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Post by zippie on Mar 21, 2005 9:46:01 GMT 10
Seeking information on our newly purchased 1956 Argosy 12' Deluxe Caravan manufactured by Argosy Coachworks Limited, Wilbury Way, Hitchin Herts. Imported to New Zealand for sale 1957.
We are the second owners and only non-original is the paintwork and curtains.
Does any one out there have same model or know of original interior and exterior paint colours.
Many thanks.#nosmileys
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2005 11:10:29 GMT 10
Where's "Hitchin Herts" Zippie .......doesn't sound Aussie  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2005 9:39:35 GMT 10
I know "Hitchin Herts" when ya bump ya bloody knee on the towbar ;D ;D
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2005 9:48:43 GMT 10
More info from Zippie:
Hitchin Herts is in the UK. The only other info on hte brochure is that Argosy was an associate company of Berkeley in the UK appraently 'the biggest builders of caravans in Europe, and probably the world'. As this caravan came into NZ I thought similar models would have gone into big brother Australia.....
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2005 14:14:40 GMT 10
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Post by willandlyn on Mar 26, 2005 1:13:16 GMT 10
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Post by zippie on Apr 26, 2005 15:04:27 GMT 10
Update!!! On my trawl for info on the Argosy I found in "The History of the Carava" by WM Whiteman (published early 70's) the following:
"Clever ideas for cutting costs were thought up by Panter, who started alow price brand, the Argosy. It was designed round the offcuts from sheets of aliminium, floor boarding and linoleum and other materials left over in making Berkleys, and was assembled by semi-skilled female labour at a separate factory at Hitchin. The Argosy 12 four berth, actually 11ft2in, sold at (in England) for $170 (pounds) when launched in 1954, and production continued for nearly five years".
Well all I can say is that 'semi skilled females' did a really good job as at 49years of age she isn't leaking and is still immacualte inside. I may try a letter to the Editor in Hitchin, UK, to find out the original colours, maybe one of those highly skilled workers is around.
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Post by ditzygypsy on Apr 26, 2005 16:35:35 GMT 10
OK............ that is one up for the girls............... and men say we are not technically minded. That is very interesting Zippie. She is a rippa little van and is in great condition for the age. I am glad you are finding out more about your van it all adds to the excitement. Ditzy oneof theweakersex  |
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Post by cobber on Apr 26, 2005 17:06:56 GMT 10
G’Day Pauline, Nobody can hide behind an alias on this forum (except Cobber)  You could do worse than firing off an email to Andrew Jenkinson in the UK regarding your Argosy van. He has written a couple of books on the history of classic caravans over there. You can get him at:- andrew@ajenkinson.fsnet.co.uk “Hitchen herts when ya bump ya bloody knee on the towbar” Who brung that bloke??  Cobber. |
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Post by earlee on Apr 26, 2005 18:45:17 GMT 10
Whats that dog doing in the van keeping you warm ..... did you run out of good looking sheep!
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Post by zippie on Apr 30, 2005 14:26:43 GMT 10
Cobber ;D, many thanks have made contact with the UK and he has already sent one photo of and old Argosy in bad conditon. It makes me appreciate the mint conidtion of 'my' Argosy. My search for the original colours may get somewhere! Erlee , I bought the caravan off the internet (Trade Me, NZ), hence the accompanying photo on the advert had a dog reclining - you can make of it what you will - no we have not run out of sheep I've had two hanging in the trees curing for a couple of days now and my partner is a shearer - and yes I like vintage caravans - scarey aye. |
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Post by cobber on Apr 30, 2005 16:14:45 GMT 10
G’Day Pauline,  Am pleased you got in touch with him and he may be able to help, he is a good bloke. I have mentioned his web site here a couple of times but the trouble is he is a UK van expert only (I think). Some of his commercial ideas could be applied down here though, post cards, calendars, place mats etc. It could provide an income to help support this great web site eh? Go for it Mark!! By-the-way Zippie ;D did you let him know you made contact with him via this site? Cobber. |
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Post by zippie on May 1, 2005 9:17:09 GMT 10
Cobber  , yup I did give the credit to this site for referring me on. It was much appreciated as you Aussies are my closest allies in this quest for the standard/original colours. Again thanks Cobber. |
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Post by zippie on Nov 13, 2005 11:59:16 GMT 10
Hi Over The Ditchers
As I'm still investigating the painting of the outside - what sort of colours were used in Australia in the fifities - as if I can't get onriginal at least I could try for era colours.
regards zippie
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Post by cobber on Nov 16, 2005 6:58:40 GMT 10
G’Day Zippie, Any plurry colour you like I’d say, but it seems like a stripe of some sort along the side was almost mandatory. I think pastel colours were mostly the go. Here are a couple of photos of Slim Dusty on the road---and you can’t get much more Australian than that, eh? Cobber.  Have you noticed the posting on this site re. the book on the "History of Caravans in NZ" vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1131950302Cobber. |
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Post by zippie on Nov 18, 2005 13:27:31 GMT 10
Hi Cobber Thanks for that. The caravan book is called "Vantastic", a pictorial history of New Zealand. It is mainly about our caravan buidling history and the companies that developed around this. It also talks about the blow to caravaning with the petrol crisis in the 70's when there was a special caravan tax. You may be able to view a bit of it on www.harpercollins.co.nz. There are still some beauties NZ made but doens't seem to be a vintage caravan site - and no I'm not setting one up when I have you lot over there, plus mine is an English caravan so I would be my own little clique, going on ralleys by myself .......... |
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