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1938 Winchester
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Barry Lord



Joined: 03 Jan 2008
Posts: 114
Location: Shropshire and Powys border

PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 3:18 pm    Post subject: 1938 Winchester Reply with quote

A couple of pictures of our 1938 Winchester 'Dolmansion'. It's a very comfortable van to use, but heavy to tow, so we haven't had it out at all this year. We are about to have it re-painted so that it is ready to use at Easter.

[img][/img]

[img][/img]

(Taken at a vintage show near Oswestry in 2008).
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gresham flyer



Joined: 06 Sep 2008
Posts: 1435

PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 8:30 pm    Post subject: Repaint. Reply with quote

Hello,
What is the weight of the caravan?

What colours are you choosing this time?

My van is 17.3 cwt unladen, so after the usual extras nearly a ton. Very Happy

For a mid thirties van she tows well,only on fenland roads which resemble washboards do i have to take it steady. Shocked

The public always ask me if I put it on a trailer to take to events. Shocked

Do we sleep in it or stay in b&b nearby,and what about cooking,do we eat out. Confused

When I inform them it tows at the same speed as their new euro plastic box they are surprised. Surprised
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Barry Lord



Joined: 03 Jan 2008
Posts: 114
Location: Shropshire and Powys border

PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 9:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It looks as if we all get asked the same questions when we're out and about in our caravans.

We are almost always asked if we sleep in it and also if we have a modern caravan to use for holidays. I remember once talking to a very persistent saleswoman at the Caravan and Boat Show at the NEC in Birmingham whose caravan I had sat down in for a rest. When I told her that I didn't need a modern caravan because I had a van from the thirties, she replied with thinly hidden snootiness in her voice, "Oh, I don't know how you could" . . . Realising she wasn't going to get a sale from me, she quickly moved on to her next victim, leaving me to rest in peace.

I can't remember the weight of the caravan off hand and haven't yet decided on paint colours. I went into Shrewsbury yesterday afternoon to have a look, but, on seeing the hoards of Christmas shoppers queuing to get into the car parks, turned back! Perhaps I'll decide after Christmas . . .
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cobber



Joined: 08 Dec 2007
Posts: 200
Location: NSW Australia

PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 9:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for posting that photo Barry, I wish it was down here
so I could inspect every little unique feature.
I love the little funnels catching the rain off the roof ..... and
the barn style door.

Would that roof still qualify as a “Lantern roof”....I mean it is
different to the usual type of Lantern roof.

The tow coupling looks like a “Brockhouse” but is the over ride
brake a “Brockhouse”... and is the hand brake an original fitting ?

Would you have a close up photo of the coupling and “A” frame
you could show me....please Wink .

Yes.... we get the same questions down here from the
uninformed, but never-the less interested spectators, they
can't believe we are so adventurours Laughing Laughing

Cobber.
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Barry Lord



Joined: 03 Jan 2008
Posts: 114
Location: Shropshire and Powys border

PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 11:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Cobber,

Someone once described the roof to me as being a "full lantern roof", but I'm not sure if that is the correct term. The caravan actually has two doors, the second being on the opposite side at the rear, opening into the toilet compartment with its built-in loo. Taking up the remainder of the rear is a child's bed, no more than two feet wide and completely enclosed using the wardrobe door. It must have been very claustrophobic, when you think about it.

The caravan originally belonged to Bernard Dolman (hence the name 'Dolmansion') who was editor of 'The Caravan' magazine and who had the van built to his own design. So that he could use the van during the winter, the design included a 'hot cupboard', containing a paraffin heater, which also fed hot air through a flue into a roof level airing locker. 71 years on the hot cupboard still does its job very well, keeping the van nice and warm at the end of the season.

I have a photo of the hitch somewhere so will find it and post it.
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Bayliss Thomas



Joined: 25 Sep 2009
Posts: 557
Location: SUFFOLK

PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 11:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yet another van to admire, and I reckon the present colours are just fine, really do suit it. A couple of interior pics would be nice Wink
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Barry Lord



Joined: 03 Jan 2008
Posts: 114
Location: Shropshire and Powys border

PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 11:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There are some interior shots of the van on YouTube, taken as part of a video we made of the HCC's stand at the Much Marcle vintage rally in 2008. If you type in '2008 Historic Caravan Club at Much Marcle Herefordshire', the video should come up. Our van is about two minutes into the clip.
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cobber



Joined: 08 Dec 2007
Posts: 200
Location: NSW Australia

PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 1:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the background info on where the "Dolmansion"
name came from Barry..... all good stuff.

I have been a fan of "Winchesterick" ever since those HCC
videos have been popping up on YouTube.
Why doesn't the HCC consolidate them on to one DVD and
market them ? I know one bloke who would buy it Rolling Eyes
One suggestion..... I'd like to hear a voice over naming
each 'van, with maybe a little bit of information about
it........ not a lot, just a little bit.

The inside of the Winchester looks great..... been looking
for a wind up gramophone myself to put in my Ol' 36.

By the way.... you're saying the Winchester is a 1938 but
the board out front of it I think says 1935.

Cobber.
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Barry Lord



Joined: 03 Jan 2008
Posts: 114
Location: Shropshire and Powys border

PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 7:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

We'd always believed the caravan was from 1935, but earlier this year had contact with Bernard Dolman's son, who confirmed that the caravan was made in 1938. We'll have to alter the sign before we use the van again!
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Bayliss Thomas



Joined: 25 Sep 2009
Posts: 557
Location: SUFFOLK

PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 3:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Barry Lord wrote:
There are some interior shots of the van on YouTube, taken as part of a video we made of the HCC's stand at the Much Marcle vintage rally in 2008. If you type in '2008 Historic Caravan Club at Much Marcle Herefordshire', the video should come up. Our van is about two minutes into the clip.


OK thanks, I'l just nip over to Utube Smile

Yup had a look and very very nice too.
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old van man



Joined: 24 Nov 2007
Posts: 384

PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 9:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

good to see the dolmansion on the forum, Barry ,Richard,
you know if you sold me the van you wouldent have to worry about repainting it Laughing well it was worth a try Smile

here,s a question for the members of the forum who are not members of the HCC Smile

This caravan once formed part of a collection of caravans owned by a famous caravanning personality.
He was know "as the king of caravans"
what was his name ? Smile
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cobber



Joined: 08 Dec 2007
Posts: 200
Location: NSW Australia

PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 12:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I KNOW....I KNOW !!!! ..... What's first prize Laughing Wink
(Nothing worse than some smart arse colonial, in a different time zone, spoiling the competition... so I won't... yet)

I think I now know something else I didn't know... Barry, Richard aye?.... like in Winchesterick ?

Cobber (Sam Question ) Wink
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RotaryBri



Joined: 20 Dec 2007
Posts: 465
Location: Warwick

PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 2:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think that he had a caravan dealership in Derbyshire. Is it Don Amott?
_________________
Keep Torqueing,

RotaryBri

1976 NSU Ro80
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cobber



Joined: 08 Dec 2007
Posts: 200
Location: NSW Australia

PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 7:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

OK... Bit of local knowledge coming in there I'm thinking Confused

I'm voting for Sam Alper Wink

Cobber.
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Bayliss Thomas



Joined: 25 Sep 2009
Posts: 557
Location: SUFFOLK

PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

That fell'a 'King of caravans' must be the Late Question Question Question Question Question Question Question Question Question Question

Erm, I have forgotten his name, was it the owner of Sprite Caravans?
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