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Post by Franklin1 on Feb 7, 2015 20:59:07 GMT 10
G'day Ken, I presume the paper is the Sydney Morning Herald. What's that story on the left side about a tourist hotel in Coffs Harbour? You wouldn't think there'd be many tourist hotels in Coffs Harbour back in nineteen fifty- .... oops, almost gave it away! Harking back to your coupling for a second - is it possible there was a circular block of high density rubber that the half ball sat on? I'm thinking of rubber like they use for conveyor belts or suchlike. The rubber block might have acted like a shock absorber but still allowed movement of the half ball?? cheers, Al.
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Post by Koala on Feb 8, 2015 7:03:22 GMT 10
Hi Al, Spot on with the newspaper being the Sydney Morning Herald. I have changed the photo to something which the sleuths on this forum might relate better to so that the year can be nailed down. Have another go at it but I think you will need to be quick.
Regards the coupling, I have been put on to a guy down the south coast who has apparently managed to register a van with this coupling so I am trying to get a couple of photos of it in pieces. Fortunately a good friend has a nice lathe and milling machine in his garage so I am hoping that the missing bits can be replicated.
Koala
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Post by Geoff & Jude on Feb 8, 2015 7:24:23 GMT 10
hi ken i reckon it's february 1959, probably about the 5th or 6th. i think the (original pictured) article was about the fourth test during the 1958-1959 ashes series.couldn't find it on trove, it only covered the smh up to 1954, but then i remembered listening to the match on the wireless and it all flooded back to me. geoff 'n jude
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Post by Koala on Feb 8, 2015 16:15:27 GMT 10
This is what happens when you go to the shed while the family are still in bed. Maybe the circular saw woke them as I wasn't very popular. At some point in its life the van had sustained damage to the rear left and had not been repaired very well as the curve on the left side was different to the right. This combined with some rot and it was easier to just demolish the lot rather than repair. This also was an opportunity to have a look at the water tank which was located under the left bed. The tank was about 80 litres and obviously hand made out of copper with broken solder joints and in pretty bad shape so into the bin with that as well. One interesting feature of the tank was that it had a float which lifted a rod to indicate the water level. And Geoff, OK you are correct about the newspapers but which edition, morning or evening??? Koala
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Post by cobber on Feb 8, 2015 16:43:00 GMT 10
I have been having a bit of a fiddle with Grandads van mainly to evaluate what I have managed to get myself into. It would seem that the van is home built as on one side alone I counted 14 separate pieces of ply joined to make the side, this is not something that I would expect to see from a factory van. Maybe the builder had access to many packing cases as a readily available source of material. I have been instructed that I have two other projects which must be finished before I commence restoration of the van. My interpretation of this instruction is that I am able to source materials but not actually touch the van sooooooo............. does anyone happen to have laying around any of these window catches and lights or know where I may purchase them?? Koala Ken... can't help you with the lights, want two of them myself, but have a look HERE scroll down to 'Casement fasteners' and have a look at 1748ac and see what you think. This is it Cobber.
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Post by Geoff & Jude on Feb 8, 2015 18:27:38 GMT 10
Geoff, OK you are correct about the newspapers but which edition, morning or evening??? Koala hi ken having had my founding education in country lismore, it's probably obvious that i'm not as smart as a lot of them city folk, but, it does seem pretty obvious to me that the article in the sydney morning herald would have been in the evening edition, to catch the interest of all the fellas going home from work. geoff 'n jude
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Post by akeepsake on Feb 8, 2015 19:59:10 GMT 10
This is what happens when you go to the shed while the family are still in bed. Maybe the circular saw woke them as I wasn't very popular. At some point in its life the van had sustained damage to the rear left and had not been repaired very well as the curve on the left side was different to the right. This combined with some rot and it was easier to just demolish the lot rather than repair. This also was an opportunity to have a look at the water tank which was located under the left bed. The tank was about 80 litres and obviously hand made out of copper with broken solder joints and in pretty bad shape so into the bin with that as well. One interesting feature of the tank was that it had a float which lifted a rod to indicate the water level. And Geoff, OK you are correct about the newspapers but which edition, morning or evening??? Koala Gosh Koala your not mucking around , are you! Great to see your getting your teeth right into it or should I say the circular saw!) I'm sure it will come up a really nice van . Are you going to reinstall the float in the new water tank ? Anyway keep up the good work . A very interesting thread! Cheers Andrew
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Post by Koala on Feb 9, 2015 19:34:23 GMT 10
Thanks for that Cobber, those window catches appear to be the exact thing I need. $20.74 each so I placed an order.
Also I may be able to help you with some beehive lights as I purchased a job lot and expect to have some spares. Will let you know when they arrive.
Koala
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newbug
Junior Member
"Nothing succeeds like a toothless budgie".
Posts: 50
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Post by newbug on Feb 21, 2015 9:56:52 GMT 10
Glad you've found matching handles Koala, as a detailed search in the bowels of my garage didn't throw up any. I asked at the local demolition warehouse and they have a few for $6 each, but not with that pattern on the handle.
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Post by Koala on Mar 3, 2015 9:28:36 GMT 10
I am still slowly working on Grandads van and found this trademark hidden away in a couple of spots inside cabinetry. Hopefully this can nail down the period of construction, I am now settling on early 50,s but have had nothing as firm as this trademark to go on. What appears to be NF & J Arket Coy Pty Ltd, Brisbane with a crown in the centre. A google search came up with nothing so maybe this one is for a head trademark sleuth. Koala
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Post by cobber on Mar 3, 2015 13:38:31 GMT 10
G'day Ken, Can't help you with any information about N F & J Arket plywood Co Pty. Ltd. but I'll pinch your trade mark for the 'Plywood trademarks' thread, OK ? One of the links given on that thread has a history of plywood manufacture in Queensland up to 1959 but I can't find any mention of Arket Something might turn up one day. Cobber.
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Post by Franklin1 on Mar 3, 2015 13:58:57 GMT 10
Is it possible the word is actually NEWMARKET, a suburb of Brisbane??
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Post by cobber on Mar 3, 2015 14:11:33 GMT 10
G'day Al, Spot on I have mentioned my eyes aren't as young as they once were ... neither are Kens Newmarket plywoods do have a bit of history, check it out on that link Ken, or do a google Thanks eagle eyes Cobber.
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Post by cobber on Mar 3, 2015 18:56:35 GMT 10
Ken, As it turns out, Newmarket Plywood have been mentioned recently on this forum on a van belonging to gts2dur. There was discussion as to the age and make of the van which as yet has not be resolved, I think. You can see the thread HERE Cobber.
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Post by Koala on Mar 3, 2015 21:07:06 GMT 10
eerrr!! yep that all makes sense, and I will accept that the ply is from Newmarket Plywood which has a very troubled history according to those links. The mark on my plywood is slightly different to that on gts2dur's van in the respect that mine has the word `Brisbane' under the crown........maybe this will eventually prove a way to date their products. I did also find a original old wooden clothes peg stuck in a crevice under a seat, maybe we will have more luck dating that. After spending some time assessing the condition of Grandads Van I have decided that it would be easier and more economical on time to replace the outer skin entirely. Enough marine ply to recover the entire van and make new window frames has cost me $370. Allowing for some time to repair some wood rot I think I will have it reskinned in about 2 days. This is far quicker than paint stripping and will give a far better finish for painting without taking too much away from originality. Thank you to those who have responded about the ply......thank goodness some of us still have good eyes. Koala
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willow5075
Full Member
Willow & the MOTH
Posts: 355
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Post by willow5075 on Mar 5, 2015 16:16:07 GMT 10
Loving the "Vim" under the sink - I remember Mum havin gthat in the laundry cupboard in the 60's and having to learn how to use it to scrub the bath - chores yuk!
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Post by Koala on Mar 7, 2015 18:38:54 GMT 10
Grandads Van is approaching the time when I will be ready to recover the roof. I have read a few posts from other members who have tackled this task and it doesn't really seem to be that hard but I do have a question which may seem rather basic. Is it better to use a heavy material such as canvas or is light calico as can be purchased at Spotlight suitable.?? I assume that it would be easier to use the calico and providing I use the correct exterior paint it would be OK. I haven't been able to make any further progress in relation to the tow coupling so it appears at this stage that a modern coupling will be going on. Ebay has been useful and I now have a full set of beehive lights (stop, tail, clearance and indicator) as well a couple of nice number plate lights ready for the van. Haven't started on the interior yet and the boss has suggested that the van would be more useable if I took out the front double bed and change it to the more traditional drop down table and seats. Still undecided on that one. Koala
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Post by penguin on Mar 8, 2015 17:11:45 GMT 10
Hello koala. I used the spotlight calico and turned out fine. Some people wash it but I didn't bother and had no issues. Rolled it onto a stick long enough to come out past each side of the van. One person on each side of the van on a stepladder. Nail it on at the start to hold it. Rolled on about 2' of paint the width of the van (put it on thick). Unroll a couple of feet of calico and pull it tight and down onto the paint. Really stretch it out and sideways to get all the creases out. Then roll more paint over the top of the calico to really paint it in. Continue like this until the whole roof is done. Nail off the end and tape the sides down - trim the off when dry. I then rolled a couple more coats on. I used acrylic but I don't think it really matters what you use. I did mine very early in the morning to avoid the heat so the paint didn't dry before soaking right into the calico. I also removed my hatch and surround to make it easier. Cheers. Ben
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Post by Koala on Mar 8, 2015 18:15:45 GMT 10
Hi Ben Thank you for the reply. You have confirmed my thinking that the Spotlight calico is OK. I guess that the thicker canvas would be harder to manage and get the paint to soak through. Would make it easier without the hatch but don't think I will be able to do that easily.
Koala
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Post by akeepsake on Mar 8, 2015 19:06:32 GMT 10
Giday Koala Penguins roof turned out well but he did have some expert help I would definatly use acrylic over oil based for the roof as it is much mor flexible so will hang in their longer and won't crack. I'm a big fan of using exterior rated waterproof membrane used under tiles ( check out my Jenno thread) It water based and very thick It also stretches 2-3 mm Your roof will never leak ! Cheers Andrew
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Post by King Fisher on Mar 10, 2015 12:04:42 GMT 10
Hi there we used spotlight calico in Fisher's Resto back in 2012, using water based Taubmans 3 in 1 undercoat to stick it down plus 3 top coats. And it's still no problems.
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Post by Koala on Mar 11, 2015 21:07:24 GMT 10
It has been suggested that this van has Bosse and Euson windows. Assuming that Bosse and Euson worked in a factory where their products were built to a standard I find it difficult to accept that these windows have been professionally manufactured. The reason for this doubt is that every window is a different size with 15mm variance on windows which you would reasonably expect to be the same size. Maybe the windows were copies??
Koala
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Post by akeepsake on Mar 11, 2015 21:22:09 GMT 10
Hi koala my Jenno windows are very similar but I am led to believe they were built in house . They all had chisel marks at the top of the frames and the top of the openings to match them to each window and no windows would interchange with a unmatched opening of what should have been the same size . They were flush fit not proud The Alexander has the same style as yours and fit proud with the ply overlapping the frame Hope that helps Do you have any pics of construction ?
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Post by Don Ricardo on Mar 11, 2015 21:50:28 GMT 10
Hi Koala, The term 'Bosse rounded window' was a term used by Winser who suggested that the use of this style window could be used to date caravans on the basis that such windows were commonly used from about 1953 to 1957 - see here. The Bosse style windows referred to by Winser were produced apparently by Bosse & Eunson, and so we (perhaps rather loosely) began to refer to them on the forum as 'Bosse & Eunson style' windows. However, we have learnt since that the 'Bosse & Eunson style' windows were also used well before 1953 and as Akeepsake has pointed out were probably made by a number of caravan manufacturers, possibly in-house and possibly by other suppliers on contract. As we've said about Grandad's van it certainly looks earlier than the 50's, so I think Akeepsake's comments are quite applicable and would answer the question of why your windows don't appear to have been built on a production line. Don Ricardo
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Post by Koala on Mar 14, 2015 17:40:46 GMT 10
I have a few free days so decided to attempt some progress on Grandads Van. Pulled some more ply off and found another plywood brand mark for `Bretts Plywood (Brisbane)' I always do as I am told so in order to conform to instructions received, the front double bed has been removed in order to make the more traditional layout of a drop down table. This was a real joy as this revealed another makers mark for the `Joy Mattress Coy. Brisbane'. A very appropriate name for a bedding company Grandads Van never ceases to amaze with this strange item being found inside one of the walls where it would have laid since the van was constructed. Whatever it is I wonder if the guy ever figured out where he left it. Can anyone shed light on what it is apart from a knife?? Koala
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