Wolfenden Caravans.

[Richard]

Wolfenden Bros. Caravans.
Footscray. Victoria.

[Richard]

A photo from Lost Melbourne Facebook page showing a late 1930's Wolfenden caravan.

[griffin]

Interesting van Richard, lovely stylish shape and paint style. Does it have a door towards the rear? Seems like it. Also very low to the ground with that curved drawbar, clever idea, the whole thing seems very advanced.
The old A Ford probably could tow it ok, wonder how the anchors were though.

George

[Richard]

Hi George.
Yes the door is towards the rear, which is very unusual for a caravan of this vintage. The picture in the first post also shows the same door style and position. Iam not real sure about the up swept draw bar? It was a common thing to do in the early days, even in the late 40's Keith Winser was recommending this style of draw bar.

[griffin]

Pity none seem to survive, I should think they would have been well built given Wolfenden's were suppliers of woodworking machinery.
While searching on Trove I found this little advert for them in a General Motors Holden's supplement in The Argus, 6 November, 1936 to mark the opening of the new GMH factory at Fishermen's Bend.

Wolfenden GMH - The Argus supp 1936-11-6.jpg (49.88 KiB) Viewed 754 times

GMH were moving to all steel bodies but I guess there was still plenty to keep the machinery occupied until after the war at least.

George

[griffin]

This advertisement from Table Talk magazine 20-5-1937 as part of a review of exhibits at the 1937 International Motor Show in Melbourne.

1937-5-20 Table Talk - Wolfenden.jpg (193.98 KiB) Viewed 513 times

It appears to be identical to the van in the photo previously posted but with the Wolfenden trademark scroll on the side.
Maybe the one in the photo had been repainted at some time?

George