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Post by rovenowner on Jan 13, 2020 17:21:34 GMT 10
Does anyone know anything about roven caravans besides the advertising in the 40s
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Post by hughdeany on Jan 13, 2020 18:15:00 GMT 10
Do you mean the ones made in Ballarat in the 70s?
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Post by Don Ricardo on Jan 13, 2020 18:36:36 GMT 10
Hi Rovenowner,
I was just going to respond to your post in relation to the Roven caravans built by Seal and Down in Liverpool (NSW), and then saw Hughdeany’s post... I’m not sure which ones you are asking about?
Anyway, let me reply in relation to the Liverpool built Rovens. We don’t know a great deal about them, apart from the information on the Roven thread in the ‘Down History Lane’ section of the forum. I presume you’ve seen that, and that that’s what you’re referring to when you wrote about the 1940’s adverts?
I’ve done a little more digging, and found that ‘Seal & Down’ were Charles Frederick Seal and David James Down, who formed a partnership to produce caravans. The earliest reference to them we have is February1946, so I am guessing that they may have started building caravans after the War. The partnership was dissolved in April 1947, and the Roven caravan business was continued by Mr Seal. In 1949 there is information about the presentation of the Roven Caravan Trophy for a speedboat race in February of that year. Seal and Down continued to advertise in the newspapers up to April 1954. Until 1952 they were advertising Roven caravans, but after that they were involved in selling caravans on consignment and acting as agents for caravans for hire on behalf of private owners. In August 1952, Seal and Down held an auction for 24 caravans which they advertised cost £1,500 to build, but would be sold for around £750. That suggests that the business may have not been going well. After April 1954 there are no more references in the press, suggesting that they may have ceased trading.
I am intrigued by Hughdeany’s comment about Roven caravans build in Ballarat in the 70’s, and don’t know anything about them. Maybe Hughdeany can tell us more?
I note that you have styled yourself ‘Rovenower’ which suggests that you may know a bit more than the rest of us? Would you like to tell us about your van?
Don Ricardo
Note:. This post has been edited to include some additional information about Seal and Down.
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Post by rovenowner on Jan 15, 2020 13:28:05 GMT 10
Thank don Ricardo for your information, however I'm pretty sure I'm referring to the ballarat model that hugh has mentioned, is there any more information you have on these Van's hugh?
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Post by rovenowner on Jan 15, 2020 13:32:09 GMT 10
I have a 20ft roven without a vin or gas compliance and am trying to register, complicated process!
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Post by hughdeany on Jan 16, 2020 7:18:14 GMT 10
Hi Rovenowner, Roven made small pop tops and caravans in the late seventies to the early eighties,never knew them to make anything over about 17 ft,but of course that doesn’t mean they didn’t,I would love to see a pic of it,as the caravans had extremely unusual body shapes! Cheers hughdeany
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Post by rovenowner on Jan 16, 2020 17:25:23 GMT 10
Yes 17ft is what I have, sorry measured from the draw bar,!
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Post by GlennL on Mar 20, 2020 20:53:52 GMT 10
My parents had a Roven poptop (Ballarat made) in the 70's Woul dlove to see a pic of yours!
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