Assorted caravans, Roderick Smith's album

[rodericksmith]

580128Tu Henley (Adelaide, SA).  A wooden caravan providing accommodation for operators of a summer beachside carnival.  (Neil Smith / Roderick Smith)

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Rodericksmith,

That one’s a South Australian Furness caravan. Note the sliding windows on the side which were a Furness feature.

It would also have had a sliding door.

Don Ricardo

[rodericksmith]

1958 - MG Y plus caravan, top.of.MoonbiRange-EllisThornley
Ellis supplied this to me via a tramway group.  The original needed a lot of damage repair.
The climb of Moonbi Range is notorious.  I did it once in a VW beetle, then always used the Newell.
Ellis could have stopped for morning tea in triumph.  Conceivably, he stopped to let the radiator cool, and closed the bonnet before taking the photo.  That was a common sight on major climbs in that era (eg Pretty Sally leaving Melbourne).
The van was a 10 ft (3.3 m) one, with one of the two standard layouts: small two-seat dinette at the front; kitchen rhs opposite the door and cupboard; settee rear making a double bed.
The other style had the settee front, making a one above one bunk, and a four-seat dinette rear.
IIRC Ellis was a Sydney resident, and was trailing to Kirra Beach.

The MG Y was very much a poor-man's Jaguar: stylish, and sporty for its era.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MG_Y-type

[rodericksmith]

Orbost caravan park, signed 'Camping park'.
650113W Orbost (Vic.) caravan park, signed 'Camping park'.  (Neil Smith / Roderick Smith)

[rodericksmith]

650113W Orbost (Vic.) caravan park.  (Neil Smith / Roderick Smith)

[rodericksmith]

Back to the 1950s.

Feb.1955 VR 'News Letter' - railway caravans.

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Rodericksmith,

That’s a fascinating article on the railway caravans. I hadn’t heard of them before.

But I’ve got a strong feeling that the four squarish caravans in the middle were built by Don. The construction and design of the doors, the A-frames with the lifting handles, the couplings, castor wheels, stabiliser legs, steps, and front window all say “Don” to me. Similarly some of the cupboards and clasps in the internal photo on the first page of the article look like they’ve been done by Don. I’m imagining that I can see a triangular Don badge under the front window of the first caravan too, but that may be pushing things too far!

I’ve never seen a Don with a roof like the one on those caravans, but I know they did some one-off work for commercial customers.

I’ll contact another forum member, Surf Tragic who has restored a number of Dons and knows therm inside out, and see what he thinks.

Don Ricardo

[Mustang]

Would have been cosy with a "wood fired stove" !!!!
Cheers

[rodericksmith]

VR may well have been a pioneer in industrial-caravan use.  Later, most government instrumentalities had them.  My memory is that Carapark aluminium caravans sold many more to the commercial/industrial market than to domestic: too boxy to appeal, but very practical.  Searching on that name in this group brings up lots of photos.  VR did continue with caravans.  As gangs became larger, and maintenance became mechanised and cyclical, it established gravelled sites with power.  These became a temporary village for a few months every few years.  VR may also have matched the rest of industry in switching to transportable cabins rather than caravans as such.
Those early ones not only had combustion stoves, they had kerosene lighting.  I don't know when bottled gas came into vogue.

[Surf Tragic]

Don Ricardo, you have a discerning eye ! I wouldn't have given these vans a second look because of the shape, but now you have brought to our attention some interesting points, also that Don did make some unusual "One Offs".

The door is an exact replica of the general Don door, the fold down internal door flap, it's bumper & elbow catch, handle & top bolt. Wind down legs look same, Chassis would appear to be 75mm on these 4, whereas general was 2 / 5ox50x5mm angles welded to make a box which is 55x55. The captive ball appears to be missing, with a flat (not so deep) portion possibly with a large hole that would hook over the towbar attachment. (just guessing) but would be typical of railway vehicle couplings.

The first chassis is shaped different to the next 3, the angled plates on the tow part of the "A" frame are quite different, and the cast wheel is not directly under the jockey wheel shaft, the others are like original Don cast wheels & winder shafts exactly, so one odd one !

I really feel convinced they are from the Don Factory, I can't imagine Don allowing his patent mechanical designs & wooden designed windows & doors be used by others.

I've sent photos to George Brown who was in the factory since his start as an apprentice to when the factory closed, & asked if he recalled a batch like this going through, and do hope he is well enough to answer my letter, as he wasn't in good health last time we spoke...... George was the leading Joiner. I notice that some cupboard doors have "D" handles with the catch button in the handle & have never seen any Don joinery in any other van with handles like that , but some of the other hardware is the same.

I guess you are waiting to hear from Wal Robinson also, we had a short chat but he was out visiting & it wasn't suitable.

Interesting !.......Surf Tragic

[rodericksmith]

The lack of a ball would be standard for industrial trailers: trucks towing machinery to worksites.
I am not sure of the procurement process, and tracking tenders would be tricky.
If VR had to call for competitive tenders, they must have been advertised somewhere.
Seeking concepts from different makers would have been in keeping with decades of loco procurement.  VR was notorious for obtaining sample locos from well-known makers, then producing its own copies.
In 1955, how many makers would have been in a position to respond?
Don was well established.
Did the variety in styles result from selecting different makers, each putting up their concept?  One possible contender would be Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation.  It was desperate to keep its team together, and switched its emphasis to bus bodies, using aeropspace techniques.  Responding to such a tender would be in character.
I don't have the time to research anything at PROV; lots of my railway friends are regulars, with their own projects.
I am unlikely to find photos of the evolution of this pilot project.  They could be anywhere in a few thousand magazines in my collection.  Serendipity would be one popping up when I am searching for something else.
Hopefully, the research threads from others here will lead to a bigger picture.

I have just tried Trove. That is always a hazard: too much sifting through too many red herrings and too much distraction across multiple hobbies.

VICTORIAN RAILWAYS. TENDERS are invited for supply of 12 two-BERTH CARAVAN TRAILERS.
Particulars Room 23, Railway Offices. Tenders must reach Tender Box. Room 101. Railway Offices, Spencer street, Melbourne, by 11 am on 14th April.
No tender necessarily accepted.
Wed 17 Mar 1954 Melbourne 'Argus' trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/26597072

That morphed into 24. If there were three of a kind from Don, that hints at three each from eight makers. Or, there were more Dons in the next row.
'Four types' hints at six vans from each of four makers.

Just two distractions:

* COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. Tenders are invited for the supply of a caravan (preferably with metal body), providing 3-berth sleeping accommodation and messing, together with office facilities, for use as a mobile research unit.
Tenders, enclosed in a sealed envelope, endorsed "Tender for Caravan," and addressed to the Secretary, Department of the Interior, Canberra, ACT, will be received up to 2 pm on Tuesday, April 13 1954.
No tender necessarily accepted.
Full particulars may be obtained from the Director-General, Forestry and Timber Bureau. Canberra.
Sat 27 Mar 1954 Melbourne 'Age'
* CARPENTER or JOINER. First class tradesman offered constant employment on inside work. Good conditions, local resident preferred. “Don” Caravan Co. Pty Ltd, 607-615 Neerim Rd, Oakleigh. UM 1041.
Wed 13 Oct 1954 Dandenong Journal
trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/218513153

[rodericksmith]

650120W Lakes Entrance - Kalimna lookout - Holden EK & caravan - Neil Smith / Roderick Smith
I can't read the brand.  NSW car hints at NSW maker.
Later edit:
Taking in the prompt reply, I went back to the original, but still can't decipher the sign.  It doesn't look like '!Windcutter!' and it doesn't look like 'Windcutter Deluxe'.
I went to the link: portholes featured on lots of Windcutter designs.

[shesgotthelook]

Pretty sure it's a Castle Windcutter'

vintagecaravans.proboards.com/thread/2017/castle-caravans-hill-nsw

[Mustang]

Ahh portholes, they look so good in a vintage.

[rodericksmith]

650904Sa-Echuca-caravan.park-NeilSmith/RoderickSmith
Victoria Park was in a good spot: views out to the Murray, and walkable to the main wharf and tourist precinct.
In the entry, the first van is obviously a Globetrotter, the second has a pullman front, very fashionable in the 1960s.

[Surf Tragic]

Jun 4, 2022 21:56:39 GMT 10 Don Ricardo said:

Hi Rodericksmith,

That’s a fascinating article on the railway caravans. I hadn’t heard of them before.

Don Ricardo

Hi Don Ricardo

I phoned George Brown in Wondai Qld. (George was featured in ROAM magazine #34 in 2018, a great story about his association with Don Caravan Co & employment there).

George said he could almost remember a series of square looking vans go through, but said it was nearly 70 years ago & seeing he was responsible mainly for Joinery & cabinet work, it wasn't something that left an impression on his mind. George is 82 now & great to chat to, said he really appreciates recalling memories of that chapter of his life.

He had clear & detailed recollection of 5 massive vans, 'big suckers' that were xray units 'massive' 6" chassis, double rebated door frame to keep the light in (or out ?), lead sheeting sandwiched between 2 sheets of ply for the xray walls, "Siemens brand" lead impregnated glass from Germany for windows, complete with a development room in the van.

George also recalls vans that were complete Ablution Blocks, that should mean Toilets & Showers, and Sleeping Quarters only vans too. This information confirms the versatile nature of the Don Caravan Factory.

However, nothing definite on the Railway Vans.

Apart from all that, there was a Brick Factory in Wondai where George now lives, my Dad & I checked it out in about 1961-62, they made the nicest cream/mottled house bricks, George has sent me a photo of the old brickworks site quarry & kilns. Dad ordered enough of these bricks for our house in Bath Terrace Gympie, he laid them, I was Labourer ! Our Don 140 was on the block for sleeping quarters, it was always part of our lives.

Surf Tragic

[rodericksmith]

6011-VRNewsLetter-VRdisplaycaravan
I didn't see many Aerolite caravans.  The style may have been too unconventional.  I suspect overpriced for the benefits.  A lot of the weight in a caravan comes from the gas equipment and the water, and then what a user carries.
Searching in this group doesn't bring up much: a lot of photos of one under restoration, and very few others.

[rodericksmith]

670519F-Leongatha-caravan.park-NeilSmith/RoderickSmith

[rodericksmith]

660105W-PortCampbell-inlet-caravanpark-NSmithRSmith
The park was beside the creek outlet, with a shallow pool protected by a sandbar from the sea.  This provided safe swimming and kayaking.
This end of the park had mainly tents, but there are two older caravans in the view: small one far left; medium at the right.

[rodericksmith]

680108M-Tooradin-older.caravan-NeilSmith/RoderickSmith.
Confirmed in a later post as a 1962-64 FB Vauxhall Victor.

[Mustang]

Looks like a Vauxhall (?) they are good value at the moment for a Classic Car, with Holdens & Fords going through the roof.
I like the lantern roof & the high tail window on the van.

[sportsman 1]

1962 - 64 FB Victor.

[rodericksmith]

680109Tu-22M-Cowes-older.caravan-FordFairlane-NSmith.RSmith

[rodericksmith]

680827Tu Gundagai (NSW) - caravan park - Austin/Morris with a matching caravan.  Neil Smith / Roderick Smith
This is in the caravan park, on the north bank of Murrumbidgee River.
The car is the six cylinder BMC, sold as both Austin A95 and Morris Marshal.  Those produced in Australia were branded Morris: 1341 sedans, 54 Traveller wagons and 30 panel vans.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Marshal

[Mustang]

Jun 20, 2022 13:15:27 GMT 10 rodericksmith said:

680109Tu-22M-Cowes-older.caravan-FordFairlane-NSmith.RSmith

Love the HD/HR? metallic blue behind the Fairlaine, must have been a factory colour?