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Post by Don Ricardo on Aug 28, 2008 7:59:36 GMT 10
ARROW CARAVANSManufacturer: G K Harris Gympie Road, Aspley, Qld Arrow caravans were previously branded as Clipper caravans.
1956 Arrow advertisement and publicity:     (Source: Keith Winser, Australian Caravan & Touring Manual for 1956, pp 88, 89, 93 & 84) Arrow Caravans took over the maker of Fairway Caravans, also manufactured in Brisbane. For further information on Fairway Caravans click here
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Post by cobber on Oct 5, 2009 10:59:04 GMT 10
This page from the 1954 “Australian Caravans and Touring”, as it was then called, shows “The new factory and display centre of G. K. Harris, Aspley, Brisbane.” In the Caravan Trade's Directory in the rear of the same manual their address is shown as 30 Howie St. Eagle Junction, Brisbane..... so apparently they moved during 1953.   This page from the 1957 Caravan & Touring Manual shows that the buyer of an Arrow caravan was given the option of having a 19 gauge sheet aluminium exterior.  And from the 1959 C & T manual. This first advertisement, if you read the text carefully, is different to the 1961 one below.    Arrow caravans in 1961. Here the option to have aluminium exterior is no more    Cobber. |
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Post by cobber on Feb 5, 2010 14:28:45 GMT 10
Here is a little bit more info on Arrow 'vans It is thought to be a 1959 model The shed has been built around the 'van which will make extraction interesting.    Unlike the royal model this one has painted interior    Which would seem to indicate it is not a “Royal” because nobody would paint over the Silver Ash timber..... would they ?.... but on the other hand aluminium sheeting was an option only on the “Royal” series in 1959 and this 'van does also have the Jones Dolly wheel that was fitted to the “Royal” so I suppose it's a "Royal" without Silver Ash. In 1961 aluminium was either an option or compulsory depending on which Keith Winser page you're looking at. In these specification pages below it's an option.. but in the advertisement above in reply #6 it's not. 1959 Specifications.  1961 Specifications.  Cobber. |
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Post by cobber on Nov 4, 2010 8:19:16 GMT 10
A few more “Arrow” Advertisements... and a bit of information about the connection of "Arrow caravans" with the Queensland "Clipper Caravan".... both made by G.K. Harris. This one from 1953 when they were still at Howie St Eagle Junction. Previously (from about 1950) the 'vans made at this address were called “Clipper Caravans”Now at the Gympie Rd. Aspley address    Cobber. |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Aug 24, 2011 17:53:30 GMT 10
Hi all, One of my V V colleagues with a special interest in Arrow caravans recently met Ron Chapman from Caravanning Queensland: "Anyway, it appears Ron knew George Harris [the manufacturer of Arrow Caravans] very well and sent me a copy of a picture that he had. You may like to add this to the Arrow History File. "It is was taken at the 1957 Melbourne Caravan Show, and was the first Queensland made caravan, ever to be shown outside Queensland. "The Caravan is the Arrow Royal, 15', with GK Harris standing next to it."  It is interesting to note that one of the items posted by Cobber in Reply #1 above shows a photo of an Arrow caravan on display at the !957 Sydney Caravan Show, so it appears that 1957 was a year in which G K Harris may have decided to try and build Arrow's reputation interstate. Arrow Caravans were also represented at the first Australian caravan show (as opposed to motor show) held in Melbourne in 1954. Thanks to my colleague for passing on this great photo. Don Ricardo |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Aug 24, 2011 18:28:37 GMT 10
The following caravan advertised on Ebay in August 2011, has been identified with "95% certainty" as a 1953 Arrow caravan by a V V colleague who "knows his Arrows":        
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Post by Don Ricardo on Jul 9, 2020 20:36:09 GMT 10
Arrow Royal plus Chev Biscayne owned by forum member Billy b's Uncle:Note the dolly wheel set up. The photo was taken at Marlborough, North Queensland in the late 50's. 
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Post by Don Ricardo on Aug 13, 2021 22:04:52 GMT 10
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Post by Roehm3108 on Aug 14, 2021 6:57:50 GMT 10
What's with the fan on the drawbar, I wonder???
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Post by sportsman 1 on Aug 14, 2021 7:51:27 GMT 10
I dont think it is a fan, it looks like a container to keep his electrical lead in.
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Post by Don Ricardo on Oct 24, 2021 21:50:49 GMT 10
Hi Roehm and Sportsman1,
I’ve just posted some more photos of the Arrow that we were looking at back in August with what appears to be a fan on the front (the photos are posted as an Addendum to the original post).. I’ve had a look at the “fan” and agree with Sportsman1. It looks like someone has taken the blade guard of a fan and mounted it on the front as a cable tidy. Clever idea, but I’m not sure what the cable is for. It doesn’t look like an electrical lead. Perhaps it’s a lead for a TV aerial??
Don Ricardo
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