Groovygramps 50's Roma Bondwood?

[groovygramps]

Hi all!
As promised, here are the photos of our ? Roma fully bondwood caravan cira 1950's & 1953 Zephyr Mark 1. Please help us verify the ID of our van.
Cheers,
groovygramps

[exocet]

Hi Groovygramps, if anybody can ID your very neat van, i will be impressed because it is almost identical as our 1952 van, identical shape, windows etc, how long is she? Ours is 12ft 3". We have just about convinced ourselves that she is home made or bought as a shell like you could buy back then and finished off by the owner. Ours has a steel drawbar, but wooden chassis, has yours? Very nice setup with the Mark 1! My first memory of our family car was a Mark1, Dad then traded up to a MK2, but he always reckoned the MK 1 handled better than the MK 2!!


Cheers Exocet

[groovygramps]

Hi f/f,

I am only learning the computer and I rely on our daughter to help me when she can. She did not have time to take any photos of the inside with her camera, but she will when she can. We have photos taken with our OLD camera but doubt if they can be put on the forum. We had an article & photos taken about 3 - 4 years ago by the Advertiser Newspaper in Geelong.

Don Ricardo - I have sent you a PM.

ShaneandSimoen thanks for the PM - isn't it a small world.

Gristy thanks for the PM - I will give you a ring.

don 257 - We will be on a run soon.

Melanco - We hope to touch base soon.

Thanks to anyone else who has sent me a PM since I became a new member.

Reddo - what can I say. Keep the banter coming.

gg.

[whippy]

Hey Groovy Gramps, what a great combo, old van being towed by a nice FORD !!!!!

Maybe one day Mine tow car may be finished. (pigs might fly too)

[groovygramps]

Hi whippy what would reddo say about a FORD !!!

What is your unfinished tow car? Time, money, determination and patience will get you there.

[groovygramps]

Hi exocet,
I will measure the van tomorrow and let you know. The window frames are all wooden. The only aluminium on the van are the front stone shields, porthole window surround and sealing strips where the walls and roof meet.

The Roma sign was on the van when we dragged it out of the paddock where it had stood exposed to the elements for many years a very sad sight indeed. When a friend saw it for the first time he handed me a box of matches and said "take your pick burn or take to the tip you'll never fix this thing up.

The old registration plates had to be returned to VicRoads although we would have liked to keep them. On the old rego papers it stated it was a Roma and consequently the current label describes it as a Roma. We would like to verify this is.

gg

[Franklin1]

Hi gg, what an absolutely stunning combination you have there!!

I assume you are asking for a more exact date for your van, rather than confirming it's a Roma? Over in our History section we have a thread for 1940s vans, and the first one pictured there has a similar sailboat etched on the port-hole window glass (not exactly the same as yours). I don't have conclusive proof that the one we have pictured over there is in fact a 1940s van, rather that was the information we were given at the time. I also don't know whether this porthole window glass design was commonly available at the time, or whether it was only used by one brand of van. Maybe there's a connection between your van and the 1940s one, maybe there's not.
Click on this link to take you over to the other photo...

vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=chat&action=display&thread=1995

If you look down through the other van photos in this thread and compare the construction of these vans with yours, I think you are very close to the mark with it being 1950 plus or minus a couple of years.

cheers,
Al.

[groovygramps]

Hi Al.

Thanks for the link. There certainly are similiarities. Our van was structually sound on the inside but very neglected,I suspect that some modification has taken place over the years eg. electric/gas refrig and perhaps a new gas cook top.

My wife groovygranny and I took several months to sand it back to its original bondwood, repair all the holes in the front and back etc. etc. as v.v. restorers know. I applied 2 coats of oil base pink primer, 2 coats of oil base undercoat and 3 coats of oil base full gloss house paint. Since the resto it has been under cover all the time when not in use.

Unfortunately we have no photos of the van before restoring it.

We have done and lot of touring around with the combo over the last 3-4 years and in fact Shaneandsimoen have PM me to say they remember seeing us at Portarlington Vic. about 3 years ago - small world.


Cheers,
gg.

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Groovygramps,

Great outift. Love the van and love the car. The Zephyr is very appropriate for your location! ;D ;D ;D

If you have some photos of the inside, I'm sure somebody would be happy to scan them for you, me included, if you would be happy to let one of us have them for a few days.

It's hard to know whether your van is a Roma, because for some unknown reason we have next to no photos of Romas. I have currently borrowed a 1956 Keith Winser caravan manual from Exocet which contains an advert for a Roma 'Clipper'. According to the ad Roma caravans were built by R Green of Elsternwick. Roma is now based in Queensland I think and, according to their website, claims to have been producing caravans since 1928.

Whether we are talking about the same Roma in all these instances, or whether several companies have used the Roma name is unknown at this point.

Interestingly enough the only Roma with a nameplate for which we have pictures on the Roma history thread is a 1959 van, which as far as I can tell has the same nameplate as yours on the front of it. You have probably already looked at the thread?
vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=chat&action=display&thread=2044
But anyway maybe that is one bit of confirmation that your van is indeed a Roma! You would have to think the old rego papers would be another piece of confirmation.

How long ago was the van last registered (before you re-registered) and do you know what its number plate was?

Don Ricardo

[tinnie]

Gday GG.

That is a niiice van and Mark 1.

Did I mention I like Zephyrs ;D

Interesting question you pose. I have not ever heard much of Roma's history. I do know they built a lot of vans that were resold under other brands (Glenlee being one of these). I wonder if their early beginnings were making shells for people to fit out??

Cheers,

Gristy

[whippy]

To answer your question re my project, have a look at :-

vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=towcarsboard&action=display&thread=1920

In the order of things you have listed re the car, in my case, patience is first. I didn't realise it but about 8 months ago I paid him past the point he is currently at and so now he will only work on it when he has money.

The panel beater is a mate, he is notorious for taking his time, The car has not progressed much since these photos were taken but he claims this week to have got stuck into it and intends to catch up .

Whilst I have been waiting, I have almost completed my Franklin Caravelle so I have been able to take frustrations out on something. I am now thinking of going older.

Sorry, I don't mean to pinch your thread.

You will find these guys are great and I look forward to seeing your rig at one of the VV outings.

Regards,
Glynn

[groovygramps]

Whippy - Glynn. - Great project - love the single spinner towcar.

Looking forward to seeing photos of the Franklin Caravelle.

We hope to meet up with people soon.

[groovygramps]

Hi all,

Had computer trouble last night it just closed down on me, I couldn't even log out. Just had to switch the thing off. We are going way immediately, will sign on in a couple of days.
Hopefully to answer your questions as posted above.

Cheers,
gg.

[groovygramps]

Hi everyone listed above.

We are back from our travels with some very interesting news. - Groovygranny (my wife) and I were able to find the current location of Roma Caravans. The factory is manufacturing custom built caravans and poptops at 17 Randor Street, Campbellfield. Victoria. 3061. Phone [phone] Fax: [phone]. Web: www.romacaravans.com.au the owner is Tony Palmarini who kindly gave me a letterhead with the Roma Caravans logo on with the wording established 1928. - Yes they have been around for a long time. They have outlets in other states.

Tony along with his son Mark run the business.

Tony explained to us that he has had the business since 1966 and that his father Vittorio Palmarini was associated with Roma before he was. Tony remembers being introduced to the original owner who set up the business. The vans were named Roma after the original owners wife.

As soon as Tony saw our van on the Vintage Caravans site he had no hesitation in saying that it was a Roma because it was the Roma shape and especially the sailing ship etched on the porthole window also the thick plastic lettering and colour of the Roma sign.

We told Tony that we were only able to read part of the ID plate on the tow bar because some one had welded a jockey wheel bracket near the plate and the welding heat affected the plate - the part that we could read - tow bar was manufactured in Coburg - Tony confirmed they were. He suspects some modifications have been made eg. valiant wheel caps, level ride brackets etc.

Tony told us that our van in even older than the one they have in the old factory. The one they have has an aluminium roof. So it is possible that our van is a 40's to 50's van.

We told Tony that we purchased our first second hand Roma van from Jim & Eileen Gibson who were the owners of Glenlee Caravans in Traralgon. Tony remebers them well and their son John who took over the business.

I will try and find a photo of that van because it had bondwood sides with the aluminium roof. We had the van in the 60's.
Cheers gg

[groovygramps]

Hi everyone listed above.

We are back from our travels with some very interesting news. - Groovygranny (my wife) and I were able to find the current location of Roma Caravans. The factory is manufacturing custom built caravans and poptops at 17 Randor Street, Campbellfield. Victoria. 3061. Phone [phone] Fax: [phone]. Web: www.romacaravans.com.au the owner is Tony Palmarini who kindly gave me a letterhead with the Roma Caravans logo on with the wording established 1928. - Yes they have been around for a long time. They have outlets in other states.

Tony along with his son Mark run the business.

Tony explained to us that he has had the business since 1966 and that his father Vittorio Palmarini was associated with Roma before he was. Tony remembers being introduced to the original owner who set up the business. The vans were named Roma after the original owners wife.

As soon as Tony saw our van on the Vintage Caravans site he had no hesitation in saying that it was a Roma because it was the Roma shape and especially the sailing ship etched on the porthole window also the thick plastic lettering and colour of the Roma sign.

We told Tony that we were only able to read part of the ID plate on the tow bar because some one had welded a jockey wheel bracket near the plate and the welding heat affected the plate - the part that we could read - tow bar was manufactured in Coburg - Tony confirmed they were. He suspects some modifications have been made eg. valiant wheel caps, level ride brackets etc.

Tony told us that our van in even older than the one they have in the old factory. The one they have has an aluminium roof. So it is possible that our van is a 40's to 50's van.

We told Tony that we purchased our first second hand Roma van from Jim & Eileen Gibson who were the owners of Glenlee Caravans in Traralgon. Tony remebers them well and their son John who took over the business.

I will try and find a photo of that van because it had bondwood sides with the aluminium roof. We had the van in the 60's.
Cheers gg

[groovygramps]

Sorry all, I must of stuffed things up - don't know how but it has posted twice. gg

[groovygramps]

Hi f/f, - Our daughter is going to take photos of the inside soon or scan the photos taken with our OLD camera and post them as soon as possible.

exocet, - The window frames are all wood. The van is 12'3" long and 6'6" wide. It has a steel draw bar and chassis, wooden flooring.. The Mark 1 pulls the van very well. Do you have any photos of the inside and outside of your van? We had to strip the sink cupboard doors back as someone had painted them dark mission brown. We will probably have to re do them as they still do not look right.

[groovygramps]

Hi Don, We rescued the van out of a paddock in December 2001, it had not been registered for many years so we had to get a special permit from VicRoads to bring it home therefore, when VicRoads asked for the old plate we just gave it back.

When we rescued the van we had no idea anyone else was interested in old caravans that was nearly 7 years ago. We have been travelling around for the last 6 years with the combo.

Thanks for the link to the other Roma. On comparison our Roma sign is as described above a bit different to the other van. The wooden wheel arch spats appear to be the same style.
The port hole is on the opposite side, the roof hatch hinges are the same. The front table converts to a double bed. The back settee converts to a double bed. The cushions are a similar style but a different colour. Similar sink/kitchen cupboards configuration - we have more draws. Stove area sliding top over double bed/settee. Hope this and the information above is of some use. You may post this information in any catergory that you think appropriate. gg.

[groovygramps]

Hi all,

We recently took the caravan to Tony at the Roma Caravans factory. Tony confirmed that it is a Roma. We took a photo of the Caravan and the Zephyr outside the Roma Caravan showroom on the Hume Highway at Campbellfield. We will post the photo as soon as possible.

Cheers gg.

[groovygramps]

Hi everyone,
As promised here is the photo of our Roma Van purchased from Jim & Eileen Gibson.
Cheers gg

[groovygramps]

Me again.... Further photos as promised of our 50's Roma Bondwood van
Cheers gg

[Deleted]

That looks bloody great mate.

The curves on the old Z car match up nice with the old Roma
Oh.... and the memrobillia collecting bug hasnt effected you one bit has it

Reddo

[groovygramps]

Reddo

I hate to admit it but........the memorabillia was engagement, wedding presents, hand me downs etc., gratefully received over the years. In January 2009 it will be 50 years since gg & I met. As our 18 year old Grandson pointed out recently the Z car was only 6 years old when you met Gran.

We are looking forward to Cora Lyn tomorrow to put faces to the people on the forum. I hope they don't expect us to look as we did in the photo above.

groovygramps.