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Post by firefighter on Nov 27, 2007 22:53:20 GMT 10
  HISTORY OF ROADHAVEN CARAVANS   Roadhaven Caravans were built by HERBERT(Herbie) PRUSER at 110 Mitchell Street Northcote Melbourne Vic between 1952 and 1970 Herbert died in 1970 aged 60  110 Mitchell Northcote was a private house and the shed in the back yard where the vans were built was approx 40 ft X 20 ft Herbert had about 5/6 men working for him full time and they had 2 vans on the go at once in the shed when Herbert died the workers finished up.... that left 2 vans not finished.....Herberts son Ray finished the 2 vans off part time over the next 2 years for the customers that had ordered them Herbert built approx 10 to 12 vans a year plus repairs He also built a super duluxe van for some friends 20 ft long with a shower and a toilet in it Mrs Pruser made the curtins at home for the vans Chassis and coupling were made by S J Brown of North Coburg Upholster was supplied by a local upholster firm He also made a few caravans for Eastmans hire Herbie also hired vans out from home He also made caravans to order for customers From 1952 to late 1960s roadhaven vans only had gas fridges fitted in them ........late 1960s to1972 gas/electric fridges were fitted, all vans were fitted with 240 volt & 6 or 12 volt lights If you ordered a van with aluminium sides ......the aluminiun was glued on to the bondwood..... and no screws were used at all to hold the alumimium on All roadhavan vans were fitted with a badge on the rear of the van and stamped with a number, last van made was no 202 Roadhavens were fitted with a clock ....or a barometer or you could have both fitted or you could have a thermometer and clock in a map of Australia matching the grained laminex cupboard doors Price list for 1st June 1960 12ft 6in 850 pound 13ft 6in 895 pound 14ft 6in 980 pound 15ft 6in 1080 pound Herbert also owned the vacant block of land next door to where he lived and fitted out a 30ft cabin cruiser.....the hull was delivered to him and put on this vacant block of land In the mid 50s Herbert made a caravan for the Home Beautiful Magazine " hand book for Amateurs on Boats and Caravans " Herbert had a 1959 Chevrolet sedan to tow the vans around Melbourne with.....then in 1965 he bought a Ford Galaxe sedan " WHAT MADE HERBERT PRUSER MAKE CARAVANS " Herbert worked in the shoe trade in Fitzroy/Clifton Hill area . He went fishing with a few mates and camped in a tent, he got sick of being wet ....then he built for himself a canopy on his ute to be out of the rain ...then his friends starting wanting canopys so then he built a caravan for himself .....and then his friends wanted Herbert to build caravans for them, and it went on from there I interviewed Herberts son" Ray "some months ago,and this is were I got this information about Roadhaven Caravans from cheers Geoff ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by firefighter on Nov 28, 2007 6:22:09 GMT 10
Hi Ad for 1960 Roadhaven caravan  cheers Geoff ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by firefighter on Nov 28, 2007 6:49:56 GMT 10
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Post by firefighter on Nov 28, 2007 7:08:20 GMT 10
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Post by earlee on Nov 28, 2007 8:59:08 GMT 10
Geoff - what a great original looking van! The built in cupboards immediately above the sink and stove are very practical. I also like all the "extra" bits of metal trim everywhere. ;D Where is the removable base section for the double bed kept?  earlee. |
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Post by firefighter on Nov 28, 2007 10:45:39 GMT 10
Hi earlee All the metal trim pieces are ...... stainless steel " Where is the removable base section for the double bed kept? " It slides out from under the mattress and above the cupboard door near the floor.......and the 2 small cushions that sit in the corners during the day sit on the slide out tray to make the double bed cheers Geoff ;D ;D ;D
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Post by Don Ricardo on Dec 13, 2007 19:10:19 GMT 10
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Post by Don Ricardo on Oct 30, 2008 21:21:36 GMT 10
1956 Roadhaven advert and publicity:    (Source: Keith Winser, Australian Caravan & Touring Manual for 1956, pp 125, 123 & 83)
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Post by Franklin1 on Jan 1, 2009 20:47:15 GMT 10
1950s Roadhaven caravan: (read the description below!)   (source: listed on ebay Jan 2009. Description: Up for auction is this very rare 15 foot ROADHAVEN caravan. This van is one of only 200 hand built and made only to order in Northcote Victoria. It is a bondwood van that was ordered with an aluminium shell and is number 54 as noted on an aluminium plate on the outside. The exact date of manufacture is not known but would not be hard to find out as the builder, H. Pruser, died in 1970 but his son took over and finished any orders in progress. These vans were made from the best quality materials with stainless steel fittings throughout.) [comment by Franklin1: I'm not sure this van "was ordered with an aluminium shell". The outside looks like it could be a similar shape to the 1953 van advertisement above, although the wheel arch shape is slightly different, as are the windows. Note also the comparatively narrow A-frame for a van of this width/size.]
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Post by firefighter on Sept 1, 2009 20:26:25 GMT 10
Hi All Gordon lives at Marong near Bendigo and turned up at the federation ( old vehicles) picnic at Marong with his roadhaven van this is the one that was in "On the road " Magazine for August Gordon ordered his roadhaven from Herbert Pruser at the 1967 caravan show in Melbourne, and visted the work shop at Northcote a few times watching his van being built...... the van was finished and picked up 1st May 1968 Gordon still has his deposit receipt and the full payment account along with 2 sales brochures after i took a photo of the brochure Gordon handed me the spare brochure and said its yours (Thank you Gordon ) With Gordon ordering with Herbert in 1967 and picking the van up 1st May 1968 and with the built No 173...this info is good for dating Roadhavens Gordon standing in the door way of his Roadhaven no 173       SJ brown coupling Brochure that also came with the van  cheers F/F ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Additional note - August 2017:Photo of Gordon's Roadhaven taken in Bendigo during the 2013 Mexican Tour:  Don Ricardo
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2009 22:07:28 GMT 10
Hi Firefighter,
Great photos and brochure,do you know why this van didnt have front wrap around windows?Was it ordered like that or has it been altered later in its life?
Cheers
Hughdeani
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Post by firefighter on Sept 4, 2009 23:17:59 GMT 10
Hi Hughdeani Gordon had the van built like that .......he though the corner windows might leek as they are only plastic the other thing Gordon has done to the van is fit electric brakes When Gordon asked for red cushions Herbert did not want to make them ........Herbert did not like red in his vans ......but after he made Gordons red he changed his mined and made a few in the red It was good to talk to Gordon who had contact with Herbert and ordered his van direct from Herbert and visted him a few times when the van was being built f/f ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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dragonfly
New Member
1958 Oh what a year!
Posts: 36
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Post by dragonfly on Jun 23, 2010 17:00:49 GMT 10
Hi All,
I came across a ROADHAVEN data plate S/n 75 in a opp shop. Do you think I should save it?
Dragonfly Dave
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Post by firefighter on Jun 23, 2010 17:48:58 GMT 10
Hi Dave Yep.... I will Buy it from you ...send us a PM cheers Geoff ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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dragonfly
New Member
1958 Oh what a year!
Posts: 36
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Post by dragonfly on Jun 28, 2010 17:25:25 GMT 10
Data Plate  Dragonfly Dave |
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dave01
Full Member
MR ROADHAVEN
Posts: 234
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Post by dave01 on Jun 29, 2010 22:42:55 GMT 10
Thats off a 1958 van, worth saving for sure.
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Post by firefighter on Apr 20, 2011 17:19:34 GMT 10
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2011 21:15:24 GMT 10
WOW! What a fantastic restoration!
Magnificent!
Cheers
Hughdeani
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2011 21:17:18 GMT 10
wow ......thats an awesome resto ......bloody bewdiful  we don't see many of the 1950's Roadhavens .... Congrats Joe ..... Mark |
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Post by Surf Tragic on Apr 20, 2011 21:30:11 GMT 10
What a classy van  I'd be very happy with that ! ST |
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Post by firefighter on Apr 20, 2011 21:51:53 GMT 10
Hi The photos don't do Joes work justice......to see it in the flesh and the work that been put in the van is unreal I was down Welshpool area yesterday .......and when I rang Joe from Port Albert he said you cannot go home with calling in to see the van (he is a very proud man ) and loves his roadhaven he also told me he is bring it up to Cora Lynn car show this year If any members are visting down Welshpool way Joe would be more than happy to show you the van f/f ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by Jennison on Apr 20, 2011 21:56:50 GMT 10
Sensational looking Van. Roadhavens are my next favourite after my obvious bias.
Great resto indeed Joe. Hope we'll see it at Cowra
jennison
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Post by Don Ricardo on Apr 20, 2011 22:09:53 GMT 10
Hi Skyhooks, What a magnificent restoration on your Roadhaven! Just fantastic! And Firefighter tells us that the photos don't do it justice! You have every right to be very proud of your work. Most of us would be pleased as punch if we could achieve half the quality that you have. Enjoy your weekend at Bruthen. My wife and I have stayed there a couple of times, and it is pretty little camping ground. It's next to the footy ground, so you might even get some free entertainment if there's a game on when you are there. Thanks for posting the pics Firefighter. Don Ricardo |
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Post by cobber on Apr 21, 2011 6:05:19 GMT 10
And it WAS clad in aluminium ?....you have done a lot of work on it aye Joe? Photos look terrific and if firefighter says they don't do it justice it must look excellent in the flesh. I wish I could get a shine like that on swamp vans sink  Cobber. |
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Post by frankw on Apr 25, 2011 15:06:38 GMT 10
Hey Guys this looks a great van he has done a great job hope to see it at Cowra, next year in Roadhaven paddock. Frankw.
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