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Post by Don Ricardo on Jun 9, 2008 23:27:19 GMT 10
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Post by kingy on Jun 26, 2008 19:08:01 GMT 10
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Post by Franklin1 on Jun 27, 2008 18:19:44 GMT 10
From the Sydney Morning Herald archives comes this classified advertisement... Saturday, 20 April 1963, Page 35..."JENNISON PATHFINDER. Chosen by Donald Campbell for his personal caravan at Lake Eyre. Jennison mobile kitchen and mobile shower and ablutions caravans are servicing the project. For de-..." [can't see rest of advert.] Imagine the 'Bluebird' towing a Jennison across the lake to set a new Jennison land speed record...  I reckon you'd need to use the ablution van after that attempt! ;D ;D cheers, Al.
ADDENDUM: Below is a similar advert to that referred to above by Franklin1 and published in the Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday, 24 April 1963 (page 29):  (Source: www.newspapers.com ) Don Ricardo |
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Post by kb3 on Jun 27, 2008 19:25:31 GMT 10
From the Sydney Morning Herald archives comes this classified advertisement... Saturday, 20 April 1963, Page 35..."JENNISON PATHFINDER. Chosen by Donald Campbell for his personal caravan at Lake Eyre. Jennison mobile kitchen and mobile shower and ablutions caravans are servicing the project. For de-..." [can't see rest of advert.] Imagine the 'Bluebird' towing a Jennison across the lake to set a new Jennison land speed record...  I reckon you'd need to use the ablution van after that attempt! ;D ;D cheers, Al. Our next club meeting has a special guest Malcolm Brooks - who is the Journalist who accompanied Donald Campbell when he raced the Bluebird on Lake Eyre in December 1964, maybe he will have pictures of it ;D |
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Post by Jennison on Jun 28, 2008 10:19:35 GMT 10
I hope he does Kb3 - please grill him severely for some copies or his email address!!!!! jennison
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Post by Don Ricardo on Oct 2, 2008 22:28:59 GMT 10
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Post by Jennison on Oct 3, 2008 4:56:24 GMT 10
Jennison "Trailmaster" shells - another model!!!
The 14' model (bottom right) is identical to mine I think and you are right , the larger 18 footer appears to be more like the 48 pathfinders Jennison
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Post by Don Ricardo on Oct 3, 2008 15:47:31 GMT 10
Hi Jennison. A couple of interesting things out of the 1956 Pathfinder advert/publicity: 1. The use of the 'Trailmaster' name. 2. The fact that a 10 ft 6 in Trailmaster body was available. The smallest Pathfinder was a 12 ft 3 in. 3. The fact that your '53 Pathfinder has metal/aluminium framed windows, something that hadn't really twigged with me before. I seem to remember that there have been a few comments on the forum in the past about aluminium windows being introduced only in the mid-50's. From Keith Winser's "Plans for Australian Caravans" 9th edition 1963 p.152AGE OF CARAVANS"There are six ways to guess the age of a caravan, the only reliable one being to check the chassis number with the maker. Other clues are, of course, in knowing the trend of styling. Many vans were made of masonite prior to 1949. Larger windows, with wooden frames, came in about that time. The Bosse rounded corner window became popular from 1953 to 1957 when the Alfab andodised aluminium windows came in..." Not quite sure what a "Bosse rounded corner window" is when it's at home, ie whether it is metal framed or still wooden framed. Maybe somebody can tell us? Are your window frames aluminium or steel? If they're aluminium, perhaps Jennison was ahead of the rest in this regard? Wouldn't surprise me! Don Ricardo |
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Post by Jennison on Oct 6, 2008 7:26:07 GMT 10
as far as I can tell they are aluminium regards jennison
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Post by Don Ricardo on Oct 8, 2008 21:44:52 GMT 10
Hi Jennison, The following advert for Jennison 'Trailmaster' caravans is from a page of advertisements from the December 1955 edition of the Australian Motor Manual posted by Franklin1:  I was thinking that the logic behind giving the Jennison DIY vans a different name from the factory finished ones may have been to preserve the value of the 'Jennison Pathfinder' brand. If somebody bought a Trailmaster shell and did a bodgey job on it then there was still a clear distinction between it and a "real" Pathfinder? Clever thinking if this is correct. I've also tracked down some information about Bosse windows, which were timber. That adds some weight to the suggestion that Jennison was ahead of the times in offering aluminium framed windows in 1953. Don Ricardo |
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Post by Jennison on Oct 10, 2008 3:54:38 GMT 10
I wonder when they went to full aluminiun frames as well. Gordon Taylors " 1957 14' Jennison with shower" is of a more "modern" body style with I think,diamond pattern aluminium sides and aluminium roof yet it is is still a full "woody" inside- very little difference internally to mine Jennison
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Post by Jennison on Oct 11, 2008 11:19:18 GMT 10
Hi again, another couple of points:
1/ The van featured in the trailmaster advert is I would almost certainly say a 1948 model bondwood Pathfinder with wooden window frames and therefore not an actual trailmaster body and in the ad before that , they are all approx 1953(+-)model pathfinders(with a little disclaimer pointing out that the model featured is a pathfinder)even though trailmasters are mentioned next to it
2/ Both the trailmaster and the streamlite were apparently available in 10 foot options , from Jennison Engineering for at least a year or two or more? after JAJs' death. Possibly either one or the other or both were part of the Pym familys' initial foray/existing business in the caravan manufacturing industry before they bought Jennison Eng from my grandmother.
With this in mind I would it be likely that they were a different shape to the pathfinder but were kept on, aimed at a lower market /price level perhaps hoping to grab a bigger marketshare at that level , using the Jennison name.
Jennison
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Post by cobber on Nov 29, 2008 11:34:28 GMT 10
I know..... to much on the Jennison Pathfinder is not enough. So here is a “Road Test” conducted by “Cars today” magazine from January 1957.   And ..an Ad. From the July 1958 ed. of Modern Motor  Cobber. |
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Post by Jennison on Nov 29, 2008 18:58:54 GMT 10
Very nice Cobber.
The first one is the same style/model externally as my bondwood 53 which as a rental job Ispose would be likely. As I said earlier, gordons " 57 with shower" was very similar in shape, still felt like a "woody" inside , but I think it had diamond pattern aluminium cladding. 1957 -58 seems to be where they finally settled on full aluminium . regards.......
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Post by boblor on Nov 29, 2008 22:41:15 GMT 10
Hi VVers In our travels a couple of weeks ago we found a Jennison Pathfinder with a Jones dolly wheel fitted, alum. clad with chassis no. 313- 16, all in original condition, with some TLC would be a great classic. Can someone tell what vintagethis van is  . The van is not for sale. Cheers Boblor |
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Post by Jennison on Nov 30, 2008 7:08:18 GMT 10
Some questions for you Boblor
- where exactly is it?- what length is it?(with a dolly wheel, I presume it's a 16 or 18 footer) - you say metal exterior, if so, is it smooth (possibly galvanised)or diamond pattern(definitey aluminium) on exterior cladding - canvas or metal roof? - does it have the straight jennison pathfinder name tag or does it have the "aboriginal with spear" pathfinder logo? If it has the aboriginal it is at least a 56 to 57 model, most likely the 57 or later - photos?? I have no makers or chassis master list as far as dating it from the chassis number. The only manufacturers plate I have is blank a far as numbers go, but I will be in yarrowlumla today, so I might pop in and check the plate on gordons "57 with shower" That will give us a start point regards.........
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Post by boblor on Dec 4, 2008 23:34:44 GMT 10
Hi Jennison Some details of Pathfinder Chassis No. 313-16 It is about 16', single axle, fitted witha Jones Dolly wheel (pat. pend. 31801/57) The van is clad with aluminium with mini corrigation pattern 3mm apart running horizontally on side walls. These walls are returned on all edges with 1/2" radius to the underside of the roof and end walls.The front , rear and roof are sheeted in plain flat aluminium sheeting. The roof has a large hatch sheeted with plain flat alum. Windows - Qualicraft Manufacturing Industries NSW, awning type. Underside of the floor appears to be flat sheeting, Alum. or galv. . Vaccumm assisted brakes are fitted. Axle is about 45mm sq., with a radius bend step of about 5-6", the springs are mounted on the stub axle portion with the chassis built to accommodate this arrangement. eg. the main portion of the axle is 5-6" lower than the wheel centre. Shackles are fitted with grease nipples. Name tags- Jennison Pathfinder is two part on the side between the front edge of the door and the front of the van in cast and painted red, the aboriginal emblem is fixed to roof area just above the windows front and rear, it is a swashed diamond in shape with an aboriginal holding a shield and spear, finished with aboriginal type paintings boarder to the emblem, with the background in a yellowish colouring. The Jones Dolly wheel would indicate this van is later than 1957. The interior is still in original. Cheers boblor |
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Post by Jennison on Dec 5, 2008 3:58:44 GMT 10
Without doubt this is one of the "Pyms Pathfinders" at rough guess up to around a 1960 model. It was around then that they dropped the "jennison" from the logo and became just "Pathfinder" caravans. Gordon Taylors 57 model has both the Jennison and the aboriginal logo like this but I would hazard a guess that with a full "woody" interior like earlier models that its floor is timber(ply) as well . The offset axle was standard on all of them as far as I know. I still haven't popped in at the Taylors yet but I will try to remember today. Thanks Boblor and I will ring you. Since there doesn't seem like there are many Jennos left I might start a location register for my own interest. regards jennison
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Post by boblor on Dec 6, 2008 15:39:18 GMT 10
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Post by humpty2 on Dec 11, 2008 15:57:00 GMT 10
Would it be safe to assume you have a copy of the Modern Motor magazine August 1955, with the article by Mr Pym on the Jennison Pathfinder.
Will "pathfind" its way to Ebay soon..........along with a lot of other "MM" of the same period
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Post by Jennison on Dec 13, 2008 5:56:54 GMT 10
Same paint scheme as the one featured in reply 50 by Cobber from the 1958 modern motor magazine article, so a 1958 to 1960 model must be a fair guestimate.
regards Jennison
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Post by Don Ricardo on Dec 13, 2008 13:19:02 GMT 10
Hi Jennison,
Boblor has a stack more photos of the Jennison he saw. I think he will post them once he has internet access again.
Don Ricardo
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Post by Jennison on Dec 13, 2008 18:32:17 GMT 10
Good one Donricardo I look forward to them!! I have now called boblor and it sounds like a beauty! .............. jennison
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Post by Jennison on Dec 17, 2008 22:15:49 GMT 10
I was thinking all we need now is for a 55-56 model to turn up and we'll nearly have the full progression from wood to aluminium .............. No luck on those postal photos yet Donricardo .......... regards
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Post by firefighter on May 17, 2009 19:47:45 GMT 10
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. The van is not for sale.
