Jennison Pathfinder caravans [post 1945] (Artarmon, NSW.)

[akeepsake]

A couple of great pics of two different 16' bondwood pathfinders from O.T.P ( thanks Griffin) Where are they now!! Btw for those with an eye for detail the van showing the front view has a much larger front window than those shown at the bottom of page 1. Suspect it is a later version of what came out in 48 ? Mabye the predecessor to the alum clad pathfinder that had similar shaped front windows???

[akeepsake]

My front window as comparison to above ( larger version)

[Jennison]

Keepsake
Most likely a minor upgrade and design change in the early 50s' to the bigger windows(wood framed) before the first aluminium framed ones came out in 1953. I'd reckon it's definitely a later model than your 49. .....50 to 53
Jenno

[akeepsake]

Nov 14, 2014 14:49:26 GMT 10 Jennison said:

Keepsake
Most likely a minor upgrade and design change in the early 50s' to the bigger windows(wood framed) before the first aluminium framed ones came out in 1953. I'd reckon it's definitely a later model than your 49. .....50 to 53
Jenno

My thought exactly Jeff! Interesting in the post from Don R on this page shows a 1953 add for Ali pathfinders but shows the 16 bondwood version in the add with the larger front windows. Suspect you could by either / or back in 53?
Cheers

[akeepsake]

Found this pic in memorabilia section!
Looks like a 16 footer Ali van Painted wheel spays so c1953 I would say it has a shower due to porthole
Big brother to yours Jeff!

[Jennison]

Showers Right behind that porthole Andrew!!!!! Same as trodlers 17 footer he bought off me but as you say an earlier model to his with those spats
Jenno

[akeepsake]

Yep! Haven't seen an eary 16' Ali outside a brochure ! Geeez those spats would look good painted on yours!!!!

[Don Ricardo]

General question about the separate 'Jennison Pathfinder' and the 'Pathfinder' threads in Down History Lane

When we started posting info about Jennison Pathfinder caravans, forum member Jennison (grandson of John Jennison) and I decided to set up two threads in the Down History Lane section - one for information about Jennison Pathfinders from the beginning of the brand (about 1946) up to the point when the branding was changed to just Pathfinder (about 1962), and the second thread for the vans branded as Pathfinder from 1963 onwards (click here).

The purpose was to keep information about the two eras more or less separate so that people would find it easier to locate the info from the era they were interested in. As it has developed, there is a bit of information posted on this thread about Pathfinders (the last seven posts on this page being an example). Do people find the distinction useful/helpful? If the answer is 'yes', as administrator of the DHL section, I can transfer the 'Pathfinder related posts' to the Pathfinder thread. However, if the answer is 'no' then we could combine the two threads together.

Let me know what you think.

(Just as an aside, if you look at the DHL index, you'll see that there are a number of threads in DHL relating to John Jennison, each one referring to the different eras of caravan building during his lifetime. One deals with his pre-WW II Jennison Roadcruisers (including the pop-tops), a second with the period during which he managed Nomad caravans, and then the two threads referred to above. There's also a thread about John Jennison's non-caravan projects, of which he had a few! The different threads are a way of organising the information about him and his activities because we know quite a lot about his involvement in the caravan industry.)

Don Ricardo

[akeepsake]

Always good to see another Pathfinder on the resto path !Don, good idea to split the Pyms and the J.A.Jennisons
Pmgvans keep the resto and the reasearch going . You might uncover something new!!! Welcome aboard.
Jenno have you started the prep for the original repainted of you 53 Jenno?
Cheers Andrew

[Jennison]

You've pretty well persuaded me but I'm nervous....I'dnever be able to match the quality of he the job you've done Andrew!

Shame you can't make it nth in April, but I still keep on at firefighter about the the next Mexican run so we can meet in the middle!
Reminds me I better go outside and take a photo of the Tilley lantern
Jeno

[akeepsake]

Don't be nervous Jeff it's not your first time ! You'll be ok!!

[Don Ricardo]

Jennison Pathfinder supplement from the Sydney Daily Telegraph in May 1959 celebrating Jennison's 25th anniversary

Thanks to Boblor for providing these pages to post.  The supplement tells us quite a lot about the various manufacturers that produced components and fittings for the Jennision Pathfinder caravans.




(Source: Daily Telegraph, Friday, 22 May 1959, supplement pages 35 & 36)

[akeepsake]

Great links to supplementary suppliers ! Thanks Boblor I wonder if I rang GM Rice and Co and asked them if they could whip me up some original cushions for the Jenno???

[Don Ricardo]

Photos of the signage on Akeepsake's 1949 Jennison Pathfinder, posted by him here on 4 November 2014 and 25 January 2015:

During restoration...



...and after restoration:

[Don Ricardo]

1957 Jennison Pathfinder leaflet posted with thanks to Hughdeany:

[Don Ricardo]

Afternoon caravan history tragics,

In the post by Franklin1 that commences this thread on the post-1945 history of Jennison Pathfinder caravans, and subsequent posts by Jennison, it was noted that after the death of John Jennison in October 1950 the company was bought by Mr R E (Richard) Pym. The Pym family continued producing Jennison Pathfinder (later just branded as Pathfinder) caravans until 1967.

The following newspaper item about the growth of the caravan industry after World War II actually quotes Pym. The article was published in the Sydney Daily Telegraph on Monday, 3 April 1950 (page 20):

(Source: www.newspapers.com - Text columns rearranged to improve readability)

The article tells us that in early 1950 Pym was the manager of Luxury Caravans Pty Ltd, the manufacturer of Luxory caravans. He was also a member of the Council of the NSW Caravan and Trailer Industries' Association, so it would appear that he had quite a bit of experience in the caravan industry before taking on Jennison caravans.

Interestingly, in 1951 Luxury's business was located at 291 Pacific Highway, Atarmon NSW only a few doors away from the Jennison business at 283 Pacific Highway, Atarmon NSW. Previously Luxury had been situated at 383 Pacific Highway. We don't know whether Luxury moved to be close to Jennison after Pym became involved in the Jennison business, or whether it was a coincidence. Nor do we know if Pym and John Jennison collaborated in any way before Jennison's death, or if Pym continued to be involved with Luxury after he purchased Jennison. Maybe Forum member Jennison can answer some of these questions?

Don Ricardo

[Jennison]

Can't add anything there DonR
I did make contact with the Pyms many years back but unfortunately Richard Pym had only recently passed away and his sons had no real knowledge (or interest) in the caravan side of their fathers business history. In their defence I'd say their dad had already made the move from caravan to marine sales by the time they were old enough to recall/be interested.
To my knowledge Pathfinder Marine still operates in QLD today
regards
Jenno