OLD TOW COUPLINGS

[cobber]

G'day cardygeorge,

Thanks for that one... Let us know if you find a brand name on it won't you .... in the meantime we'll call it the "Black Douglas" coupling

Cobber.

[cobber]

Two more interesting couplings.... showing the extent people went to get hydraulic brakes working.

This one on a tandem axel van, make unknown at the moment


And this one has been fitted to a Millard.


Cobber.

[hwyman]

Here is an old one for you cobber

www.ebay.com.au/itm/Trailer-/271288885923?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item3f2a13e2a3&_uhb=1

hwyman

[cardygeorge]

The 'Black Douglas' coupling is now home and can now be labelled as one of SJ Browns offerings





The T-handle doesn't lift up like appearances suggest it should. It is threaded into the locking pin inside and as the handle is rotated the pins raises and lowers to lock the ball in place. A standard 50mm ball is firmly locked into it so I'm not panicked about tracking down a 2 1/4in ball just yet. The grub screw you can see in the bottom pic locks the handle in place to stop it rotating.


The Master Cylinder has seized solid, but the main shaft still moves inside the sleeve. I'll give it a scrub and hopefully no damage will be revealed. Would love to be able to keep it in place.

I'm also hoping it will also help identify the van as I have no other brand names on it anywhere

[cobber]

Another couple of great couplings there aye? thanks for posting them fellas.

Somebody will buy that trailer hwyman just to get hold of that coupling ..... and the tail lights, did you see the tail lights
The trailer tow coupling, I don't think I would put it on a caravan


cardygeorge, thanks for re-posting photos of the S.J.Brown coupling mate, she's a beauty, and thanks for the detailed run down on how it works. The screw down T handle idea is not common on caravan couplings I don't think but is often the way it is done on lighter box trailers.

And another interesting linkage arrangement to get the master cylinder working..... would be great if you can get it all working again, good luck with it

Cobber.

[hwyman]

I went back for a look Cobber looks like a HQ--HJ holden wagon tail light without the surround a hella tail light with bolts through the lenses to hold it on and a old motorcycle tail light. Now I don't have to go as far as having my slot head screws line up on a project but two different tail lights would never do ;D hats of to him that it does not irritate him like it would me every time I would look at it.

[stephen&Julie]

Hi,
This tow hitch does not appear any where in the mix of hitches can anyone give me any idea of the original configuration please, van feels around 1930 to 1940’s, I would like to restore some how.


Cheers Stephen&Julie

[cobber]

G'day stephen&julie,

Interesting van.... and tow coupling
I haven't got a clue how the coupling would work, do you think it is all there

ANYBODY GOT ANY IDEAS

Cobber.

[stephen&Julie]

Hi Cobber, no its not all there hence the query, will investigate more when it comes home and let you no
Cheers S&J

[cobber]

Here at last we have the Burgmann override coupling as originally fitted to Sunliner caravans, and I have been reliably informed that Burgmann also made the chassis for Sunliners.



40 cwt....... plenty of spare capacity there.


Cobber.

[stephen&Julie]

Hi All,
Well here’s one for the books, this is complete, under is a very small tow ball hole and on top is a spring loaded clip which locks in the tow ball, the whole setup faces forward and when you brake slides back pulling a cable tight setting the brakes on, unreal






Cheers Stephen&Julie

[cobber]

G'day Stephen & Julie,

Thanks for posting that.... it's a rare one aye ?
What size ball do you think it would have fitted ? remember inch and seven eights were a common size.... I don't think there was a smaller standard size

I have sometimes made the point that if you are RESTORING a vintage van to its original condition you are entitled to retain the original tow coupling if it is in good condition and working as it was designed to work.

Not sure I would persist with this one... it doesn't appear to have a safety locking device, although it is fair to say..... it must have worked

Here is the link to the van it's on

Cobber.

[nuts]

not sure how to post this but ive got an old caravan with canvas roof hardboard walls the coupling is something really different i think oh and has model a ford wheels ant idea how old it is

[cobber]

G'day nuts,

Not only have you given us an other interesting coupling you've also got an interesting van..... don't go away because we'd love to hear more about it and see more photos.

If you click on THIS LINK and scroll down to reply # 44 you'll see the start of just one of the discussions there have been about this style of van.

Also have a look at THIS THREAD and see if these vans have any similarity to yours.

Anything you can add to our knowledge ( lack of ) about your style of van will be appreciated.

Cobber.

[wrongo]

I have had a quick flick through this thread but did not see a coupling like on my Olympic van. Actually it is more about brakes than coupling.The previous owner told me this coupling cost big dollars when he fitted it.
It has a solenoid which is activated by power from the brake light circuit and only applies fluid to the brakes when solenoid is opened, other wise it acts as the usual override coupling.
Gordon W

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Nuts and Cobber,

That's certainly a very interesting and unusual van that you've got there Nuts, which I'm sure many of us will want to hear a lot more about, and talk to you about. It's great that you've posted pics of the tow coupling on this thread because that's one topic of interest. However, so that we don't take this thread too far off topic, I've copied your post above and Cobber's reply to a new thread just about your van in the 'Members Photo Album' section of the forum so that we can talk about your van as much as we want. You can find the new thread by clicking here.

Hope that will be OK with you Nuts?

Don Ricardo
for the moderating team

[humpyboy]

Seen on a Hawthorn van.

[Franklin1]

Test post - to see how the "Link to Post" works

Dymwood tow coupling



Dymwood tow coupling separated from thread

[cobber]

Thanks everybody for the posts above, grist to the mill they say,

Looks like your test works Al

Now here is a very unique tow coupling fitted to a 1949 Jennison pathfinder caravan  ( thanks Andrew, I hope you're able to hang onto it during the restoration   )

And as evidence of its authenticity look HERE



Cobber

[akeepsake]

Thanks Cobber ! Here's hoping I can work something out with the powers that be!

[Jennison]

Don't let the rego bozos bluff you Andrew it's in the regs that if it is the original factory hitch then it's legal as is. Jenno
PS cobber already has recorded/photos of the Newcastle hitch on my pathfinder

[akeepsake]

Jan 13, 2014 20:55:45 GMT 10 Jennison said:

Don't let the rego bozos bluff you Andrew it's in the regs that if it is the original factory hitch then it's legal as is. Jenno
PS cobber already has recorded/photos of the Newcastle hitch on my pathfinder

Jeff reading through the "Jennison files" it says he (jJAJ) had a patent on the design so if I can find that it should have all I need if the blue slip boys want specs!
Cheers

[cobber]

G'day Andrew,

You would have noticed that I have had the cheek   to brand this coupling a ' Jennison' coupling, and the evidence I use for that assertion are these two photos showing the coupling welded to the chassis as part of its original construction.
 
Problem is... the blue slip people ( in NSW) have been told that ALL tow couplings since the beginning of time were branded with the makers name and max. weight..... we vintage vanners know there are numerous examples of patented couplings without those markings.

So....... just make sure the markings " JENNISON.  40Cwt. max."  miraculously appear on the coupling and you're home and hosed, I'd fight it all the way to the Supreme Court ............................. ( if I was you   , would help if somebody can find the patent application, I've looked... can't find one ) 

Cobber.

Jan 19, 2010 19:22:24 GMT 10 Don Ricardo said:

Here are some further Jennison Pathfinder photos Jennison has found amongst his mother's things.

The first two photos show the framework and A frame for a late 40's Jennison Pathfinder taken at John Jennison's factory in Parraween Street, Cremorne (Sydney):

[Jennison]

Too right Cobber
when I looked though the National Archives website (who hold copies of old patent applications) some years ago, I found no evidence of any other jenno patents bar the "34 pop top" one.
Get that punch set working asap Andrew...... Cobbers solution is simple and will save any dramas.
Jayvan had the same issues with his old van, didn't use the punch set as recommended and had a heap of unnecessary beaurocratic hassles over the tow hitch , not to mention extra $$$$ wasted as the rta charged him heaps to issue a vin number as well...all for the sake of 5 mins work with a punch.
jenno

[akeepsake]

Thanks cobber and Jenno.......now to find my punch set!!!! Interesting Cobber have studied the "Jennison files" and in the brochure it says tow hitch Jennisons patent design
So thought there may be a patent somewhere could have been before the war??? Having another look at the pictures above mine has a safety catch that flips over ant the one in the pick has a grease nipple where mine hasn't!! Little details I know!
Here is a worms eye view!