Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Cobber]

G’day Vintage Caravan enthusiasts.

I am a member of a like minded group of enthusiasts in Australia.
We have a rather lively and undisciplined forum at www.vintagecaravans.com and have had the pleasure of a visit from time to time by members of your forum... “Cornish Lass” and Brian M, who we know as “UKBrian”

It was Brian who mentioned the existence of your forum and I hope none of you object to my dropping in occasionally.

I have a particular interest in English Vintage Caravans because I suspect I have one that was either made in England (most unlikely) or was built in Australia using parts and plans sourced from England at the time, as I think many of our early caravans were.

I will try to post a photo of it here but failing that the link to it on our Australian forum is :-
http://vintagecaravans.proboards30.com/index.cgi?board=photo&action=display&thread=1149659216

Feel free to have a look around the forum while you are there.

My van was made in 1936, and I would be grateful if anybody can give me any information about it.

I hope this forum has a successful future because it was photos on sites such as “The Historic Caravan Club” the “Period & Classic Caravan Club” Andrew Jenkinson’s products and of course the Classic and Vintage Caravan items that have appeared on www.oldclassiccar.co.uk that have enthused me over the last few years.

Kindest regards from Down Under,

Cobber.


Updated slightly in 2007... waist-line colour extended across the front, aluminium mould on each side replaced with timber mould.


English Breakfast

[admin]

G'day Cobber

Thanks for popping by, have to say your little caravan is the nicest oldie I've ever seen!!

Rick

[buzzy bee]

it's very easy on the eye! nice one!

[cornish_lass]

Hi Cobber

Nice of you to drop in I suspect that there will be a few with green eyes at the sight of your van (me included as ever)..... just goes to show what a little bit of determination, hard work and loads of free time can achieve

As you will see another member of the VV forum has already branched out and come over, although only a couple of times

Take care and regards to you both.

Cornish Lass

PS Have heard the joke about the English cricket team that is doing the rounds there... humph

[Scotty]

Welcome - and have you got any spare sunshine you can send us up here in cold, damp Scotland?

[buzzy bee]

Just been out and it is damn cold! Messing with metal and water in the cold at night, hurts my fingers, I want the summer!

Cheers

Dave

[Brian M]

Welcome Cobber to our fledgling forum for classic caravans.

We all hope we can get as big as VV one day.

I'll have to do some research to see if I can find anything in the UK that resembles your very cute caravan.

Keep in touch

[Cobber]

Thank you everybody for your warm welcome.

Rick, you are too kind...but I would not say you are untruthful or prone to exaggerate

Buzzy Bee, as they say “the early bird catches the worm” but I always think what’s smart about being an early worm

Cornish Lass...you didn’t mention skill
Which one of the English Cricket Team jokes are you referring too
Don’t worry, your mob had their fun, going on about Dad’s army (that was before play started)

Scotty mate, tons of sunshine, how much do you want ?.
Will do a swap with you ..one week of sunshine for one week of rain.

Brian,
I would appreciate it if you were able to get any clues as to who made my darling.
Apart from the general design, particularly the side windows & the lantern roof, things like the Brockhouse tow hitch, patent #31315/32 granted 1932 to Brockhouse J & Co.West Bromwich.....Hinges on a couple of windows patent #GB374310 granted 1932 to Sidney Charles Harrison, Birmingham....door lock “ETAS” brand, Enoch Tonks & Sons Ltd. an old English, family buisness..lead me to suspect the old girl originated in the mother country
I would love to know her history.

Regards all,

Cobber.

[admin]

I put this pic of an Atlas caravan on the main site not long ago, previously that had been my #1 looking caravan, now there is a contender!!



Rick

[Cobber]

G’day Rick,

Although Andrew Jenkinson doesn’t have a photo of the van in his book “Caravans The Illustrated History-1919-1959” I feel sure he does give mention of the one you have shown us. He says :-
“In 1934 Atlas Caravans, of Enfield, launched the remarkable Atlas two. Weighing 6cwt, it had a length of approximately 8ft. and was built of hardboard with a hardwood frame. This small, streamlined van, priced at £75, sold well.

It would have to be the same one eh

I hope you don’t mind me mentioning....I think your taste is improving

Cobber.

[Uncle Joe]

Hi Cobber, and a belated welcome to the forum.

I hope you dont think that I am being cheeky or anything, but is it possible that you could post some photos of your vans interior?

UJ

[Cobber]

G’day Uncle Joe,

Thank you for your interest in my old caravan.
This first photo is looking towards the rear of the van...notice there is no window in the rear although it does have two small windows in each side wall. I call it the adult sleeping quarters, it is also the dining area.
The table, which is in the down positions here, slides up to become the door to gain access to shelves that are hidden from view in this photo by the piece of ply that slides up to hide the shelves while dining, if you wish.


The next photo shows the front “kitchen” area and children’s sleeping quarters
The aluminium cupboard slides out through the side wall and is used as an emergency cooking alcove in the rare event of inclement weather otherwise cooking is done outside, camp style.
I have the feeling that this aluminium cupboard has been a later addition, originally I suspect a gravity feed water tank would have hung in this space on the wall...there is no other water supply, bucket and chuck it is the term used over there I believe
The cream cupboard houses a sink, a couple of draws and an ice box.


The van has no high voltage (240 volt) wiring. There are only two six volt lights in the van. The battery is located under the front seat which converts to two single bunks as shown by the next photo.


Very compact and very primitive by to-days standards but it is my intention to keep it as it is.
Again, thank you for your interest.

Cobber.

[Uncle Joe]

Cobber, there is no need whatsoever to thank me for asking about your van... the only words that I can say is dont ever change it! It is a pearler...a peach...a cherry...a doozy!

UJ

[admin]

a fair dinkum beaut' if you don't mind me saying

fab

Rick

[buzzy bee]

Now I like that caravan interior, basic, I like basic stuff!

Cheers for posting them

Dave