1959 Bondwood Van project - Supalite?

[aquamum]

When I bought this van I was told it might be a 1959 Bondwood.

After searching this site (lots of great info to be found) I wondered if it might be a home build, a Superlite or a Skyline.

When I work out how to attach photos I will LOL !!

[aquamum]

Thank you Mark T for your Instructions on posting photos circa March 2005

Okay here are a few photos of by beloved bondwood, your thoughts are welcome.


I’m Drying Out


Under the metal there are three windows like the front windows


The words Tippings Nambucca are on the coupling...... and there are 4 sway bars on the load equaliser, ... load equaliser , that info from a thread of this site thanks guys & they are laying on the red vinyl covered foam seating


Plastic sink and a hand pump for water and under that lid to the right it is clad in metal which has been nailed to the timber frame


A wonderful surprise to find the annexe in excellent nick with loads of timber posts and hemp ropes.
It’s a fully enclosed annexe, not one of those cute roof only with the curly valance types
My limited research so far shows that Hughes Rockdale Pty Ltd were Auto Tent Manufacturers in 1949 & 1954.


This bunk is at the front of the van weighs a ton

[Deleted]

Hi Aquamum,
looks to me like a Superlite,I have one in my shed that even has the same top bunk frame but down the back,also back windows have been blancked off.Maybe they let i n too much dust!
Cheers
hughdeani

[aquamum]

Thanks hughdeani

I hope to discover more of her origins as I clean her up such as a brand or a paint item such as wings over the wheel arches as on superlites

Sandra

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Aquamum and Hughdeani,

I agree with your conclusion that Aquamum's van is a Supalite (as opposed to a Superlite which was built by a different company in a different state). In terms of age it appears to be somewhere in between Kingy's Supalite, which had wooden framed windows, and Alanjb07's Supalite, which had aluminium framed windows.

It also seems to be pretty similar to Reddo's latest find, which was dated as 1957, while I think Alanjb07's van is late 50's or very early 60's, so maybe the 1959 date you were given is on the money, Aquamum.

Interesting about the heavy bed frame for the bunk. Not sure how that measures up with the 'Supalite' name? Maybe it was 'Mediumlite' with the bedframe installed? ;D ;D ;D

Anyway, we look forward to seeing how it comes up when you work on it Aquamum. I'm sure it will look great. What are you proposing to do with the back windows?

Don Ricardo

[aquamum]

Don Ricardo

Thank you for your comments.

I hope to expose the rear windows as I feel they were covered up for waterproofing reasons.

My van measures about 6 ft wide by 11 feet long (2m x 3.3m).



Sandra

[aquamum]

Happy New Year Everyone !!
This van project will take some time as I work full time, am also restoring a 1963 Holden EJ ute and the van is two hours away at our weekender (I’m not allowed to bring it to Sydney until I finish the ute LOL).
Anyway armed with a couple of scrapers & screwdrivers, hammer & chisel & a power drill,
I had busy weekend working on my van.

[aquamum]

Thanks Dave

[curtis]

Good progress aquamum. I am lovin your little bondy! It looks nice and light inside. Keep the photos coming.

Dave

[gregw]

Your little bondie looks great Aquamum, it will be good to watch your progress. Don't be frightened to put lots of pictures on we love them and it gives everyone good ideas.
Gregw

[aquamum]

Thanks gregw

As the van is stored at our weekender near Goulburn, 2 hours from Sydney, I only work on her (not as often as I would like) !!

I'm planning to be down there this coming Australia Day weekend and hopefully as least one ~ if not all ~ of my three sons will be giving me a hand ;D

[mia]

She is beautiful! I love the sink and large windows! I look forward to your updates. Mia

[aquamum]

Happy Australia Day everyone
I have spent the weekend down at Goulburn surrounded by cows, gumtrees and fresh air, scraping, scrubbing & (un) screwing LOL.
I am alot closer to confirming my van is a Supalite – yippee!!
My Chassis number is discovered – it starts with a S !!!!!!


All the glass is now removed, I only cracked 2 out of 6, there was SO much sealant and yuck that no matter how careful and slowly I worked..........


Used my girly sander...I asked my husband if I could borrow his belt sander (as recommended by many of the blokes on this forum) ....he laughed at me !!! .. then handed me one ... hmmm


I have now put her....her...hmm...I’m thinking of naming her “Merle” after my mum who passed in 1994 when my 3 sons were aged 3,3 & 1 (yes twins).

Nice and dry in the shed

[King Fisher]

Looking great, I too are in the sanding and stripping stage. On the outside the paint was like a rock and I had to use paint stripper and then finished it off with my 'girly' orbital sander. keep up the good work

[aquamum]

I recently posted this Link to my post about Eco friendly paint stripper product called SOY-Gel made from American Soybeans that I used this past Easter Weekend:

vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=technicalstuffboard&thread=9968&page=1


Link to product if you are interested:


letsclean.com.au/soygel.html

My husband John & second son Chris have returned today from a trip to Goulburn and have found my iPhone, sitting outside on a ladder that I failed to put back in the shed after I finished working on my VV.... after shaking out loads of water I plugged it in and .....here are some pics of my paint stripping


Painted starts bubbling , thin layers after removable after about 15 minutes, thicker layer can take up to 8 hours




Bubbled paint



Stripped paint on scraper



Stripped results



Stripped paint on scraper


i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc181/SandraLeonie/EasterWindyonVAN018.jpg[/IMG]


Stripped paint on scraper on my 1950’s tricycle bought for $25.00



Removing alum from front reveals more wood rot



The Soy Gel Stripper going to work





Inside shed – alum has been stripped off the front



Front after alum stripped off



Van in front of shed - Side & rear shot



Van in front of shed - Side shot


i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc181/SandraLeonie/EasterWindyonVAN034.jpg[/IMG]

Van in front of shed 2



Van in front of shed 1 with alum removed



Roof 2



Roof 1

[aquamum]

Hi everyone I’m just back from Windellama (via Goulburn) for the June long weekend.

It was freezing Friday & Saturday waking up to minus 6





Once it warmed up I started working on the wood rot repairs





My youngest son Steven who is an apprentice carpenter helped me remove the roof, mumbling something about women & circular saws LOL.
I plan to restore & reinstall the original hatch timbers & interior light support, but the rest of the roof was shot after 10 years under a tree





Now she’s topless......

[Don Ricardo]

G'day Aquamum,

An open topped caravan. Interesting concept. Like all rag tops though, great in summer, not so good in winter!

Looks like you're making great progress. It helps having a carpenter in the family. I've got one of those too. Trouble is he's so overrun with work it's hard to tie him down long enough to get him to do some things for me. You've obviously got the knack, or do you just promise to feed him?

Don Ricardo

[aquamum]

He's cheap labour ;D
He still lives at home ;D ;D

[gregw]

I am enjoying your post aquamum, keep them coming, you seem to be making very good progress. He's right mums and circular saws don't mix

Gregw

[hilldweller]

Really like the shap of that van Looks like the paint stripper's working a treat. What will you re-roof with?

[aquamum]

Don ~ I just like to look at the night sky but gee that snows a bother in winter ;D

Greg - thanks - I've learned alot from watching other repairs on this forum .....I didn't want to take all the roof off but I couldn't patch the water damage

Hill - I'll be keeping the hatch timber as well as the interior light support - I'm hoping to find one piece of ply the exact size of the roof ;D

[DC3Td]

Terrific rebuild going there Aquamum & with 3 sons to help out you should have it sorted in no time.In the Tech section you`ll find some Ply suppliers which may be of help. I did see you know where a seller who has three of those same style outside lights you have if you`re needing any too. gordon

[aquamum]

Last weekend we loaded her up and I dragged her home from Goulburn.

As it was incredibly windy I left the tarp off ~ set the cruise control @ 80 kpms and let the all-wheel-drive do it's job.

I passed two coppers with radars & I swear the second guy smiled ;D





Home safe n sound and tucked up awaiting her new roof.

[retro64]

Hi there Aquamum,

Your little bondwood is certainly getting the all over treatment, and will be a beautifull van when your finished with it.
Having a helpfull son is great isnt it? I have one of those too, always told him to "work hard and be good to your mother", ;D, so now when we need an extra pair of hands he chips in.

As to the power tools, got to admit to being fairly near useless with them(mrs retro64), but can put together a great colour scheme, and source just about anything if given enough time, Mr retro64 works the tools well so it all balances out in the end .

No doubt the Police Officer had a smile on his face, makes me smile to see the picture so thanks for posting it and others of your journey thus far.Looks like you're doing a terrific job, and good on your boys for all their help.

Looking forward to the next update.

Cheers retro64

[cruisindoug]

Its always good to get them home aye ...

I'd check your manual regarding towing - I would guess that the "power" button should be engaged (in case it wasn't) and cruise control may not be such a good idea when towing either.

Vans coming along nicely!

Cheers
Doug