One of the vintage caravan topics I have been investigating lately is some of the history of the Jennison Road Cruiser, with the 1935 patent listed in the previous page.
I originallly came across the following photos last year and it has taken me this long to do a little bit of research on the owner and finalise this post.
So who was William Pidgeon? Well he was a very talented Australian artist who's paintings one many awards including the Archibald prize 3 times, so he was no average painter.
The following photos belong to the William Edwin Pidgeon Estate.
May-June 1937. WEP (Bill Pidgeon) and wife, Jess and their dog, Dawn, made their home here for about 5 weeks during a 6 month tour around New South Wales and SE Queensland. "Arrived Jindabyne about 12. Have never realised what a cheerless place it was. Have always seen it through the roseate eyes of holiday merry making. Couldn’t find a blade of grass within a mile of the official centre. Finally wedged way onto only square of grass in district. Alongside Snowy River and amidst countless wild briars, all red-berried and leafless. Designated parking ground seems to be the local football area bordered with shallow creeks full of tins and broken crockery. No grass, colour key of this place is grey, endless and monotonous." - W.E. Pidgeon
William Pidgeon and Dawn.
Lennie Lower with Jess Pidgeon at the camp site on the Snowy River at Jindabyne
Lennie Lower having a smoke.
Jess Pidgeon and Dawn.
Jess Pidgeon boils up a billy on the camp stove whilst Lennie Lower surveys the snowy scene
Jess Pidgeon and Dawn
Jess Pidgeon and Dawn.
Dawn.
Campsite at Jindabyne.
Lennie Lower with Jess Pidgeon at the camp site on the Snowy River at Jindabyne.
The day we left Jindabyne.
Bylong Valley.
It can be seen that William Pidgeon took a huge number of photos of what I believe to be a Jennison Road Cruiser (pop top) caravan. The caravan has just about an identical shape of the other Road Cruisers shown in the post, other than the Duck tail rear end, with all of the others having a rear end that rolls under.
In photo WEP 4 a small plaque can be seen at the bottom left of the door but unfortunately its not clear enough to read it.
Photo WEP 8 shows a clear shot of the sides of the pop top and the 4 corner supports that hold it. Which can also be seen in the patent diagrams.
Photo WEP 11 is the only photo of the Road Cruiser pop top down ready for travel.
It is also very important to note that the " pop top" seems to be a solid structure that simply lifts up and is supported on the 4 corner pipes, and not a roof that lifts up and the 4 side panels fold up to form the pot top sides.
Click
HERE to have a look at the full history of Willian Pidgeon.
And Click
HERE for his 1937 caravan journal.
