Caravan construction materials

[seeshell]

Hi Don

That's very interesting about the caneite product. I'd come across mention of it before, but in a completely different arena!

I read about the refurbishment some of the huts from Mawson Station (one of the first and most complete early Antarctic exploration stations) that used caneite as an internal lining for the huts. Conservators had to source more to faithfully repair and maintain the history of these hertiage-listed buildings. I guess if it’s good enough for Antarctic insulation of a building, I can see why it would be more than up to the task of lining or sheeting for a caravan or home.

Cobber (or Al?) mentioned it is no longer produced. While the original company is now bust and the original trademark lapsed, it was resumed by another group in 2010. Whether the new/currently available product is absolutely identical is not clear. There are a number of suppliers that are offering a product called Caneite, but perhaps this is a softboard under the newly resumed trademark and not a cane industry by-product; when its described, it’s frequently said to be reconstituted wood.

Finding Supply of Caneite

Earlier, it was mentioned that Gunnersen’s offer softboard, which is similar to caneite or may be non-branded caneite.

The following suppliers mention caneite by name:

Resource Rescue Inc., 7/31 Hosie Street, Bayswater, VIC 3153 [[phone]] collect items from people and industry that would have been thrown out, but sell them on. Apparently, according to their website, they do have caneite (as at 13 Feb 2013). Their website is: discountcraftsupplies.com.au/

Belmont Timber, 160 Barwon Heads Road, Belmont, VIC 3216 [[phone]] also offer caneite. They show this on their website: www.belmonttimber.com/TimberSheets.html

A2P Timber Company also mention Canite and supply nationally. They are located in Queensland and can be reached on 1-300-885-738. It shows on their website at: a2ptimber.com/

Blackwoods hardware supply canite as well: www.blackwoods.com.au/part/03376445/caneite-2440-x-1220-x-127mm

There is currently a listing for several sheets of canite at: www.ebay.com.au/itm/caneite-2400x1200-white-/170841667597

Cheers
Seeshell

[DC3Td]

Around 45 years ago some mates & i stayed in one of the cabins at a caravan park on the river at Dora Creek (towards Reddo territory). They were all lined in caneite sheeting.Mucking around one night i found out how soft the material was. Wasn`t much change left of pocket money after having to pay repairs.

[cobber]

Having an interest in N.E.S ( National Emergency Service memorabilia, see reply # 11 ) I recently got hold of a 1943 copy of "Action - Official Journal of the NES"
In it is an advertisement sprouting the virtues of "Cane-ite for use when the war is over.



There is a similar add. for Masonite... no mention of their suitability for building caravans but

Cobber.

[Don Ricardo]

Afternoon caravan history aficionados,

On 31 January 2010 on the DHL Viscount thread here, a discussion took place about the origins of the name 'Duralvan' used by Viscount as a name for some of its caravans.

Wattagan posted:

Interesting name Duralvan
Could it be that it uses Duralumin / Duralium instead of plain Aluminium.
Although more expensive it is used mainly in aircraft for it's greater strength for weight.
If it is then it's way special eh !

Jikah added:

It is my understanding that the Duralumin Viscount vans were the start of the metal frame vans by Viscount and used duralium metal for the frames. Still the same aluminium covering however.

And Franklin1 responded:

wattagan, the term "Duralvan" does indeed come from the reference to Duralium, so you win the cigar!!

In November 1964, Viscount were advertising "the all-aluminium (Duralium) Aircraft-type Framing and heavy duty Aluminium exterior unconditionally guaranteed 12 months."

But the term "Dural Van" does not appear until about a year later, in September 1965. It would appear that by the end of the 1960s, Dural Van had become the one word Duralvan.

---

As it it turns out, duralium had been used in the construction of caravans prior to Viscount promoting the material in the early 60's - at least as far back as 1947 in fact.

Following is an article published in the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin of Thursday 19 June 1947 (page 6), which reported that a Mr F Marcovich had designed and built a caravan, the bodywork - presumably the cladding but possibly the frame - of which was of duralium:


(Source: National Library of Australia nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56786042 )

Quite an upmarket caravan by the sounds of it - not only duralium, but a cocktail cabinet, hat box, silver ash furniture, and red plush upholstery to boot. 

Don Ricardo

[shesgotthelook]

Building with Rescote- Phoenix Caravans. Photo courtesy Jeff Chrisfield.