Holland Coachcraft

[DVF]

Anyone ever heard of them?

I have become increasingly interested in this company from the 1930's, they were a coachbuilders located somewhere in Scotland. They designed Art Deco style streamline vans.

I've not been to the Transport Museum or anywhere else yet, just looked on the internet, which has absolutely no info on this company at all, just Dinky models (I've got one of those).

Any suggestions for people to talk to or places to go?

Ta,

[viceroy]

There used to be a large laundry near Anniesland Cross called the Castlebank Laundry which operated a fleet of distinctive streamlined vans during the 1930's. Maybe they were built by this company. I came across a picture of these vans about a year ago - can't offhand remember the name of the book but it may have been "Wheels Around Glasgow" by Robert Grieves. Your local library may have a copy, you could probably get it from Amazon or direct from the publishers Stenlake Publishing : http://www.stenlake.co.uk. Cost about £8.00. Stenlake seem to specialise in this sort of thing so they might even be able to point you in the right direction if you ask them. Sounds like one for transport buffs. Maybe the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum can help.

[AMcD]

Castlebank

http://www.hiddenglasgow.com/forums/vie ... =140#23272

[Fossil]

Castlebank

http://www.hiddenglasgow.com/forums/vie ... =140#23272

yer memorys better
than me AmcD

Fossil

[DVF]

That's them



The bus museum's a good idea as there was a bus version too.

Notice the fourth van back. This must have been one of the earlier versions, it's got the small windows front and side. These vans were slated at first for their poor visibility so window size was increased as seen by the later version behind and later again in front. There's also a really old one right at the back.

[Apollo]

Forgot to mention the main detail listed, relevant to the question, as these were Albion vans.

I must say I've never come across Holland, or any reference to them in any literature or sites that I frequent, and that's after quite a few years invovlement in Classic and Vintage vehicles. Their name certainly doesn't pop up in any of the mainstream info sources.

I'll hunt around, but you might have found something too small to be generally available, and need to dig up a real specialist.

[DVF]

They're becoming popular again in the model world:

http://spacroftmodels.co.uk/holland_coachcraft_van.htm

Apparently Collars of Wembley was their biggest customer, to the extent that Holland had to subcontract the design to local London coachbuilders.

The vans probably would have been Albion based. From what I've gathered so far Holland were coachbuilders only.

[viceroy]

Happened to be in Hillhead at lunchtime so popped into the library there and found a pictorial history of Albion Motors. It contains a picture showing a line-up of these Castlebank Laundry vans and the caption confirms that Holland Coachcraft made the bodies, however it states that the company was based in Gateshead which obviously makes them English rather than Scottish.

The vans were Albion B119 models which were introduced in 1935.


There is an Albion clubs website with a couple of email addresses on the contacts page so maybe this will get you somewhere:
http://www.albion-trust.org.uk

[DVF]

I wouldn't discard the Gateshead link, I was only told third hand that they were based in Scotland.

I emailed The Albion Vehicle Preservation Trust so we'll see what turns up.

Just out of curiosity, was the picture in the library the same as the one posted here? The picture here is the first real proof I've seen that the vans did actually exist and weren't just a figment if Dinky's imagination.

[viceroy]

Different picture but the same location and [I think] the same 8 vans lined up, but taken from a slightly different angle and a bit more close up.

[johnnyanglia]

I loved the vans. What a great bit of Art Deco styling. I think a lot of coachbuilders had a lot of free reign about the designs they put on the back of chassis in times gone by. Even though some of them were quite prolific the records they kept were usually woeful. I love 50's 60's Fords and a lot of conversions were done by in their day by quite famous coachbuilders. Unfortunately much of the original records are now lost. Therefore nobody knows details like range of styles, production numbers etc. I fear this may also apply to Holland coachcraft. There is a mag available from WH Smith dedicated to classic buses and trucks. I subscribe to the sister mag "Classic van and pick up"(Yes it really does exist !). I would recommend a look through and a letter to this mag.

[johnnyanglia]

In the latest issue of "Classic van and pick up" there is an advert for "The Holland Coachcraft Story". It features a model and book for a mere! £99. The web address is http://www.ccsales.net.

[DVF]

A hundred sheets for a little model

Not for me. Wouldn't mind a look at the book though.

[johnnyanglia]

My sentiment exactly. I would want the real thing at that price. And i must admit i would definately not say no to the real thing !