it character too.  Thanks for the wheel suggestion anyway  . Cobber. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2007 14:01:06 GMT 10
Its a pommy van ... why not paint a picture of the Queen and the Corgis superimposed over the union jack on the back. Or Get around all the local businesses and charge 'em to advertise on the back of your travelling 1936 billboard. "Chokos... 10 for .$1" "Medium king Prawns $22 a kilo" "For a good time ring Reddo on 02 @#@$^%*" "For a short time ring WILL on ......" Aaaahhh... ok i promise i will be seroius .... one day Reddo |
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Post by cobber on Mar 22, 2007 14:41:03 GMT 10
An update and a few confessions on the modifications performed on Ol' 36  Originally the door on the van was fitted with a mortis catch only, there was no door lock needed in 1936 ?  The catch was made by Enoch Tonks and Sons of Willenhall in England.  In this day and age I thought it prudent to fit a lock but wanted to retain the original catch. I fitted a Yale nightlatch and a “Lockwood” rim lock cylinder....... I have since then been on the look-out for an ETAS lock to match the catch and finally found one on the way to Mount Gambier at “The Restorers Barn” in Castlemain. Have not yet found an ETAS nightlatch but console myself with the knowledge that “Yale” acquired E. Tonks & Sons in 1965  Finally found an ETAS dead lock, so now I have the complete ETAS set... dead lock and cylinder plus the original mortis catch.  Ol'36 was designed and built to cope with a top speed of 30 / 35 mph which was the maximum speed for a caravan in 1936. She does travel at 50mph OK but gets up a sideways rocking motion if provoked.... to minimise this I have fitted load leveler / stabilizer brackets to the 'van which do help (when the bars are attached  )  The sink has provided the only clue so far as to whether the ' van was made or assembled in Australia.  With the aid of a mirror I was able to see underneath and to the rear of the sink to find a logo “R. Fowler Limited Australia” on the sink, together with the "kneeling Archer" trade mark.They became R. Fowler limited in 1916...... they did not become “Fowlerware” until December 1936. There is conflicting information as to whether the trade mark was evident during 1936 or not, if anybody has proof positive I would like to hear from them.  On the other hand the confirmation that the number B713 cast into the axle indicates it was made by "Brockhouse" in England, as was the tow coupling. This tends to say the chassis was made over there, can't say if the whole lot came out to Oz as a "flat pack" or what, might work it out one day.  Cobber. |
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Post by Roehm3108 on Apr 7, 2008 20:05:02 GMT 10
Geeez Cobber Here I was expecting somethin' real saucy to justify have to make you do pennance before absolution (I think that's the right way 'round) Don't get me so excited like that again - it's not good for me heart Ray |
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Post by cobber on Apr 8, 2008 8:16:04 GMT 10
Father Ray, I expected to do penance for being a modifying maniac but wait...... there's more. I don't have a photo yet but my greatest sin is..... I have made a bracket and bolted it to the chassis to hold the spare wheel up under the rear end of the van, there was nowhere else to put it. Originally I think the tow car's spare would have been the same as the 'van's wheels, so there was no need to carry an extra spare  . Wheel held in position,  Half way down  My new avatar depicts Reddo smacking me over the back of the head as punishment for my sins . Cobber. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2008 8:38:52 GMT 10
Its got WHAT Modified door locks Load leveler brackets  and... a spare wheel bracket.  Oooooooooooooooooooooh THATS OBSCENE  What next Pop up toasters One of those poofy Auto cutouts on your electric jug Keep going down this hot rod path old china and we will see old '36 in the "top 10 modifieds" at the summernats Your disgusting dad. You dirty, dirty ol man . I am applying to 'ave my name changed by deed poll. Why i oughtta....  Your ex son 'Arold Reddo.. ( Formerly 'Arold steptoe) |
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Post by Geoff & Jude on Apr 8, 2008 8:54:08 GMT 10
oh! the shame of it all. all those mods, PLUS he uses a 240v electric esky to keep the beer cold instead of the icebox.  where will it all end? and they say cobber is a purist - i think not. geoff 'n jude |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2008 10:49:08 GMT 10
Onya Geoff and Jude Little did i know that when i took that photo i was capturing evidence that could be used later on to discredit this imposter who claims to be a life member of the "Restorers guild" Oh father... The shame of it all. You have bought shame and embarassment to the family and tarnished the up until now unblemished name of Steptoe . This is more embarassing than the time you let "Dobbin" the Steptoe and son draught horse poo on the bonnet of the police car on Paramatta road back in the 50's. A picture from happier days  Dont get confused folks.. thats dad on the right.. not in the middle Reddohtheshameofitall |
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Post by cobber on Apr 8, 2008 14:21:56 GMT 10
Ah, I see some members of the congregation have lost faith...... but I would say to them “let those who have not modified their 'van during the restoration process chuck the first goolie”. Speak now and let the unwashed impure among us label you “purist” I was aided and abetted by some brothers in my sinful behavior.... I wish I could remember who it was that gave me a three stud wheel to use as a spare....... I wish I could remember who the well meaning soul was who told us Aldi had those useless “Mobicool” thermoelectric coolers on special... useless because they don't work in the 6 volt FJ when on the move, block ice is much more reliable  And it was even suggested by a certain member of the congregation, in reply # 43 of this thread, that “sway bars” were the answer to Ol'36s handling problems O how the mighty will trip and fall when they have clay feet. Cobber (back of my head is getting sore, ease up Reddo). |
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Post by Geoff & Jude on Apr 8, 2008 17:05:37 GMT 10
oh well, i don't know about the rest of you, but we're happy to pick up the first goolie and chuck it at cobber. as purists, we decided to repair our van exactly as it was built and that's what we did - absolutely no modifications at all. (that is except for electric brakes, sway bars, microwave, 5.1 surround sound, digital set top box, flat screen lcd tv, double bed, 3 way fridge, 12v electric water pump, 12v trickle charger, battery monitor, 240v inverter and reversing camera that doesn't work). so you'd better watch out cobber, we're looking for good goolies. geoff 'n jude |
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Post by cobber on Apr 8, 2008 19:26:39 GMT 10
Geoff,
I FEEL SICK...... feel free to use my avatar, you deserve it more than I do.
Cobber.
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Post by Geoff & Jude on Apr 8, 2008 19:38:01 GMT 10
Cobber, I might have to borrow your avatar if Geoff doesn't start behaving - he's being a bit cheeky & he is supposed to be at work Jude The avatar is now Jude giving Geoff a good clip behind the ear |
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Post by Geoff & Jude on Apr 8, 2008 19:39:17 GMT 10
thanks cobber,
i'll give it back to you tomorrow
geoff
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Post by Don Ricardo on Apr 8, 2008 20:54:41 GMT 10
Hi Cobber, Reddo, Ray, and Geoff and Jude,
Quite an amusing exchange between you all which I've had a good chuckle about as it has rolled out. ;D ;D ;D Reddo reminds me of a guy called Ken who worked at our establishment a few years back. Ken would make a contentious statement (usually about politics) at morning tea, wait until the whole tearoom errupted, then quietly slip out the door and back to his desk with a grin on his face, while everybody else stayed on for the next 15 minutes arguing about the issue he'd raised. Did it many times, and always achieved the same great result! I enjoy your stirring just as much Reddo!
Anyway, back to Cobber's post - great to see to see the photos of your forensic investigations on Ol '36. It's amazing how much of the story of these old vans can be deduced if you just take the time to look as Cobber has. Great news about the ETAS lock.
I noted Cobber's comment about the bracket for the spare wheel. Aussietanker's Don 120 has a similar bracket installed, and I had some thoughts about organising a spare wheel bracket on our van. However, I wondered what having a large lump of metal and rubber (the spare wheel) attached to the tail of the van would do to the balance of the van? Would the ideal to be to put it somewhere around the middle point of the van, ie just in front of the axle? Awkward to get to but better balance maybe? Comments anyone?
Don Ricardo
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Post by cobber on Apr 8, 2008 21:26:01 GMT 10
G'day Don, The point you mention regarding the placement of the spare wheel is a very valid one. I had no qualms about placing it where I did on Ol' 36 because with a total van weight of 540kg and a tow coupling weight of something like 95kg she had far too much weight up front, part of this excess was due to the innerspring mattress on the front bunk, but even after they had been replaced (temporally) with foam it was still a potential hernia operation lifting the thing onto the ball. The spare being placed where it is has made it much more manageable. The generally accepted ratio on the ball (as you know) is 10% of the total weight of the 'van, if by placing the spare where it is accessible, toward the rear of the 'van, it were to induced "fishtailing" maybe more "stuff" could be placed at the front when you are loading prior to travel. Isn't the spare on your "Don" usually carried on the "A" frame ? Please refrain from flattering 'arold...... he's impossible to live with as it is  . Cobber. |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Apr 8, 2008 21:46:54 GMT 10
Thanks for the info Cobber. I don't actually know what the tow ball weight is on our Don. Next time I get it serviced I might see if they have 'tow ball weight scales' at the caravan service centre. I presume they do? Dons of the leadlight variety didn't normally have any facilities for carrying a spare wheel. Mark T's 140 (now Noblesgarage's) had a bracket attached to the A-frame, but that was after market. Aussietanker's 120 is the only other Don I've seen with a spare wheel bracket installed, and that was obviously after market (or an optional extra) as well. When I was a kid, we used to carry a spare 16" wheel for the van in the boot of the car. It used to fit in one corner of the boot of my father's Buick! Since I've had the van, I have relied on the car spare wheel for the van. When I destroyed a car tyre on the way to Mount Gambier it reminded me how much trouble I would be in if I did both a car and a van tyre at the same time! Hence my thoughts about a spare wheel bracket on the van... Regarding 'arold, I understand what you mean. He seems quite capable of winding himself up, as well as everybody else! Don Ricardo |
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Post by Geoff & Jude on Apr 9, 2008 9:42:17 GMT 10
thanks for the loan of the avatar cobber.
i've gone back to the old one, the back of my head was starting to hurt.
geoff
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2008 9:45:58 GMT 10
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Post by Roehm3108 on Apr 9, 2008 16:13:53 GMT 10
Looks like other people are using my handle Reply #43 is living proof of it!! No wonder I graduated to "God Almighty" classification so quickly. So, whoever did write it - cease and desist!!! Look like from the avatar to are doing enuff pennance already Cobber, so will let you off - this time ;D ;D Ray |
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Post by cobber on Dec 28, 2009 9:42:37 GMT 10
Chrissie present Got a quote to re-upholster Ol' 36......... thought I better get a second quote. The second quote was less than half the cost of the first quote using the same material and replacing the two rear cushions.  Page 3 of this thread will remind you what the previous covers were like..... they weren't original either so calm down ... I think they were put on sometime in the fifties. Cobber.
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Post by Geoff & Jude on Dec 28, 2009 13:16:25 GMT 10
hi cobbers
old 36 comes up looking pretty good with the new rags.
looks as good as you described it on the phone.
look forward to seeing it in the flesh.
geoff 'n jude
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Post by cobber on Feb 20, 2011 16:32:15 GMT 10
I have for a long time wanted to give Ol' 36 a heavier colour below the waist line but have been nervous about doing it because the waist line is so high.......... anyhow, bit the bullet and did it. Hopefully she won't be so top heavy now The way she is...  The way she was.... since 2007  Cobber. |
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