Romany Road Caravans.

[Richard]

Romany Road Caravans.
Head Office. 361 Collins St.Melbourne (click on address for location.)
Factory. 385 City Road. South Melbourne
Showroom. 518 Dandenong Road. Carnegie.

1938 ad for the grand opening of the Romany Road Caravans showroom.

[Richard]

[Richard]

Some lucky new Chevrolet owner from Preston Motors won this Romany Road Caravan.
I wonder who it was ?

The ad below is for a Romany Road Caravan that was used for a marathon ride from Melbourne to Sydney on a Malvern Star Tricycle.

[Richard]

The 1938 Romany Road abridged Prospectus.

It is interesting to note that they purchased the assets and goodwill from Wilsons Holiday Caravans Pty Ltd and they also purchased the assets and goodwill from Victorian Caravan Services (another caravan hire co) at some stage as well.

[griffin]

Here's a further advertisement for "Romany Road" from the 1938 Australian Caravan Magazine & Log Manual.
It was a pretty flashy outfit going by the list of inclusions, apart from the usual stuff there was a cocktail bar, 5-valve radio, shower and toilet, all the mod cons.

Wonder what became of them?
George

[griffin]

Just when I think it's safe to stay out of the Library something new turns up. My brother recently found some copies of the Garage and Service Station Gazette among his hoardings. A Victorian publication it would appear which has some advertising for Romany Road caravans.

These two are from 1937 editions and show that they had their finger on the pulse of what was a burgeoning industry. Both advertisements concentrate on promoting dealerships rather than anything to do with the caravans themselves. History proves they were right in their predictions, pity they don't seem to have survived the war with their stylish and advanced caravans.

I wonder if any photos of their display at the 1937 International Motor Show survive??

More to follow I'm told.

George

[griffin]

Here is some more Romany Road advertising.

This smaller van does not appear to have the lantern roof of the larger ones.

And there's something else to look for now, a brochure on the "Romany Road" Caravan Club!!

Does anyone have one?

George

[griffin]

I found an advert for Plume petrol while 'Troving' recently dated 21-12-1938 which featured an actual photograph of a caravan and car, and it has been posted under Caravan Advertising in the Library, but I thought the detail image should be posted here too as the van featured is a Romany Road, although not identified as such.
This photo compliments the one used in a Romany Road advertisement, posted earlier by Richard, but it taken from the opposite side and shows lots of detail, the little vent opened in the side of the lantern roof for instance. The earlier photo was also used in an article in The Argus (Melb) 3-12-1938 about the Buchan Valley and caves, extolling the virtue of caravanning to such places. It would seem the photos were taken on the same outing, and look at the size of those gum trees!

George

[Richard]

1937 vintage caravan ad for Romany Road Caravans.

WOW wouldn't mind one of these huge vans for the museum.