Post by Don Ricardo on Oct 31, 2010 22:16:15 GMT 10
Mercury Caravans
Carlisle, WA
Information posted by DC3Td about his Mercury teardrop on 29 March 2009:
This van was built by Mercury Caravans WA in 1952 utilising DC3 aircraft aluminium cladding...Pictures taken many years ago where it sat under a tree & sustained weather damage to the woodwork in the galley area (see cupboard doors/shelving area). I gutted the galley & replaced the two timber ribs either side of the hatch door. The walling in the galley is now a combination of different WA timbers. Trying to stay faithful to the fit-out as per the photos, I have redone the cabinets as close as possible to the original. One design change I did make is to install a false floor 5" above the now renewed original floor which was well beyond retaining & it now houses a picnic table in a slide-out drawer. The top of the false floor is where the cooker, esky etc will situate. Revamped the interior decor & fitted Austin 16" wheels as original. (Text slightly edited by Don Ricardo)
This teardrop was previously owned by Willyn and Reddo.
On 12 May 2005, Willyn wrote about the teardrop and Mercury Caravans:
It was the first Commercially Built Ali caravan manufactured in Australia by Mercury caravans in Carlisle the company went on to build ali vans untill the early sixties
On 20 November 2007 Willyn posted the following info about the history of the van:
as the story goes it was built by Mercury Caravans around 1952
when I found the van it was derelict under a tree would you believe right next door to the holiday home of John Day Caravans WA the largest caravan dealership in the southern hemisphere...
I would have done it up and put in the showroom as a point of interest for historys sake however the guy I brought it off was the former Whiteman park Curator and he didnt even have a tarp over it so it sat under a tree in his front yard for ten years
before I found it in Mandurah they originally had enough panel to build 3 in that design and was reputed to be the first commercially built full aluminium body in australia according the Curator who sold it to me built by Mercury Caravans of Carlyle Western Australia
...
and was why he hung on to it for ten years in the hope of restoring it (which didnt happen) It still has a timber draw bar
even though it has 19 wheels on it I still have the original wheels here
I rebuilt the rear kitchen cabinets put a new floor in it and coated the inside with a blue multi fleck finish and brass fancy hinges etc.
I sprayed it with two pack to resemble the original alumimium colour because it was to tarnished to restore succesfully
Will
Willyn purchased the van from an advert placed on the Oldtimerclassic website as posted by Mark T on 12 February 2008:
CARAVANETTE, 1952
Only known Aluminium "skin" version of popular round "Bubble" design by Mercury Caravans of Carlisle WA.
The main section (side door) contains the Sleeping Compartment with some cupboard space. The "kitchenette" at the Rear includes a lined IceBox and small cupboards - requires some work and clean up.
Some "annex poles" are included but no canvas or instructions.
Willyn added to this info about the history of the caravan on 13 February 2008:
Hi guys as you can see in the ad I purchased the van in 2003 from the agent for the seller 5 years ago
it was advertised as 52
and as you can see on the back of the teardrop I have 1952 transferred on it
when I was at whiteman park the old curator who owned it before me gave me more of its history it was registered as an aluminium caravan in 1952
it was previously a standard model Mercury teardrop and lined with the aluminium from a DC3 for the original owner the teardrop was built by Mercury then clad by Mercury at a later date and as said first registered in 52 which was good enough for me however the original teardrop build date is not known as there were three made with the wooden draw bar and FX wheels it could be from 48 on was his summize but officially registered as aluminium in 52
Will
The following photos of the teardrop after the refurbishment mentioned in Willyn's post of 20 November 2007 (copied above) were posted by Willyn on 12 February 2008:
NOTE FOR THOSE INTERESTED: As recorded above, when Willyn purchased the Mercury teardrop, he was told it was thought to be the first aluminium clad caravan commercially built in Australia. Subsequent research has revealed that aluminium clad caravans were first built privately in the 1930's, and Jennison was experimenting with aluminium cladding in NSW from 1948. It appears from the info provided by Willyn above that the aluminium cladding was actually retrofitted to the Mercury teardrop, rather than being original. Nevertheless, until proven otherwise, this teardrop appears to be amongst the first commercially built vans with aluminium cladding.
Don Ricardo
Carlisle, WA
Information posted by DC3Td about his Mercury teardrop on 29 March 2009:
This van was built by Mercury Caravans WA in 1952 utilising DC3 aircraft aluminium cladding...Pictures taken many years ago where it sat under a tree & sustained weather damage to the woodwork in the galley area (see cupboard doors/shelving area). I gutted the galley & replaced the two timber ribs either side of the hatch door. The walling in the galley is now a combination of different WA timbers. Trying to stay faithful to the fit-out as per the photos, I have redone the cabinets as close as possible to the original. One design change I did make is to install a false floor 5" above the now renewed original floor which was well beyond retaining & it now houses a picnic table in a slide-out drawer. The top of the false floor is where the cooker, esky etc will situate. Revamped the interior decor & fitted Austin 16" wheels as original. (Text slightly edited by Don Ricardo)
This teardrop was previously owned by Willyn and Reddo.
On 12 May 2005, Willyn wrote about the teardrop and Mercury Caravans:
It was the first Commercially Built Ali caravan manufactured in Australia by Mercury caravans in Carlisle the company went on to build ali vans untill the early sixties
On 20 November 2007 Willyn posted the following info about the history of the van:
as the story goes it was built by Mercury Caravans around 1952
when I found the van it was derelict under a tree would you believe right next door to the holiday home of John Day Caravans WA the largest caravan dealership in the southern hemisphere...
I would have done it up and put in the showroom as a point of interest for historys sake however the guy I brought it off was the former Whiteman park Curator and he didnt even have a tarp over it so it sat under a tree in his front yard for ten years
before I found it in Mandurah they originally had enough panel to build 3 in that design and was reputed to be the first commercially built full aluminium body in australia according the Curator who sold it to me built by Mercury Caravans of Carlyle Western Australia
...
and was why he hung on to it for ten years in the hope of restoring it (which didnt happen) It still has a timber draw bar
even though it has 19 wheels on it I still have the original wheels here
I rebuilt the rear kitchen cabinets put a new floor in it and coated the inside with a blue multi fleck finish and brass fancy hinges etc.
I sprayed it with two pack to resemble the original alumimium colour because it was to tarnished to restore succesfully
Will
Willyn purchased the van from an advert placed on the Oldtimerclassic website as posted by Mark T on 12 February 2008:
CARAVANETTE, 1952
Only known Aluminium "skin" version of popular round "Bubble" design by Mercury Caravans of Carlisle WA.
The main section (side door) contains the Sleeping Compartment with some cupboard space. The "kitchenette" at the Rear includes a lined IceBox and small cupboards - requires some work and clean up.
Some "annex poles" are included but no canvas or instructions.
Willyn added to this info about the history of the caravan on 13 February 2008:
Hi guys as you can see in the ad I purchased the van in 2003 from the agent for the seller 5 years ago
it was advertised as 52
and as you can see on the back of the teardrop I have 1952 transferred on it
when I was at whiteman park the old curator who owned it before me gave me more of its history it was registered as an aluminium caravan in 1952
it was previously a standard model Mercury teardrop and lined with the aluminium from a DC3 for the original owner the teardrop was built by Mercury then clad by Mercury at a later date and as said first registered in 52 which was good enough for me however the original teardrop build date is not known as there were three made with the wooden draw bar and FX wheels it could be from 48 on was his summize but officially registered as aluminium in 52
Will
The following photos of the teardrop after the refurbishment mentioned in Willyn's post of 20 November 2007 (copied above) were posted by Willyn on 12 February 2008:
NOTE FOR THOSE INTERESTED: As recorded above, when Willyn purchased the Mercury teardrop, he was told it was thought to be the first aluminium clad caravan commercially built in Australia. Subsequent research has revealed that aluminium clad caravans were first built privately in the 1930's, and Jennison was experimenting with aluminium cladding in NSW from 1948. It appears from the info provided by Willyn above that the aluminium cladding was actually retrofitted to the Mercury teardrop, rather than being original. Nevertheless, until proven otherwise, this teardrop appears to be amongst the first commercially built vans with aluminium cladding.
Don Ricardo
