Franklin?

[nev360]

linkHi is this a Franklin any info would be fantastic


Thank you

[nev360]

sorry cant seem to upload photos

[nev360]

flic.kr/p/2kqTAaK
Is this a Franklin thank you

20150120_182120 by Joe McKenna, on Flickr

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Nev360,

Welcome to the forum.

From what I can see of the van in the photo, it isn’t a Franklin. Franklin didn’t produce any vans with the “leaning forward” style of front above the waist line. You can see some typical Franklins if you click here.

If you can show us some more photos, including the front and the rear and inside, we can probably identify the van for you.

Regarding posting photos on the forum, you can find some instructions here. The simplest way is to use the ‘Add Attachment’ button at the top of the ‘Create Post’ window. But if you look at the Flickr instructions you will also see how to post photos directly from Flickr using their URL.

We’d love to see some more photos of the van, so please do persevere with posting your photos.

Don Ricardo

[nev360]

Is it maybe a skyline by franklin

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Nev360,

Skyline and Franklin were separate and independent manufacturers. However, in the early 60’s, Skyline did begin to sell vans sourced from other manufacturers under the Skyline name. One of the sources was indeed Franklin, but those vans pretty much looked like Franklins, just with a Skyline badge on them. Further, they still retained the Franklin serial number.

That means that if your van doesn’t look like a Franklin - which it doesn’t from the photo you’ve shown us - then it won’t be a Skyline badged Franklin. But it is still possible that it’s a Skyline.

Do you have a particular reason for thinking that the van is either a Franklin or a Skyline?

If you’re having trouble posting some more photos, you’re welcome to email me some photos and I’ll post them for you, and then we can work out who might have built the van. My email address is [e-mail] (but let me know here when you’ve emailed the photos).

The other thing that may help us in identifying your van is if you can tell us if there is a serial number welded (or created out of weld) on the drawbar of the van? That might tell us what we need to know.

Don Ricardo

PS Sorry, the links I gave you in my earlier post didn’t work. I’ve fixed them now, so they’ll take you to the threads I intended.

Also, I’ve inserted your photo into your first post so that people can see it without going to the link. Hope that’s ok?

[Don Ricardo]

Hi all,

Nev360 has provided some more photos of his van in the hope that we may be able help him identify it (see also photo posted by Nev360 higher up this thread):









As you'll see from the posts above, Nev360's thought was that the van might be a Franklin or Franklin-built Skyline. Interestingly, the van does have the "Franklin shelf" in the galley, ie the little shelf with the single central support which is often a give away feature of a Franklin. In addition the textured ceiling and sliding-door overhead cupboards were used by Franklin. However, the shape and external features of the van do not fit any model Franklin, nor any model Skyline, including any of the Franklin-built Skylines. In addition there is no Franklin format serial number on the drawbar, so my conclusion is that Nev360's van isn't a Franklin.

The ceiling material and the overhead cupboard style was used by several of the other Ballarat-based caravan manufacturers in the 1960's, and I am therefore wondering if the van was built by another of the Ballarat firms? The van is most similar to some of the caravans built by Coronet, so perhaps that's its origins? In contrast it also has some similarities to some Roma vans. Can anybody throw any more light on the question to help Nev360?

A couple of other observations: The van has had some modifications made to it at some point. The door is not original, and nor is the hatch. Further the flashes on the side are similarish to those used by Judd & Innes on the vans they sold, including those branded as Customlines.

There is also a plaque on the front of the van above the windows which says 'A D'.  I've had a look at the plaque in another photo and it is quite short, and I can't see any signs of any letters other than the 'A D'.

I'll look forward to reading your comments.

Don Ricardo

[vickivanning]

I’ve got a coronet that looks very similar although cupboard style is different. Could it be a coronet rebadged as a Roma?

I was told mine was a 1978 Coronet Princess (diner at left, double door wardrobe and couch folds in to double). No wrap around windows so a standard model rather than ‘deluxe’?!

Attachments:

[Roehm3108]

Not too sure if this helps or not DonR. The AD intrigues me, despite your comment that it is a short sign. You may have the benefit of seeing a larger shot of that sign?? The thought that did strike me is that perhaps the AD is the end of the name NOMAD? You may recall under the HillanDale thread in the DHL section that Nomad "adopted" their vans as their own. I notice that nev360's van has plywood sides and there is no indication that the earlier Hillandales may also have had plywood sides. That they may have, shouldn't be discounted. Perhaps Nomad also adopted Franklin caravans? It's interesting that hughdeany hasn't weighed into this topic!!!

[hughdeany]

Hi all,
Just spotted this Roehm!
Looks like a Huntsman to me,with a trimatic door and 4 seasons hatch fitted sometime in the seventies.
I agree Don that it’s a Customline flash too,the originals were painted,but this one looks like a sticker.
Other than that I have no idea!
Cheers
hughdeany

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Roehm,

That's an interesting thought about the Nomad. Here's the photo that led me to say that the sign on the front of the caravan was quite short. Of course part of it may have broken off, although there seem to be a screw at each end which suggests not?



Early Hilandales did have bondwood sides, so that is a possibility, but it doesn't sound as if Hughdeany thinks that Nev360's van is a Hilandale.

Don Ricardo

[Roehm3108]

I see what you're saying DonR, plus, now that I look more closely, the sign seems to be centred as it is. Makes you wonder about who calls their van AD, unless they're a keen tennis player

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Roehm,

Yes, the sign looks centred to me too.

Perhaps they were trying to date their van and couldn't get any closer than AD - Anno Domini? And you'd have to say that is correct!

Don Ricardo

[Roehm3108]

Aaahhh. but does it qualify as "vintage"?