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Post by beetlesbailey on Feb 4, 2010 13:28:09 GMT 10
My mate just bought a small ply van with no interior lining.
It's about 6' wide and 8' long.
Kitchen across the front and a "double" bed across the rear with a table on off side wall between the two and a full length robe to the right of the door.
Interesting is the brass plate on the robe end that reads;
BUILT WELL by BARNWELL
CARAVANS
92 KINGS ROAD
FIVEDOCK
WF7812
Does anyone have any info on Barnwell or that adress? (Sydney)
The van has glass lenses on tail lights etc that have scew on chrome rings to hold lenses on. It also has small bullet shaped clearance lights high on front ends of walls. (like those parking lights on the front guards of pommy cars of the 30's to 50's)
It is running 13" consul ? wheels with bolt on stub axles.
Although there is a gas bottle ring on the draw bar there is a petrol (spirit) stove inside.
Iwould love to post pics but it is beyond my computer skills.
Cheers Beetles
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Post by cobber on Feb 4, 2010 14:30:30 GMT 10
G'day Beetles, Sounds interesting  At this point I can only tell you that W. H. Barnwell first make an appearance in Keith Winser's "Caravan Trade Directory" in 1962..... nothing before that (the phone # is given as WF 7281). If you have pictures you can email them to me and I'll post them for you..... love to see what she looks like  Cobber PS My email is the middle icon under my avatar. |
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Post by cobber on Feb 4, 2010 15:08:15 GMT 10
I just noticed that Al dumped some stuff here that gives Builtwell a mention in 1957.... so they were on the blocks back then it seems. Cobber. |
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Post by Franklin1 on Feb 4, 2010 18:52:16 GMT 10
Yes, that info I dumped there was a list of brand names I found in the Sydney newspaper archives. The year is the first year I found that brand name mentioned. So, 1957 was the first time a Builtwell advertisement appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald. It's quite possible the brand name existed before 1957 but they hadn't got to the point of advertising until then.
I didn't research the Builtwell name thoroughly because there were far too many brands on the Sydney market to look at them all individually.
Doing a quick glance of the archives just now, there were some Builtwells being sold second-hand by Carapark in 1963, 1964, and 1965 described as:
Builtwell 12-6, 3-4 berth, Annexe, excell cond...
Builtwell 10ft, 3-4 berth, very clean...
Builtwell, 2 bth, with 2 sgle I.s. [innerspring?] beds. Practical and attract. layouts...
Castle Caravans were also advertising Builtwell amongst all the used caravan brands they flogged.
In May 1965, the following advertisement appears:
"CARAVANS, well built, new, used, Shells, Partics.,(sic) hire, repair, 2, 3, 4 berth TRAILERS. 92 King's Road, Fivedock. WF7281."
...and in September 1968:
"BUILTWELL Caravans, est 20 years, alum. shell, from $550. Repairs etc. 92 King's Road, Fivedock. 83-7281."
Nothing showing after that. (but then I can't see the archives in full with just the "Free look".)
If Builtwell were claiming in 1968 to have been established 20 years, then that means they started in 1948/49.
But were they actually building caravans from that year? We know that some of these early caravan manufacturers started as trailer builders, and then got into the caravan game along the way.
cheers,
Al.
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Post by Administrator on Feb 9, 2010 23:16:49 GMT 10
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Post by Franklin1 on Feb 10, 2010 7:38:38 GMT 10
You would have to think that this van is from the early 1950s or earlier?
Can anybody read what that name is on the "Mini Toilet"? Does it say "primus - (something)"? primus - elgan??
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2010 16:59:02 GMT 10
Hi Al,
It says Primus Elsan.
hughdeani
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Post by DC3Td on Feb 10, 2010 18:12:42 GMT 10
Re the word: 'partics' - short for 'particulars'. cheers gordon
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Post by beetlesbailey on Feb 11, 2010 13:35:33 GMT 10
Thanks mark for posting these pics for me.
The little van has had a few alterations done it seems (as most have in 50 plus years. The day I took the pics was over 38 c and itwas soooo hot inside so not suprisingly I noticed that front and rear windows were fixed and may be original, but the once opening side ones were fixed shut!
If and when Dave restores it I'm sure the side ones will be reinstated as openers and perhaps the end ones can too or at least made to look better.
He is currently doing a Roadmaster 14' of 50's or 60's ( I cant remember). It's a beauty and we just fibreglassed the ply sides using 'bote cote' 2 part epoxy glue in luei of f/glass resin.
This is the system used on wooden boats and is well worth the effort and cost as there will be no more wood rot EVER.
This is the 4th van wev'e done with bote cote plus the highway palace which would have used more materials than all 4.
Regards Beetles
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Post by Don Ricardo on Aug 16, 2015 19:13:12 GMT 10
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