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Post by don257 on Jul 6, 2014 8:57:15 GMT 10
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Post by cobber on Jul 6, 2014 10:48:12 GMT 10
Congratulation Don R, Don257 & Brenten on being invited to represent the vintage caravan movement at such a prestigious event And isn't it great that the CIAV, along with the CIASA, are prepared to honour their pioneers and recognise the value of the vintage caravan movement in preserving examples of Australia's Touring Heritage Cobber.
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Post by Surf Tragic on Jul 7, 2014 10:59:22 GMT 10
Don's daughter Pat, his granddaughter Cherie, nephew Graeme, and Graeme's wife Anna were able to be at the dinner to accept the award recognising Don's contribution to the Victorian caravan industry as a pioneer manufacturer and innovator, former president of the CIAV and also a contributor to the caravan park industry. It was great to see Pat and her cousin Graeme up on stage receiving the award: Pat is a wonderful lady and gave a very gracious acceptance speech reflecting on her father's life and the development of the caravan industry: Pat seated and holding the Hall of Fame award (which is glass and a bit hard too see!), Cherie (standing at the left), Graeme (centre), Anna (standing at right), and an interloper - me: The other vintage vanners at the dinner - Brenten and his wife Robyn on the left, Dona Ricardo centre, and Doug and Vicki (Don257) on the right: It was a great night and a real thrill to see Don Robinson recognised as part of the caravan Hall of Fame! Special thanks also to the Robinson family for allowing the rest of us to share their evening with them. Don Ricardo Congratulations Don Ricardo & others for your representation of all Vintage Caravaners at this grand event. I too was honoured with spending some time chatting & reminiscing with Pat, (what a Gracious Lady) about the days when the Don Factory was in full production, also to Graeme . How did this come about when I wasn't even at the dinner? It was raining lightly on Saturday & I was working in the shed when I got a phone call, it was Graeme Robinson, (thanks DR for giving Graeme my contact numbers) he explained who he was, Said how he had read in a post I made to Don Ricardo what a privilege it would have been to speak with Pat on the first occasion (quite some time ago), so Graeme said he wanted to give me that privilege right now, & put Pat on the phone... so as you can imagine I was very happy to chat for the next 30 mins or so with this lovely lady, yes I could have talked for hours We talked about the factory life she was part of, the workmen, the standard of workmanship, her part in making the Lamp Shades, ('bubbly Parchment' she said they are made of). I Also mentioned the fact I was surrounded by 5 Dons in different states of disrepair. & Undoubtedly my Dad would have met the 'Don' himself. What I got out of this was a sense of connection with the Robinson family & my Father & Mother, & all the past good times in the 'Family Don' a good feeling. A special thanks to Graeme for sharing the occasion in this way, I value the call greatly. Regards. Surf Tragic
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Post by Don Ricardo on Jan 29, 2015 9:20:20 GMT 10
Article and advertisement published in Table Talk on Thursday, 28 October 1937 (p 55):(Source: National Library of Australia trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/imageservice/nla.news-page17692432 ) The photos are of interest because they show examples of the pre-WW II livery used on Don caravans (dark colour on the bottom, light colour on top) which was typical of many pre-war caravans. Pity we don't know the actual colours used! The photo on the left will delight Sportsman1 and Griffin given that it shows the towing prowess of Vauxhall vehicles! Don Ricardo
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Post by akeepsake on Jan 29, 2015 11:20:43 GMT 10
Great old ad Don R! With the colour issue you spoke about surely there would be someone with a Pre war Don that has some original paint hiding somewhere ( like under the badge, nameplate or moldings that could get a colour match and post mixing formulas Just a thought
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Post by Don Ricardo on Jul 2, 2015 22:20:40 GMT 10
Hi all, If you're interested in caravan history, I'm sure you will know the thrill of finding something totally unexpected? Recently I had one of those moments when I was working my way through the State Library of Victoria's online photo archive and came across some photos of three caravans built for the (Victorian) State Rivers & Water Supply Commission in 1963. The photos were taken by the Commission's photographer in July and September of that year. As I peered at the photos I suddenly realised that I could see a maker's logo, and the logo said 'DON'. I was astonished because although I knew that Don had built vans for commercial use throughout most of its history, I had no idea that some of the later ones might look like this: Caravan 1(Source: State Library of Victoria handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/309005 Photographs dated 12 July 1963) Caravan 2(Source: State Library of Victoria handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/309072 Photographs dated 3 September 1963) Caravan 3(Source: State Library of Victoria handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/309044 Photographs dated 3 September 1963) What we know about Don caravans is that they retained the same model ranges over long periods - a decade plus - and made very few changes to the models or specifications, even down to the paint colours and fittings. It is therefore a surprise to see Don caravans which are so different to their regular range of caravans from the 60's, including the use of aluminium cladding, which was never adopted for use on their non-commercial caravans. However, I have shown the photographs to Graeme, nephew of Donald Robinson, founder of the Don Caravan Co, who has said that he can recognise bits and pieces of the Don Cadet series which have been used in these vans, particularly the tandem. Now the tandem. I wouldn't mind finding that in a shed somewhere. Might have to get a heavier tow vehicle though. Don Ricardo
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2015 22:35:44 GMT 10
Fantastic photos Don, But I think you will find the last 3internal photos are Carapark toasters,not Dons. Cheers Hughdeani
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Post by Don Ricardo on Jul 2, 2015 22:58:24 GMT 10
Hi Hughdeani, Thank you. As soon as I read your post, I said to myself 'yes, of course they are!'. I have edited my post accordingly and posted the photos you referred to on the Carapark thread here. Thanks for your input. Don Ricardo
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Post by Don Ricardo on Aug 2, 2015 21:13:34 GMT 10
Hi all, This afternoon I came across an article on caravanning featuring a Don caravan published in Table Talk on Thursday, 29 April 1937 (pages 28 & 29). The article is of interest because it tells us some things about the pre-War Don caravans that we haven't known before. (Source: National Library of Australia nla.gov.au/nla.news-article149327385 ) Page 29 of the same edition of Table Talk also included the following advert: (Source: National Library of Australia nla.gov.au/nla.news-article149327372 ) What we learn from these items are: - This van was painted cream on top and (dark) green on the lower half. We haven't previously known what colour the lower half of pre-War Dons were painted. At this point we don't know whether green was the only paint colour used. Some vans seem to have been painted a slightly lighter colour. Note also that the interior was highlighted in jade green, which may well be the colour that we are familiar with in post-War Dons.
- The van in the photos is a 12ft 6in van with a previously unknown internal layout. This one has double bunks at the front and a day/night lounge (divan) at the rear with a fold down table adjacent to the lounge. Later model 12 ft Dons either had the double bunks at the front with a table and two seats at the rear, or a small table with two seats at the front and a day/night lounge at the rear. Note also the lockers under the day/night lounge in this van which were not continued in post-War Dons.
- In 1937 the company producing Don caravans was known as 'R H Robinson & Son' (see advert). The later corporate entity of 'Don Caravan Co' appears not to have been established until 1938.
Thanks to Griffin for alerting me to the fact that some new editions of Table Talk have been made available via Trove. Don Ricardo
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Post by Don Ricardo on Aug 20, 2015 12:51:28 GMT 10
In 1938, R H (Dick) Robinson and Elsie Robinson - father and mother of Don Robinson, the designer and builder of Don caravans - took one of his son's caravans on a trip from Melbourne to North Queensland, a distance of around 6,000 kms as the crow flies - more if they took the coast road, which I think they did. They were accompanied by three other couples with caravans... Dick Robinson was a keen amateur movie maker and recorded their journey in film. Don257 (Doug & Vicki), Dona Ricardo and I have been privileged enough to see the film, which demonstrates that a trip like that in the 30's was a pretty epic journey indeed. My parents told me that Dick Robinson had extensively tested Don caravans for durability, dust tightness, etc, and I think what they told me was probably largely based on this 1938 trek. Hi all, Back in 2011, I posted an article from a Rockhampton newspaper reporting on the arrival of Dick Robinson with a party of other other caravanners in that city in July 1938. Yesterday, while talking with Dick's grandson Graeme, I came across two more articles published in a Maryborough (Queensland) newspaper which tell us more about the journey the caravanners were undertaking, how the four couples involved came to be traveling together, and the layout of Dick Robinson's Don caravan. The first article was published in the Marybrough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser (what a mouthful!) on Monday, 27 June 1938 (page 5): (Source: National Library of Australia nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151204531 ) It turns out that the caravan tour was not an organised one, but simply that the four couples had met each other at different points on the way and had decided to travel together. The intention was to travel to Cairns and then to cross over to the Gulf of Carpentaria and to return home through inland western Queensland. It is not clear from the article whether that intention was shared by all of the caravanners (or 'caravaneers' as the article refers to them), or whether that was the intention of the Robinsons in particular, but the journey proposed was quite a trip. We also don't know if any or all of them made it to the Gulf. Note that in Maryborough at that time, the aerodrome served as a camping ground. Another article was published in the same newspaper the next day (Tuesday, 28 June 1938, page 3): (Source: National Library of Australia nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151196181 ) Having trouble reading the article? Time for a trip to Spec Savers? Well here's a transcription (with a few educated guesses indicated with the brackets and question marks): Homes Away From Home….and on Wheels A great deal of interest was manifest in the four caravans from the south which are touring Queensland when they pulled up in front of the Town Hall yesterday morning. The travellers quickly became the centre of a crowd of people, and invitations to inspect their travelling homes were (sought?) and granted with (facility?). All the caravans were of the trailer type. Perhaps the greatest interest was displayed in the caravan owned by Mr. R. H. Robinson, the manufacturer of the 'Don' caravan. This appeared to be the last word in comfort, carrying a double bunk and two single bunks, table, (drinking tank?), stove, sink, ice chest, wardrobe, and a host of handy cabinets, and with it all, a good margin of (?) space. In fact, with the exception of a plunge bath and shower, there was hardly a convenience missing that is to be found in a home, unless it is a piano. Some of the features which struck those who took the opportunity to inspect the caravan were a stainless steel sink, a stove recess with stove complete, the whole being covered with a folding top when not in use, a large ice chest, ventilated food cupboards, pantry cupboards with cannisters and food jars, metal-lined bread and cake safes, drawers for crockery and cutlery, a full length wardrobe, a dressing-table with cupboard and drawer, large storage lockers, lockers for guns, fishing tackle, and wash basin cabinets. The ceiling is lined with special insulating material to suit Australian conditions. The table measurements were 52 by 25 inches and when not in use the table can be folded into the wall. The bunks were all fitted with Dunlopillo mattresses and they certainly felt comfortable. The caravans bear five windows and a door. The measurements of the caravan are: Length 12ft. 10in, width 6ft. 4in., height 6ft 2in. The driver of the caravan stated that attaching the caravan meant only a (loss?) of two miles (to?) the gallon on his petrol consumption. All the caravans (were much in the same style?), though some were two-berth. The weight of a two-berth 'Don' caravan similarly equipped to the four-berth is eight cwt; whereas the four-berth caravan weighs 12 cwt. The party of four caravans (set?) out for the north later in the day.The notable thing about this second article is that it tells us that Dick Robinson's 12 ft Don had the same internal layout as the Weigall's Don described in the post immediately above this one - two single bunks at the front, a day/night divan at the rear which provided a double bed, and a fold down table which set up in front of the divan. This is different to the layout of the later, most common 12 foot Dons that we are familiar with, which have a dinette at the rear that also folds down to make a double bed. In my post in 2011, I referred to the film Dick Robinson had made of their 1938 trip. This was not correct. Since then Graeme Robinson has been able to date the film as being made in 1939, based on the fact that it includes footage of a shipwreck which only occurred in that year. In addition, in the trip that was filmed, the Robinsons left their caravan in Brisbane and traveled by boat to Hayman Island before returning to collect their van and head home. They did not take their van further north. So, this means that the Robinsons went caravanning to Queensland two years running - both 1938 and 1939. Given the number of caravanners who now head north to Queensland in winter, it seems almost incredible that a party of four caravans arriving in town could result in so much interest, with newspaper articles about them being published wherever they went. In fact, besides the articles in the Maryborough and Rockhampton press, a Cairns newspaper also carried an article, just to report that the caravanners were on their way! Don Ricardo
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Post by griffin on Aug 21, 2015 10:56:59 GMT 10
Hi Don R
I too have had the pleasure of viewing that film and what a fantastic bit of history it is in general as well as for Don Caravans. I particularly like the scene with the four vans travelling along the road together. And the roads were often unsealed and most of the river crossings in those days would have been on punts, somewhat tedious in a way but a nice relaxing way to see the sights. I reckon a copy, or the original film, needs to find its way into the National Film and Sound Archive to ensure its preservation.
George
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Post by Don Ricardo on Aug 21, 2015 17:01:06 GMT 10
Hi Griffin,
Yes Dick Robinson's film of the 1939 trip is a marvellous thing to watch isn't it? There's probably not many examples of that type of footage around.
Your suggestion about the National Film and Sound Archive is an excellent one which hopefully Graeme will consider at some point.
Don Ricardo
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Post by Don Ricardo on Sept 9, 2015 20:08:54 GMT 10
Hi all, In November 2008 I posted the following photo of a Don caravan printed in the 1953 Winser caravan manual. The photo was posted on a thread started by Mark T about caravans towed by FX & FJ Holdens, but I think the photo also deserves to be on this thread because of its association with its owner, revealed in the caption: ( Source: Keith Winser, Caravans and Touring in Australia, Book 5 for 1953, p 7)The caption reads 'A good Australian combination belonging to Mr "Don" Robinson, president of the Caravan and Trailer Traders' Industries Association of Victoria.' Don Robinson was also, of course, the designer and manufacturer of the van he was towing with his FX. In 2008 I thought the van was a 14 footer because of the size of the front window, but looking at the photo now I think the van is actually a 12 ft 3-berth van, which shared the same sized front window with the 14 ft van. In 2008 we'd only seen one 12 ft 3-berth Don and weren't aware that it was a part of the regular Don model lineup - we now know that it was. In fact I suspect that the weight of the 14 foot van would have been too much for the FX to cope with. On the same Holden-related thread Humpycara also posted the following photo of a 12 ft Don - this time a 4-berth - which was on display at a caravan show in the early 50's: This photo shows the smaller, fixed front window which resulted from the 4-berth layout with two bunks at the front. Don Ricardo
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Post by Don Ricardo on Dec 31, 2015 17:09:31 GMT 10
Hi all, Following is a photo from 1949 of a Don 12 ft caravan being used by the PMG as a works van, posted on the Lost Ballarat FaceBook page by Zelma Doyle here: For anyone wondering, PMG was the acronym for the Postmaster General's Department - the precursor to today's Australia Post and Telstra. By the shade of grey in the photograph I am guessing that the van was painted red, which was the PMG's corporate colour and used on their vehicles, etc. Perhaps "PMG technician extraordinaire" Cobber can tell us if my guess may be correct? The other interesting thing about the van in the photo is that the A-frame and coupling appear to be non-standard Don - the A-frame appears to be longer than normal, which would be necessary if the van was to be towed by a truck, and (as far as I tell) the coupling isn't the Don captive ball type. Maybe a hole and pin type coupling was being used?? Thanks to Moparman for pointing me towards this photo. Don Ricardo
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Post by cobber on Dec 31, 2015 18:08:46 GMT 10
G'day Don R Young firefighter posted another PMG caravan recently, in colourAs he said they would have been used by linesmen in the process of providing telephone services all over Australia Those were the days when mail and telecommunications were under the one umbrella, PMG. The telecom staff used to complain that the PMG was always shown to have made a loss when in fact it was only the mail service that did that. Those linesmen camped out in style aye ? Cobber.
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Post by Don Ricardo on Dec 31, 2015 20:17:28 GMT 10
The telecom staff used to complain that the PMG was always shown to have made a loss when in fact it was only the mail service that did that. Those linesmen camped out in style aye ? G'day Cobber, Some things never change it seems! Now it's the parcels division that complains that it's the mail service that is making a loss. As a result we'll all be paying $1 to post a letter from next Monday! And $1.50 later in the year if we want the letter to get there next day. No doubt about it, though, those linesmen lived in the lap of absolute looxury with those caravans. The one Firefighter posted is a ripper. I suspect the fittings in the Don would have been pretty spartan though. So, do you reckon the PMG Don would have been painted red? Or were service vehicles painted a different colour? You would have seen a few in your time I think. (Not PMG Don's, but PMG service vehicles.) Don Ricardo
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Post by cobber on Jan 1, 2016 8:47:58 GMT 10
G'day Don R, I expect there was some rhyme and reason to the colours used on vehicles belonging to the PMG both before and after 1975 when they became two different organisations? but I wouldn't rely on my feeble old recollections to sort it out. I think post 1975, there was a tendency for the telecom vehicles to depart from the 'Post Office Red' used on the mail vehicles, that would have been a deliberate decision as part of building a separate corporate identity, actually I think that transition might have started well before 1975. But, you want to know if Telecom service vehicles, particularly Don caravans in the 1950s were painted red Well, some were and some weren't. Gees mate, just because I was there at the time, I was busy learning about blue orange green brown slate The poms have a great affection for their Post Office vehicles as seen on these links www.povehclub.org.uk. and www.lightstraw.co.uk/ate/tec/vehicles1.htmlI don't know if we Aussies have a similar interest in our P.O. though, somebody might know, they are welcome to come to my aid Cobber.
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Post by Don Ricardo on Jun 20, 2016 17:38:38 GMT 10
Hi all, Surf Tragic recently posted about a 12 ft, Don 122 3-berth caravan which had been listed on Ebuy, shown below: The seller has advised me that the serial number of this van is 1108, as seen here: That makes it quite an interesting caravan. Don ceased regular production of the leadlight window model caravans some time around the middle of 1956, and we have a record of a van produced in mid-1956 with a serial number of 1023. So that means that the Ebuy van was produced after that one. That is not surprising because even after the regular production of the leadlight vans ceased, Don advised that they would still be available as a special order. What does make number 1108 intriguing is that it follows a Don 133 model with the serial number 1107, which as it happens is owned by Surf Tragic. The 133 model wasn't introduced until late 1957 or 1958, so that means that number 1108 wasn't produced until that point, and may very well have been in the Don factory alongside Surf Tragic's 133. This also means that the Ebuy van is the latest built leadlight van that we know about. Could it have been the last? There are a number of modifications which make the van a bit different to the ordinary leadlight Dons. These include the wheel spats, the smaller wheels and what looks to be a four seasons hatch. But there are also some other modifications. For starters it doesn't have leadlight windows! But also note the strapping under the front window, the water tank filler spout, the fridge vent and the power inlet on the offside of the van, and is that a hatch on the nearside which would provide access to the storage under the day/night bed? I wondered if some of these features may have been adaptations to the basic leadlight design picked up from the 133 and Cadet models being produced in 1957/8. However, things such as the water tank filler spout and power inlet are different to those being used by Don at the time, so I think all the modifications on number 1108 are probably aftermarket. Don Ricardo
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Post by Don Ricardo on Jun 20, 2016 18:03:57 GMT 10
Evening caravan history junkies, Just a little side note for those interested in the intricate details of Don caravan production...yes, there are a couple... We have previously recorded that in the 1950's the Don 12 ft leadlight window model was produced in two distinct layouts, a 4-berth with dinette/double bed at the rear and twin bunks at the front, and a 3-berth with a double bed day/night lounge at the rear and a dinette/single bed at the front. The 12 ft, 4-berth van was known as the Model 120. However, in researching information about the 12 ft, 3-berth Don with the serial number 1108 (see immediately above on this thread), I have discovered that the 3-berth van at some point become known as the Model 122. It is listed as such in the 1957 Winser caravan manual, and I have amended the description of the Don leadlight window models here accordingly. As we already know, there was also a Model 121, which was a utility/commercial 12 ft van produced by Don for the various government departments. Don Ricardo
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Post by Surf Tragic on Jun 21, 2016 21:09:03 GMT 10
Hi all, There are a number of modifications which make the van a bit different to the ordinary leadlight Dons. These include the wheel spats, the smaller wheels and what looks to be a four seasons hatch. But there are also some other modifications. For starters it doesn't have leadlight windows! But also note the strapping under the front window, the water tank filler spout, the fridge vent and the power inlet on the offside of the van, and is that a hatch on the nearside which would provide access to the storage under the day/night bed? I wondered if some of these features may have been adaptations to the basic leadlight design picked up from the 133 and Cadet models being produced in 1957/8. However, things such as the water tank filler spout and power inlet are different to those being used by Don at the time, so I think all the modifications on number 1108 are probably aftermarket. Don Ricardo Hi Don Ricardo I'm glad you commented on this van, & agree totally with all you have said, so here's my two bobs worth. The wheel spats, my Dad did something similar. The smaller wheels would be fitted to a straight axle by the look of the way the van is sitting so high, definitely not original. "Don" would never do a hatch like that. Some windows are totally missing, (similar to what happened to our family Don, all leadlight panels removed except one). I believe all other items you mentioned have been added, the water filler on the 133 is set in a square surround, and is on the ON side. The strapping on the 3 panels at the front, it looks to me that the single front panel has been replace with 3 smaller sheets, notice the horizontal "D" mould on the side doesn't line up with the one across the front. Surf Tragic.
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Post by Don Ricardo on Oct 20, 2016 19:19:32 GMT 10
Hi caravan history junkies, Over the years there has been some conjecture on the forum and off it about exactly when Don stopped producing caravans and closed its factory in Oakleigh. Part of the uncertainty comes from the fact that Don caravans were listed and advertised in the 1965 Winser Caravan Manual (although that was probably printed in late 1964). However, Don Robinson's nephew, Graeme, recently found a document written by his mother stating that Don closed in 1964. Graeme's memory is that the factory closed at Christmas 1964, and that the legalities for winding up the business were completed by 30 June 1965. This information is consistent with with two adverts published in the Melbourne Age in February 1965, which I came across quite coincidentally via www.newspapers.com a week or so ago. The first dated 20 February 1965 advertised '"FACTORY CLOSING" Specials' for Don: (Source: The Age, Saturday, 20 February 1965, page 13) And the second, actually published a week earlier, advertised the Don Caravans premises for sale or lease: (Source: The Age, Saturday, 13 February 1965, page 53) So it seems that we now know the year in which the Don story ended - 1964 if you're talking about production, or 1965 if you're talking about the legalities. As it happens, 1964 was was exactly 30 years after the story commenced in 1934. Don Ricardo
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Post by Surf Tragic on Jan 6, 2017 21:50:42 GMT 10
Recently we were honoured by a visit from quite a few of the Robinson family descendants. Graeme (Wal) Robinson & Anna made arrangements for Pat, the Daughter of the Don Robinson, (who lent his name to the Don caravans.) Pats' Daughter Cherie & Husband came also. As they all arrived in the back yard. Sorry Anna, I cut you out, the original photo showed you there, but the photos are of such high resolution that when I resized them, that's what happened. !! There was a lot to discuss & share as far as brochures & photos go. The "Hall of Fame" Certificate awarded to Don Robinson, Pats Father. This has already been featured by Don Ricardo, but was special for me & a personal treat in the mini "Don Factory" !! Pat said it brought back memories of her days at the Don Caravan Company factory. This was an interesting chat we had, Pat telling of her part of the manufacturing process when she was about 13 yo cutting the "bubbly parchment" for the light shades, punching the holes, then stitching the parchment to the wire frame. The wire frames came in cartons, ready made she said. An absolute Gracious Lady, reminiscing. Sorry I have to be in so many, but my daughter took many photos & movies which I will treasure. Pat & Cherie are the link to my past, I picture my Dad & her Dad shaking hands on a deal in 1948, a deal on a Don Caravan that shaped & enriched our lives to a great extent, it was such an important chapter of our family life, a great choice by my Father. One privilege I was given, is that Cherie gave me unlimited access to all the Albums she has of the historic photos of the Don factory, the office area, Rows of Dons in different stages of construction, many of the factory in different decades, brochures advertising special use vans for Commercial use. I was able to take the albums to a printing shop here & got as many as I wished copied at 300 DPI, and one special photo of the front of the Factory done at 2000 DPI which I would like to enlarge for the end wall of the shed to about 2m high & 6m wide. Permission has been given to do this, & to post these photos of Pat & Family, I am very privileged indeed. But a big thanks to Wal & Anna for arranging this visit, it has been a wonderful year. In time, I intend sending to you, Don Ricardo, a memory stick with the photos so you can post in the History section if you wish to. Surf Tragic
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Post by cobber on Jan 7, 2017 9:19:42 GMT 10
G'day Ron, 😉
What a hoot that would have been, and it would have been a hoot for the visitors too, to visit a fair dinkum Don tragic and see the quality restorations going on in the "Mini Don Factory", I bet they were impressed 😉
Cobber.
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Post by Don Ricardo on Jan 7, 2017 12:09:11 GMT 10
G'day Surf Tragic, Great to see the photos of the visit of the Robinson family to the "Mini Don Factory", as Cobber has aptly called it. I'm sure Pat and Cherie would have loved to see the work you've done on your various Dons, and would have appreciated your craftsmanship. I'm sure Don Robinson himself would have approved it too, had he had the opportunity to look over what you've achieved. As I understand it, he demanded the highest of standards from his workers (including daughters, brothers and sisters-in-law!), and I'm sure you would have got the tick of approval. I will look forward to seeing the photos to which Cherie gave you access. Sounds like a great treasure trove for those of us that are Donaphiles. Picking up on your last comment, even though the 133 is included in some of the photos, your post focuses on the history of Don and the Robinson family, so I think it is worthy of inclusion in the DHL Don thread. Accordingly I've moved it to that location. Hope that's OK? Great to hear about your time away as well. Sounds like a great trip. Don Ricardo
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Post by Don Ricardo on Aug 26, 2017 20:13:41 GMT 10
Nice photo of a Don 100 and Holden 48-215 from the early 50's:(Source: Caravan World, July 2007, page 73) I originally posted this item on 22 July 2007 here, and commented: I was interested in Jim Stirling's comment about his mother's ability to come up with a Sunday roast. It reminded me of the times when I was a kid and we took our Don down to Torquay or Barwon Heads, near Geelong where my father was born. My dad's family would all visit us in the van - sometimes in great numbers - and my mother would create a 2 or 3 course meal for everybody using our little petrol stove in the van. No BBQ's at the camping ground or nearby take-aways in those days. I still don't know how she did it...Don Ricardo
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