A 'van from the 30's.

[cobber]

This photo was offered for sale on ebay by a South Australian seller in January 2009.
Kaybee has identified the car as a 1933 Ford Phaeton that has the “Australian Built Body”.... so there is a high probability the photo was taken in Australia. The seller thinks the photo might have been taken in the 50's or 60's.... it sold for $45.50.


Whether the 'van is a “pleasure” 'van or a “workers” 'van is not known but it appears to be of the telescopic design, and a similar style of 'van was made in England during the late '20s early '30s by R.H. Sievwright called “The Shadow”.
This photo of a restored “Shadow” was taken in 1994


It would be interesting to know if the 'van in the first photo was based on the English design...especially the method of raising the top half of the 'van.

Cobber.

[Don Ricardo]

Evening all,

The other day I was organising some books on our bookshelves, when I flipped through a biography of the Australian artist Hans Heysen. Included amongst the photographs were two of a "caravan" Heysen used on some of his painting expeditions in the early 30's:


Caption: The Model A Ford and caravan 1932


Caption: Camping in the Flinders with the Ford and caravan, 1932-33

According to Heysen's biographer, Colin Thiele: "At the end of 1931 David [Heysen's son] left Scotch College; he was almost nineteen years old, well built, extremely capable with his hands, and a good driver. For some years he had been taking his two young brothers to school in a Model A Ford Roadster. Whey therefore, shouldn't he and his father now make a trip to the Flinders together? It was an excellent arrangement. They would tow a small trailer-caravan with collapsible sides and roof, and camp as they travelled. David would be chauffeur, mechanic, cook, watchdog, and courier; father would paint.

"They gave the trailer a trial run to the South Coast and then, at the beginning of March, 1932, set out for the north. Apart from minor mishaps with wheels and springs, the trip was a good one and they were soon in camp on the Brachina Creek, Aroona. Here they stayed for a month. To David it was a revelation and his letters home to his mother became something of a diary as he recorded his daily tasks and surprises. He erected a wireless mast 45 feet high and listened to the daily news of civilization: the official opening of Station 5CK, Jack Norris's morning greetings directed specifically at them, the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the death of Phar Lap, the thrill of the Great Eastern Steeplechase at the Oakbank Racecourse on East Monday - won by Jo's horse, Archeson."
(Source: Colin Thiele, Heysen of Hahndorf, Rigby Limited, Adelaide, 1969, p 208. Photos facing p 209)

I guess these days we would call Heysen's caravan a 'camper trailer', but I thought that the photos and the description give a fascinating insight into the early days of caravanning in Australia. Decent sized radio aerial at 45'! Makes some of the TV aerials you see on modern vans look a bit anemic. ;D ;D ;D

The caravan is similar to other caravans/camper trailers from the 20's and early 30's, such as the one which begins this thread and the pics on the thread discussing 'Australia's oldest caravan' vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=Memorabilia2&action=display&thread=661

Don Ricardo

[beetlesbailey]

I havent seen it but many freinds tell me that this outfit is on display at 'The Cedars' which is a Hans Heysen museum at harndorf in the Adelaide hills.
Beetles

[Don Ricardo]

Interesting to hear that Hans Heysen's caravan is on display at Hahndorf, Beetles. Thanks for that info. Gives me another good reason to visit there next time I'm on my way to Adelaide!

Don Ricardo

[cobber]

We now know Hans Heysen's 'van was made by Eicke & Provis and was marketed as the "Folding Fly - Proof Caravan"

This information comes from a "You Tube" video that can be seen if you click here.

Thanks to Brock for alerting us to this video.

Cobber.