Don front and rear badges

[Don Ricardo]

Hi everyone,

In a comment on the Don 120 model Dosse is restoring
vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=photo&action=display&thread=1182828799
Doug&Vicki commented:

don257 said:

dosse great pics of your DON i noticed a reply from ray about the badges we only ever had one on the back of ours & looks like it has never had one on the front good luck with resto work & can't wait to see more pics Doug&Vicki

I was interested in the question Doug&Vicki raised about the Don badges at the front and the rear of the Don 1934-1956 series vans.

I've checked over my collection of photos and the answer is (drum roll please maestro) - some Don's have a badge at the front (or clearly did) and some don't ;D

And the statistics (based on those vans for which I have a picture of the front) are:

140 model - 4 with / 1 without
120 model - 4 with / 1 without
110 model - 2 without

The question is whether those vans without a badge ever had one, or whether it's been taken off for some reason along the way. Given that all the vans without exception have a rear badge, I'm inclined to think that those without a front badge never had one.

The other thing that I noted while checking through the photos is that:

1. All of the vans with a front badge are 1947 or later, and also
2. All the post-1947 vans - with one exception - have a front badge. The exception is Jim-from-WA's 140 model.

[It's alright - I haven't repeated myself - there is a difference between the two statements!!]

Of course my sample is small...but maybe the front badge was put on all vans from the very late 40's?? Perhaps the question of the Don front badge is destined to be one of life's little mysteries, but if anyone else has any ideas or evidence one way or the other, I'd be interested to hear.

Don Ricardo

Statistics updated 4 May 2008

[cobber]

Don & Admin,

Somehow, someday, all this guff that is being accumulated about Don caravans is going to have to be consolidated into one thread, devoid of miscellaneous guff, that will become the definitive base of knowledge about Don caravans.

I nominate "Don Ricardo" for this most worthy of tasks (I would be surprised if he hasn't already started to do this).

Cobber.

[aussietanker]

Cobber said ...

Somehow, someday, all this guff that is being accumulated about Don caravans is going to have to be consolidated into one thread, devoid of miscellaneous guff, that will become the definitive base of knowledge about Don caravans.

I nominate "Don Ricardo" for this most worthy of tasks (I would be surprised if he hasn't already started to do this).

not a bad idea ... what do you reckon Don - I'm happy to give you a hand, if needed ..... just let me know what you want me to do if the boss decides that it's a good idea ...

and for what it's worth ...i am fairly certain that the 150's only ever had a rear badge ... Bret assured me that all trim and bits and pieces were with the van when we prepped, it ready to be loaded onto the trailer ... and there is only one badge - and it went at the rear - i distinctly remember asking if there was one or two badges and if it was at the front or rear and his answer was very emphatic - rear only...



Regards
A|T

[dosse]

G'Day Again A/T
If your going to have badges re-made I would be happy to buy two.
Regards David dosse.
PS Great idea one thread on the ( DON ) what do you think Mark T .

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Cobber, A/T and Dosse,

Thanks for your nomination (I think ;D). I'm happy to do what I can, and if others want to contribute that's even better (thanks for the offer A/T).

I think what you are suggesting is a good idea. It will save us continuously trawling through hundreds of posts for snippets of info. As Cobber has suggested, I have been keeping a record of some of the info which has been posted, but there is more out there.

Actually, from discussions with Mark, he has something in mind with the forum which I think will be helpful in collecting information about different makes of caravans, etc. Watch this space...

...well not actually this space...but keep posted anyway ;D

Don Ricardo

[cobber]

Well...... from little things big things grow.

A simple suggestion from a simple bloke and the ball has been picked up and a goal has been scored.

Congratulations to both Mark & Don, what you have come up with is far more than I envisioned.

As the Moderator of the new forum Don "Down History Lane" do you have the ability to extract information (posts) that are scattered all over the place and move them to the new forum, minus the guff ?.....big job.

Any thing I can do to help let me know.

Cobber.

[Don Ricardo]

Hi everyone,

I had the opportunity to check out A/T's Don 120 a week or so ago. It was built around 1955 and has both a front and rear badge, so my theory about the 1934-1956 series Dons having two badges from the late 40's onwards has gained a little more support.

The count for 120 model vans is now 4 with/1 without. The first post under this thread has been amended accordingly.

Don Ricardo

[Don Ricardo]

Hello everyone,

After correspondence with Austin125 regarding his 1947 Don 140, I have further updated the figures above on the Don caravans with and without front badges (see first post on this thread).

Austin125's van has both front and rear badges, making the count for the 140 model 3 with / 1 without. More significantly, because his van was built in 1947, it means that every 1934-1956 series Don we know about which was built in 1947 or later had both front and rear badges (previously the earliest date was 1949).

If anyone has information which disproves this last statement, please let me know.

Regards,

Don Ricardo

[meataxe]

goodday any one wanting a very rough DON caravan please reply as there is one in the MORGAN.SA.rubbish dump,body would need replacing , most parts are still there including the leadlight windows,this van could be of use for spare parts,a small donation would secure. regards meataxe.

[earlee]

where are you meataxe???

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Meataxe

Can you provide any more info about the van?

Is the serial number plate still attached to the side wall near the bottom left hand corner of the door? If so, what is the serial number?

Also can you tell what size it is? If you look at Reply #5 under the following thread it may help you identify the model:

vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=chat&action=display&thread=1195383883

Don Ricardo

[meataxe]

goodday don, van appears to be about 12 foot long, has 16 inch wheels,strange looking tow hitch, van is extremely rough,most fittings seem to be there, our dump is only open 2 days in the week, i shall check for a serial number on sunday when the dump is open,if you are interested in the van i could tow it home as i live about 1.5ks from the dump. the sink,wash basin,soap holder,ice chest all water tanks are there,2leadlight in good condition 1 needs repair,light fittings were removed but now in my possesion,as is a 240 volt 12 volt transformer regards meataxe.

[meataxe]

don my phone is 0885402172 our answering machine will pick you up if i am not home am home most times.