Glider Caravans. (Tasmania )

[Richard]

Glider Caravans Pty Ltd.
G. T. Bridgborn

173 Invermay Road. Launceston. Tasmania ( click on address for location.)
Just a bit of a side note. The house shown on the google map is more than likely Mr Bridgeborns original house.

I came across this little Glider Caravans ad while researching for something else. It looks as though the business started building caravans in 1937 and I cant find much more about them after 1941. Which could mean they closed during the war period and didnt start up again afterwoods.

[Richard]

I little 1938 ad for Glider caravans. Its interesting that this ad appeared in May of that year, and the ad states that if you order now your van will be ready for spring.

[Richard]

Another 1938 ad which has a nice little picture showing the shape of the van, with the main feature being the " Lantern roof ".

[Richard]

A 1938 ad which shows that Mr Bridgeborn had moved into the caravan hire field as well.

[Richard]

Two more Glider Caravan ads from 1939.
The first one is for Hiring a Glider.

[Richard]

I found this 1936 article about Mr George T bridgborn setting off on a tour of all states ( except WA ) in a caravan that he built for himself on the back of a 30 cwt truck ( 1.5 ton ). This tour is what must have motivated Mr Bridgborn to start his own caravan building company in 1937.

[Richard]

Well it has taken me a while but here is a 1936 photo of the motor caravan that Mr G T Bridgborn took on his tour of all states.

[Richard]

Another ad for Glider Caravans from City Motors, which shows they are the sole distributors of Glider Caravans in Tasmanian .

And finally a 1936 photo of Mr and Mrs Bridgeborn of Glider Caravans.

[Richard]

A 1938 photo of a Glider caravan, which looks to be a similar caravan as the one in the ad second from the top. The hand draw caravan does have a lantern roof, but they both heve the very unusual curved front/side window, as well as the Glider 2 tone colour scheme.

[Richard]

This little 1938 article shows that Mr G T Bridgborn also produced the first commercial caravan ( listed here as a sales caravan ) to be used in Tasmania.