stooy
Junior Member
Posts: 67
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Post by stooy on Mar 25, 2011 9:13:32 GMT 10
G'day All,
My name is Stewart and I am from Melbourne, VIC. I am 24 years old.
My family has a Don 140 I beleive it is a 1951 or 1952.
The van was purchased one year old by my grandfather from Don in Oakeligh. We understand it to be the first Don fitted with full width front alluminum windows.
It was used a lot by the family since it was purchased, partucually at Blairgowrie where it went every summer for over 50 years. However in the last 4 years it has been unused.
I have two other projects I must complete before I can think about the van (an engine build for my 74 Transit and construction of a set of 4wd drawers) however I am starting to research the project because I expect to have those two jobs completed late this year.
The van is currently sitting in the shed at my grandfathers place, so its safe and dry.
The interior is in fairly good condition, it was done up in the 1980's. It has had a fridge fitted in place of the ice chest, cork tile floor, the wash basin removed and electric lighting fitted. Other than these changes, it is complete and un damaged.
The exterior is a little sad, it has had the roof done in fiberglass many years ago, the sides were sanded with a disc sander which has left some marks in the ply, there is some rot in the two front corners, the front window and the rear window, however other than that it is rot free.
The alxe set will need replacing as will the braking system, but that is no big deal.
Thats all i can think of for now.
Cheers
Stewart
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Post by seeshell on Mar 25, 2011 9:43:42 GMT 10
Welcome Stooy - With your new project, you're coming into a strong and close fraternity - and I understand you're already in contact with a few of the existing Don owners, which is a great resource. But I must say, every time I hear the brand name, I always think of the Godfather...and Don Corleone. *bad Al Pacino impression* "Don't take sides with anyone against the family. Ever." Don't worry - I understand that Don Ricardo is much less scary, and has never ordered a horse's head put in anyone's bed. ;D Welcome - we're very glad to have you here. Cheers Seeshell
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stooy
Junior Member
Posts: 67
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Post by stooy on Mar 25, 2011 9:48:33 GMT 10
Thanks Seeshell !,
I am not sure who thinks they have spoken to me.
I only know one other Don owner and haven't seen him for over 5 years. (though his van is very very nice).
So glad I have found a source of info.
Cheers
Stewart
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Post by seeshell on Mar 25, 2011 10:34:29 GMT 10
Hi Stooy My apologies - you're the SECOND person to have a family Don in a shed that we've come across in a few weeks then. The other was made known to us through member Surf Tragic - I believe the owners name is Col. How nice! The family are growing all the time! Check out the Down History Lane section of the website for more background on the Don Brand. Cheers Seehell
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stooy
Junior Member
Posts: 67
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Post by stooy on Mar 25, 2011 10:46:31 GMT 10
Thats Perfictly ok, I thought you may have me confused with somone else.
I have had a look allready, its very intersting, alot of the stuff I knew from Grandad telling me over the years.
Not that it matters at all, but technically I don't own it. Grandad is still around (he is 93), he knows I plan to do something with it and would be glad to see it used. Hopefully he is around a few more years so he can see it get fixed up.
Cheers
Stewart
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Post by surfingyogini on Mar 25, 2011 11:01:39 GMT 10
Hi Stewart and welcome tot he forum... we love photos! ;d ;d ;d ;d ;d
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Post by Roehm3108 on Mar 25, 2011 12:58:58 GMT 10
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Post by Don Ricardo on Mar 25, 2011 20:24:13 GMT 10
Hi Stooy, Great to have another Don owner on the forum. Welcome! Great also to hear about the fact that the van has been part of your family for so long - three generations! Or perhaps even more if your grandfather's parents were around when he bought it, or if there are any little tackers currently in your family tree... I bet each generation has its own memories about holidays in the Don? You said about your van that: "We understand it to be the first Don fitted with full width front alluminum windows." If that is the case, then I am wondering whether it might be a 150 model (which would be very exciting), or possibly even a Don Cadet, rather than a 140 model? Anyway if you are able to post some photos of your van that will tell us one way or another. In the meantime, if you are able to tell us the serial number of the van that will tell us a lot about it, including the series it belongs to and confirm the approximate build date. Unlike some other manufacturers, Don was very orderly about its serial numbers, which is very helpful for us Don tragics! ;D ;D ;D I am looking forward to hearing more about your van and also about some of your family's memories of it. Don Ricardo
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stooy
Junior Member
Posts: 67
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Post by stooy on Mar 27, 2011 16:51:10 GMT 10
I have had a look and the van is number 718. It is 14ft 7in long does that help to tell if its a 140 or a 150?
Grandad beleives he got it in 1952 or 1953.
I will be interested to see what the number can tell us.
Thanks
Stewart
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Post by Surf Tragic on Mar 27, 2011 21:58:26 GMT 10
G'day Stooy The Leadlight Don 120 I am restoring is Serial # 784 & we estimate it as being built sometime in 1954, yours being # 718, 66 vans before mine was built, one would think your van could be around 1953, the fact that it has full width alum front windows has me beat from all the info I have read, seeing the estimated release time of the Cadets was 1956 ?? Copied from The ROYALAUTO Journal, September, 1956 the brilliant new "DON" Cadet... introduced earlier this year and already sweeping the low-price sales field! Can't wait for more info & photos, but Don Ricardo will get it sorted out ST
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Post by Don Ricardo on Mar 27, 2011 22:59:32 GMT 10
Hi Stooy, I agree with Surf Tragic. Based on the serial number of 718, I would date your van as approximately 1953 +/- a few months. This pretty well fits in with your grandfather's recollection. This serial number belongs to the 1934 to 1956 leadlight window series of Dons, and the fact that you have measured it as 14 ft 7 in would make the van a 140 as you suggested. The thing which puzzles me - and Surf Tragic - is that you mentioned that you: "...understand it to be the first Don fitted with full width front alluminum windows". Don didn't introduce aluminium windows (as far as we know) until 1956 when they released the 150 model, which replaced the 1934 to 1956 series. The Cadet series mentioned by Surf Tragic was also released in 1956, but Don didn't put aluminium windows into Cadets for several years after that. And if your van is a 150 or a Cadet, it wouldn't have a serial number in the 700's, so you can see why we are scratching our heads! If you have some photos, you can post them on the forum by following the instructions in the 'Forum Guidelines and Helfpul Hints' section. Alternatively you can email them to me and I will post them for you. You can email me by pressing the middle icon under the Don badge in the profile panel to the left of this post. In case you haven't got any photos at this stage, I'll post some photos of the various models I've mentioned, and you can tell us which one matches your van: Don 140 model (our own van in fact):Don 150 model:Don Cadet 15 (this van belongs to Mark T, and the first photo shows the van pretty well in its original condition, and the second photo its front window, while being recently painted):If your van doesn't match any of these three, then Surf Tragic and I will be really confused, but we will be even more keen to hear about your van... Nah! We're already keen! Don Ricardo
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Post by retro64 on Mar 28, 2011 7:13:33 GMT 10
Hi Stewart, Welcome to the forum, thanks for sharing the interesting history of your familys Don caravan. Wow!!! 50 summers in the same spot, your Don could almost find its way back on its own . Hopefully the restoration will go smoothly for you and then after the works done you''ll have a great van with 50 years of memories behind it and hopefully 50 years of new ones ahead. Wishing you all the best, retro64
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stooy
Junior Member
Posts: 67
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Post by stooy on Mar 28, 2011 7:53:51 GMT 10
Hi Guys,
It is definatly a 140. I will have to get you the photos of the front windows. They are the fill width of the van, in two panels, with the appropiate hinged flyscreens behind.
So the story goes, Don built the van for a gentleman who decided he didn't want it once they had finished it, Grandad bought it and was glad it had the front windows because it let more light in.
I will have to get some photos for you, I will try to get some next weekend when I visit.
Cheers
Stewart
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stooy
Junior Member
Posts: 67
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Post by stooy on Mar 29, 2011 9:02:19 GMT 10
G'day Guys,
I have a 1953 Don 140 I am planning to restore.
The van has had all the external lights replaced over the years.
I was wondering if anyone can provide me with detailed photos of the correct tail light (I beleive there was only one).
I am unsure if the Van had side running lights, but I think it did. If so photos of those would be great too.
Cheers
Stewart
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Post by cobber on Mar 29, 2011 11:00:46 GMT 10
G'day Stewart, Have you worked your way through the photos in the Don thread in our Down History Lane section ? You should be able to find all the information you are after there To get to it...... click here. Cobber.
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stooy
Junior Member
Posts: 67
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Post by stooy on Mar 29, 2011 12:14:36 GMT 10
Thanks Cobber,
I have had a good look through the info thread and while I can see some side lights and tail lights on vans I can't see them in enough detail to start looking for replacments for my van.
What I am really after is some good quality photos of the original lights.
Cheers
Stewart
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stooy
Junior Member
Posts: 67
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Post by stooy on Apr 10, 2011 21:33:37 GMT 10
G'day Guys, I finally got a chance today to get over to Grandad's and take some photos of the van. I got a fair few of the dual front windows, and yes they are factory fitted. I will add some more descriptons tomorrow. Cheers Stewart
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Post by Don Ricardo on Apr 10, 2011 22:17:00 GMT 10
Hey Stooy, Absolutely fascinating photos which have got my brain going in overdrive! I look forward to hearing more when you get the chance. Did you take any internal pics by any chance? I would be interested in seeing how the fly screens were constructed and fixed... Don Ricardo
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Post by Don Ricardo on Apr 10, 2011 23:19:46 GMT 10
I was wondering if anyone can provide me with detailed photos of the correct tail light (I beleive there was only one). I am unsure if the Van had side running lights, but I think it did. If so photos of those would be great too. Hi Stooy, Sorry for taking a while to respond to your requests. You are correct in saying that Don 140's originally only had one tail light - actually a combined tail/stop/number plate light that was located on the right hand end of the number plate board, which in turn was located on the right hand side of the van at the rear. One thing I've discovered in poring over hundreds of photos of vintage vans over the last few years is that people often take front views and side views (both off-side and near-side) of the van, but very often don't bother about the backside. That includes my own parents!! However, I will look through my file of Don caravan photos and see if I can find a pic of an original tail light. I'm pretty sure I'll know it when (if) I see it. Regarding the side running lights, I can help you with that. I'll get a close up of ours and post it for you. Up until the end of the 40's and possibly later (at least in Victoria) caravans only required a side running light on the off-side (driver's side) of the van. By the mid-50's a side running light was required on both sides, and I may be able to pinpoint the date of the change for Don - ie before or after no 718. Don Ricardo
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stooy
Junior Member
Posts: 67
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Post by stooy on Apr 10, 2011 23:53:13 GMT 10
Hey Don Ricardo,
I was flat out before working on the GT but I really wanted to get the pics up.
My grandad remembers that this was one of two vans built with these windows. It was originally ordered by somone else but the gentleman decided he didn't want it once it was complete, so Grandad bought it.
It spent some time at green acers after it was purchased to help with the purchase cost.
The internal fly screens (from memory) hinge at the bottom and are retained by a rotating steel clip at the top.
Also my uncle was telling me today the devices which hold the windows open are an early type of mechanical strut with an overcentre spring in them.
I will post more detail as it comes to mind.
Cheers
Stewart
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Post by Surf Tragic on Apr 11, 2011 9:06:01 GMT 10
Fascinating to say the least It will be interesting to see what you come up with Don Ricardo, I am going to read every bit of Don history again I feel disbelief, maybe denial....... but there it is ;D !!!! The hood over the window is a larger version of the leadlight models, the full length aluminium drip mould is similar to original. Surf Tragic
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stooy
Junior Member
Posts: 67
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Post by stooy on Apr 11, 2011 9:24:04 GMT 10
Yes, its very different, I had no idea it was rare until I started speaking to you guys.
I will be interested to see what Don Ricardo finds, I will also have a better chat to Grandad about it nextime I get a chance.
It originally had lead light side windows, but my Gran had them taken out because she wanted to see out. (In 1960/1970 something that seemed logical).
Grandad beleives he bought it in 1953.
Now I have to decide what to do with it and when, (I have way too many projects). I am somewhat tempted to replace the axle set and use it the way it is for a while, then again a light resto wouldn't be too hard... too many decisions.
Cheers
Stewart
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stooy
Junior Member
Posts: 67
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Post by stooy on Apr 11, 2011 9:34:01 GMT 10
One other quick thing I just remembered.
You guys probably all ready know this but.
I was speaking to my uncle yesterday, he toured the Don factory as a kid back in the 1950's. He told me that the vans were built using a pre fabrication construction method. The two side walls were built on a very large table, then placed onto the chassis and connected togother.
Cheers
Stewart
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Post by Surf Tragic on Apr 11, 2011 16:16:45 GMT 10
G'day again Stooy Could you get a couple of photos please, I am interested in the shape of the end of the hood board over the top of the window, one looking down on the end of it if possible, another of the end profile of the aluminium drip 'J' mould on the front of the hood. I see there are no small quad mouldings each side of the (sides) Jambs or under the (bottom) sill, which is a trademark Don feature. Flyscreen details as Don Ricardo wishes to see will be very interesting too Would love to call & have a close & proper look ! Surf Tragic
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stooy
Junior Member
Posts: 67
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Post by stooy on Apr 11, 2011 16:37:16 GMT 10
I will try to get some next time I am over there, but it will be quite a few weeks as I am about to head to Brisbane for Easter.
From memory the hood board is a rectangular piece of timber witih the edges cut round at the corners.
As far as I know it never had those quad mouldings around the front windows.
Yes again, I haven't been in the van since 2006 so my memory is a bit sketchy.
When I get it back to my place to start the resto, you are welcome to pop past for a look, but it will be a few months.
I am toying with the idea of trying to get it togother for the vintage van nationals next easter.
Cheers
Stewart
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