Karkampa Camper Trailers

[kenny]

Hi Don, I don't know where this fits, leave that to your good judgement.

I found this series of photos in the library. The narrative says "Karkampas Camper Trailer - Corner Pickering and Magura Streets - Enoggera". Enjoy!

[kenny]

... and two more:

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Kenny,

Another great set of photos which I think are worthy of including in the Down History Lane section...so I've created a new thread called Karkampa Camper Trailers, although I notice one of the 'devices' is actually a roof top tent. I've also replaced the photos with more permanent versions.

I note that the Ford Falcon in the photo is a 1969 XW model, so the photos must date from no earlier than that year, but being a 1969 vehicle I'll take the photos as being from the vintage era.

I've done a bit of a search for 'Karkampa' but can only come up with the following bankruptcy notice from the Commonwealth Gazette of Thursday, 27 March 1969 (No 28, page 1903), which refers to a Patsy Faye Powell trading as 'Karkampa Company':

(Source: National Library of Australia nla.gov.au/nla.news-article241037707 )

The Karkampa Company was located at 26 Rudloc Road, Morley, WA.  The Western Australians had a bit of a history with camper trailers, etc, so it may be that the Karkampa Company was the manufacturer of the camper trailer and car top tent that you have shown us.  That's just speculation at this point, but I've posted the notice here until we learn more.

Do any of your library resources tell us anything about a Karkampa (or Karkampas) outfit operating in Queensland?  The photos look as if they may have been for a publicity shoot or similar.  What do you think?

Don Ricardo

[kenny]

Hi Don, additional information is limited to this:



Description: BCC-B54-38712: Trailer being towed by Ford Falcon XW. Photos used in Brisbane City Council advertising layout.



BCC-B54-38713: Tent erected over Ford Falcon XW.



Photos used in Brisbane City Council advertising layout.



BCC-B54-38714: Ford Falcon XW Towing a Karkampas Camper Trailer - Corner Pickering and Magura Streets - Enoggera. Photos used in Brisbane City Council advertising layout.



BCC-B54-38715: Tent set up behind a Ford Falcon XW.



Enoggera Lawn Bowls Clubhouse in background.



Photos used in Brisbane City Council advertising layout.

[Roehm3108]

Hi DonR
Those Karkampas could well predate the Ford - the Falcon may not have been the original tow vehicle.

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Roehm,

Yes, I definitely agree that the Karkampas could pre-date the 1969 XW Falcon by a few years. By the same token, the photos might have been taken sometime in the 70’s when the XW was a few years old! I was really just using the 1969 date for the XW as a justification for giving the Karkampas their own thread in the DHL section of the Vintage Caravan (pre-1970) forum.

By the same token both the car and the Karkampas look to be in pretty good - even new - condition, and the photos look like they were for publicity purposes…although it is a strange backdrop for publicity photos I have to confess.

Don Ricardo