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| In alphabetical order Berkeley come first, and their new Statesman model is also the most noticeable as the Earls Court visitor fights his way to the caravans. It is a two-storey caravan home. Thanks to the extra space upstairs there are two permanent bedrooms without using the lounge. Note the way in which height is saved by using the inside of the upper bedstead as headroom for the children’s bedroom downstairs. End kitchen, chemical lavatory, shower bath and heating stove are other major features in a comprehensive home. |
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Brush Coachwork Ltd. are newcomers to the show and are presenting two living vans. The Falcon has a main living room which contains a foldaway double bed and two singles. The end kitchen has a hot and cold water supply and the van is fitted with gas lighting and electric mains. The Kittyhawk is a cheaper van with the same layout.
For those who can pay higher prices, Burlingham show two living vans, the Windermere and Langdale, of superb workmanship. The former is the larger, the latter the more luxurious in its appointments. Potential caravanners will notice the quality and comfort, but old hands will recognise that these vans are very practical.
Following their new holiday van, the Clubman Major (see test report in this issue), Car Cruisers show a slightly larger end kitchen version, the Clubman E.K. This is a highly mobile all-purpose van, with front end kitchen and toilet room. It is suitable for use at all seasons. Their Mayfair model, now with kitchen at the front end, is increased in size and comfort. It is an all-the-year-round van still planned as an efficient road vehicle.
The Colonial V, shown by Carlight, with two slightly different layouts, is one of the most expensive vans in the Show. It is the product of 14 years continuous development, and combines the latest ideas in mobile home conveniences with the best features of traditional design. Notice the very workable kitchen and the way in which the single beds slope by day to give the best angles for lounging.
The Car Trailers Countess belongs to the popular class of family holiday van, but at a slightly higher price offers the distinctive features of a lantern roof and a large opening flap at the dining room end, giving a sun loggia effect. One of the two Countesses exhibited shows how it can be used as a six-berth, with two extra stretcher type bunks.
Cheltenham show four models—the Elk, a large living van at a modest price, the Eland, a deluxe living and touring van, the Antelope, a low priced family holiday van, and the new Deer. This meets the rather neglected need for a really light touring van for two people with the built-in toilet room normally found only in much bigger vans.
Two distinctive Warwick Knights made by Coventry Steel are on show, one being without its roof so that visitors can walk round a bridge structure and inspect its luxurious interior. This living van has an end single bed with a bath underneath, a double bed settee and a dinette—five berths in all. The end kitchen is curtained off from the lounge.
B. Dixon-Bate Ltd. are showing light trailers, towing brackets and caravan chassis.
The Eccles Adventure is quite new, a practical living van but meant for full mobility. It has a body rather like that of the 1951 Advance, but the layout is new and the interior has been stepped up in finish. Notice the centre toilet room accessible from either bedroom and the clever beds. The single beds make easy chairs and the main part of the double folds away, complete with bedding, but leaving a settee for daytime. The Eccles Alert holiday van is continued with minor improvements and it can be had also in deluxe form with veneered walls, carpet strip, and full cooker.
The single beds are at the front and the double at the rear in the Adventure, and not vice versa, as stated in error in the October Caravan.
The Ensor Wrekin, a 16ft. Touring van first introduced in 1935, returns to the show with its folding kitchen extension 8 ft. x 4 ft. x 6 ft. 3 ins. The folding toilet compartment is attached to the caravan and kitchen with a separate entrance door from the outside. Sleeping arrangements are two singles and a dinette double bed. The medium priced light Four, a centre kitchen touring van, is the second model on view.
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A new deluxe version of the popular, low priced Family Resident is on show for the first time, by Fairholme. This six-berth living van has a semi-rotating blister which extends from the side of the van making the toilet room. The extra space allows a layout with an end bedroom with a concealed bath, a roomier kitchen and the lounge similar to the Standard, with its drop down double bed.
Fairholme also have a very light folding model, the Wanderer, for small cars.
Newcomer in the Flyte series by Glider is the deluxe four berth with solid fuel stove and hot water tank. A test of this van will be reported next month. There is also the low priced standard model with one double and two single beds, and the 9 ft. Touring two berth.
Jubilee are showing their successful Dragonfly Magna living van. There have been several changes in layout. The foldaway double bed has been moved from the offside to the nearside, the cooker and sink have changed places in the kitchen which is separated from the lounge by a sliding door.
The Invader Junior, a touring van, has been introduced by Kingston. It has a centre kitchen, double bed/settee and two single beds on either side of the table. The well known Invader Senior living van is not greatly changed. |
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The success of both Paladin models means that they are shown at Earls Court without any change. The Denizen living van has a separate bathroom, next to the kitchen and a drop down double bed in the large saloon. Instead of the Wisdom touring van, Paladin are showing a new 15 footer, the Nomad, which sells at £525. It has a rear end kitchen with a Junior General cooker and the sleeping arrangements are a double-dinette and a settee/double bed or two single beds.
Pilot are introducing a new deluxe living van, the Pegasus with a chassis which will stand up to the worst Continental roads. The makers introduce an end bedroom, but retain the spaciousness of their Panther by making the beds two-tier bunks. Also in this room are a wash basin, toilet and bath, the latter under the bottom bunk. There is a choice of two singles or a double bed/settee in the main saloon. |
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| The latest living van of the Raven range on show at their stand is the Ascot with centre sitting room, front end kitchen and rear end bedroom. A shower bath with its own pump is in the toilet room. Other popular models which can be seen are the 18 ft. Living van Cottage, the 14 ft. 4 in. Castle, recently tested in The Caravan, and the 10 ft. Mignon. |
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| The Sunray and Sunbeam Rollalong models have only small modifications for 1952. These have been among the most successful of vans inspired by small flats rather than traditional caravan styles. Separate kitchen and house-type bathroom lead off the lounge, which has a centrally placed fire. The Sunbeam has two single beds or a double at the rear end, with two armchairs in the main lounge, cleverly converting into single beds. The Sunray has a foldaway double bed. |
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Siddall are noted for quality touring vans suitable for all seasons, for example the medium size Rainbow and the larger Morning Mist. Now comes the Four Winds which, while keeping the Siddall characteristics, is longer and wider. It has a solid fuel stove, separate end kitchen toilet room and bath. The exterior panelling is Masonite hardboard and both walls and roof are fibreglass insulated.
The Thomson programme was not revealed in time for our October reports. Its high spot is a new 17 ft. living van, the Clyde. This has a centre kitchen with cold water tank and gas heater, gas cooker and solid fuel stove. Two single beds and a double form the sleeping arrangements. Layout of their residential Braemar, with its open fire, remains the same as last year with the addition of a settee over the near side wheel arch. A different roof construction alters the external appearance. The Almond touring van has improved ventilation and storage accommodation.
Willerby are showing a revised version of their low-priced, centre kitchen living van, the Home and the 12 ft. 6in. Junior touring van. A report of the new models they are introducing and showing outside Earls Court will appear next month.
The famous luxury Winchester models on show are the two-berth 14ft. Special with lantern roof, end kitchen and toilet compartment and an 18ft. two- room Royal, and 21ft.three-room Royal. All are distinguished by the quality by the quality of their materials and high class finish. |
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Berkeley (Stand 186)
Statesman. 22 ft. x 7 ft. 6 ins., living van. Upstairs bedroom, front end kitchen, lounge, toilet room, shower, end bedroom. One double and two single beds. Price £1,065.
Brush (Stand 190) falcon. 22 ft. x 7 ft. 6 ins., living van. End kitchen, toilet and bathroom, lounge. Drop down double bed and two single beds. Price £790.
Kittyhawk. 20 ft. x 7 ft. 6 ins. living van. End kitchen, toilet room, lounge. Drop down double bed and two single beds. Price £599.
Burlingham (Stand 184)
Windermere. 22 ft. x 7 ft. 6 ins., deluxe living van. End kitchen, toilet and bathroom, lounge.
One double bed/settee, two single beds. Price £1,395. |
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Langdale. 18 ft. 6 ins. x 6 ft. 9| ins., deluxe living and touring van. End kitchen, toilet room, lounge. One double bed/settee, two single beds. Price £1,395.
Car Cruiser (Stand 175)
Mayfair. 18 ft. 6 ins. x 7 ft. 6 ins., living and touring van. End kitchen, toilet room, lounge. One double bed/settee, two single beds.
Clubman E.K. 16 ft. x 7 ft. 4 ins., touring van. End kitchen, toilet room, lounge. One double bed/settee and one dinette/double bed.
Carlight (Stand 172) |
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Colonial V. 22 ft. x 7 ft. 2 ins., deluxe living van. End kitchen, toilet room and shower, lounge. Type A—double bed/settee and chair, two singles. Type B—drop down double bed and two single beds. Price £1,675.
Car Trailers (Stand 177)
Countess. 14 ft. 3 ins. x 6 ft. 3 ins., touring van. Centre kitchen, sunflap. One double and two singles or two double beds. Price £450.
Countess Special. As above with the addition' of two single stretcher bunks. Price £475.
Cheltenham (Stand 169)
Elk. 20 ft. x 7 ft. 5 ins., living van. End kitchen, toilet and bathroom, lounge. Drop down double bed, three single beds. Price £695.
Eland. 17 ft. 5 in. x 7 ft. 2 in. living and touring van. End kitchen, toilet room. One double and two single beds. Price £825.
Antelope. 15 ft. x 6 ft. 5 in., touring van. Centre kitchen, two double beds. Price £415.
Deer. 12 ft. x 6 ft. 5 in. touring van. End kitchen, toilet room. Two single beds. Price £345.
Coventry Steel (Stand 189)
Warwick Knight. 22 ft. x 7 ft. 6ins., deluxe living van. End kitchen, toilet room, bath. lounge. Dinette/double bed, double bed/settee, one single bed. Roof sun deck extra. Price £1,760. |
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B. Dixon Bate (Stand 170)
Caravan chassis, trailers, boat trailer and towing brackets.
Eccles (Stand 188)
Adventure. 18 ft. x 7 ft., living and touring van. Centre kitchen, toilet room, lounge. One double or two single beds and one drop down double bed. Price £850.
Alert Mark III. 14 ft. x 6 ft. 6 ins., touring van. Central kitchen. One double and two single beds, or two double. Price £380.
Ensor (Stand 180)
1Vrekin. 16 ft. 6 in. x 6 ft. 5 in., touring van. Centre kitchen, toilet room. One dinette/ double bed, two single beds. Price £625.
Light Four-berth. 13 ft. 6 in. x 6 ft. 5 ins., touring van. Centre kitchen. One dinette/ double bed, two single beds. Price £360.
Fairholme (Stand 187)
Family Resident deluxe. 22 ft. x 7 ft. 6 ins., living van. Centre kitchen. Toilet room extension, bath, Lounge. One drop down double bed or single bed in end bedroom, one drop down double bed and one double bed settee. Price £950.
Wanderer. 8 ft. x 4 ft. 10 in. (folded), 6 ft. 5 in. (expanded) folding touring van. Portable hot plate. One double bed, one child’s single bed. Price £250.
Glider (Stand 176)
Flyte. 15 ft. 3 in. x 6 ft. 6 in., touring van. Centre kitchen. One double and two single beds. Price £340.
Flyte deluxe. As above with solid fuel stove. One double bed settee, one dinette double bed. Price £399 10s.
Flyte two berth. 9 ft. x 5 ft. 9 in., touring van. I end kitchen, two single beds. Price £2l2.
Jubilee (Stand 185)
Dragonfly Magna. 20 ft. 3 ins. x 7 ft. 4 ins.,
living van. End kitchen, toilet room and bath, One drop down double bed, two single beds. Price £815.
Kingston (Stand 178)
Invader Senior. 20 ft. x 7 ft. 6 ins., living van. End kitchen, toilet room, lounge. Two double bed/settees. Price £850.
Invader Junior. 14 ft. x 6 ft. 6 ins., touring van. Centre kitchen. Double bed/settee, two single beds. Price £595. |
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Paladin (Stand 179)
Denizen. 20 ft. x 7 ft. 6 in., living van. End kitchen, toilet and bathroom, lounge. One drop down double bed and two single beds. Price £675.
Nomad. 15 ft. 6 in. x 6 ft. 9 in., touring van. End kitchen, dinette/double bed and two single
beds or one double bed/settee.
Pilot (Stand 182)
Pegasus. 22 ft. x 7 ft. 4 ins., deluxe living van. Centre kitchen, toilet room, bath, end bedroom, lounge. Four single beds or double bed/settee and two singles. Price £985.
Raven (Stand 168)
Ascot. 22 ft. x 7 ft. 6 in., living van. End kitchen, toilet room, shower, lounge. Drop down double bed and two single beds. Price £850.
Cottage. 18 ft. x 7 ft. 6 in., living van. End kitchen, toilet room and shower, lounge. One double and two single beds. Price £565. Castle. 14 ft. 4 in. x 6 ft. 6£ in., touring van. Centre kitchen. Dinette/double bed, two singles or one double bed. Sunflap. Price £470.
Mignon. 10 ft. x 6 ft. 6 in., touring van. End kitchen. One double bed/dinette and one single bed. Price £290. Rollalong (Stand 171)
Sunbeam. 22 ft. x 7 ft. 3 ins., living van. End kitchen, toilet and hath, lounge. One drop down double bed and two single beds. Price £980.
Sunray. 22 ft. x 7 ft. 3 ins., living van. End kitchen, toilet room and bath, lounge. One drop down double bed, two single beds or one double. Price £980 |
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Siddall (Stand 173)
Four Winds. 19 ft. 6 ins. x 7 ft. 6 ins., living van. End kitchen, toilet room and bath, lounge. One double bed and two single beds. Price £950.
Morning Mist. 17 ft. 4 ins. x 6 ft. 8 in., touring van. End kitchen, toilet room. Double bed/settee and dinette/double bed. Price £850.
Rainbow. 15 ft. 7 ins. x 6 ft. 8 ins., touring van. End kitchen, toilet room. One double bed settee and two single beds or a double. Price £665.
Thomson (Stand 183)
Braemar. 22 ft. x 7 ft. 6 ins., living van. End kitchen, toilet and bathroom, lounge, end bedroom. Drop down double bed and two single beds. Price £750.
Clyde. 17 ft., living or touring van. Centre kitchen. One double and two single beds Price £560.
Almond. 14 ft. x 6 ft. 6 ins., touring van.
Centre kitchen. Double bed/dinette and two single beds. Price £385.
Willerby (Stand 191)
Home. 22 ft. x 7 ft. 6 ins., living van. Centre kitchen, toilet room. Dinette double bed, two
single beds. Planet central heating extra. Price £499 10s.
Junior. 12 ft. 6 ins. x 6 ft. 3 ins., touring van. Centre kitchen. One settee double bed and one
dinette double bed. Price £245.
Winchester (Stand 174)
Special. 14 ft. x 6 ft. 9 ins., deluxe touring van. End kitchen, toilet room. Two single or one double bed. Price £1,250.
Royal. 18 ft. x 7 ft., deluxe living van. End kitchen, toilet room and shower. One drop down double bed and two singles or one double bed. Price £1,675.
Royal. 21 ft. x 7 ft., deluxe living van. End kitchen, shower and toilet room. Dinette/double bed and two singles or a double bed. Price £2,160. |
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