History of Safari Caravans Ltd

[Brian M]

From: Charlie Thompson (Original Message) Sent: 15/08/2004 19:49
Hi, we recently bought two Safari caravans, a 12.2 and a 11.2. We were very impressed by the styling thatmakes them stand out from most other caravans, and we were interested to find out Safari caravans were based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, which is very close to us! What happened to the Safari company anyway?
We're renovating the 11.2, probably to resell next spring - thats if we dont become too attached to it! I am contacting you about the 1979 12.2. We operated the fridge from gas during a camping weekend and we had it on for hours, yet it was barely cooler than the the temparature in the caravan (which wasnt particularly warm). We tried another gas canistor, only to acheive similar effects. Any suggestionsAlso, we fitted the water pipes up and turned the water pump switch on, and only after several minutes of loud whirring did a trickle of water come out. The water flow didnt improve either. Was it because we were running the pump from the battery?
Glad to have found your site

Thanks - Charlie Thompson, age 15







From: Brian Sent: 16/08/2004 07:50
Charlie - Welcome to the group, I think you are our youngest member so far.

To reply to your various questions - The Safari Company was orgininally PEarman Briggs who are still caravan dealers in Stroud. The manufacturing side was bought out in 1968 by Cosalt who also owned the Abbey brand. They continued to make Safaris in Stroud until 1982 when production of the newer design was moved to Hull.

Are you sure your Safari is an 11.2? - I have never heard of this size - Can you let me know the serial numbers of your Safaris for the register.

Your lack of coldness in your fridge on gas can be caused by a variety of problems. First of all is the fridge working at all - if it is a three way, try it on mains electricity to see if the fridge gets cold. If it does you need to check the gas supply this should really be done by an expert. The pressure all the way to the fridge needs to be checked, and the pilot light in the fridge often needs to be cleaned. If the fridge hasn't been used regularly it may need overhauling or replacement.

If your water pump is in good order it should push the water to the taps at a reasonable pressure. Again have you checked the pipework all the way from tank to tap for blockage or kinks. Also try the pump in a bucket connected directly to the 12v battery to see if it is lifting water.

Hope these ideas might help.

Keep in touch

Brian Miller






From: OliverShaw1 Sent: 13/10/2004 02:38
As a new member I have only just seen this message, in the course of browsing, hence the very late reply.

To add to Brian's comments;

1. Pearman Briggs (which some years ago became Pearman Briggs Leisure) are actually at Cheltenham Road, Gloucester; not at Stroud, unless they have a second branch there, and I am not aware of them having one there.

2. I was aware that Safaris had produced an 11 foot van, at some stage before the point at which I became aware of the marque (i.e. before 1974). They also, much earlier in their life, produced the Safari Minor; I have seen photographs of this (including I think one within this Group); very small, and not recognisable - at least externally - as having any family resemblance to the traditional Safaris that we all know and love.

3. I have had similar fridge problems some years ago with the second of my late parents' 14.2s, which were sorted out by the dealer next time the van was serviced, but I understood that all it needed was the jet cleaning. I am currently having the same problem with my present 17/2, and it is on the agenda to sort out.

4. You probably routinely ensure that you get your van level when pitching it, but just in case not (which I mention because I do occasionally see vans pitched where no attempt has been made to level them) it is worth mentioning that these fridges are acutely sensitive to alignment, particularly when running on gas: if the fridge is not reasonably accurately level it won't work.

5. Although I have never had to do it myself, I remember my parents telling me that in the seventies the fridges were a little notorious within the Safari Owners' Club for being temperamental, and that the usual problem was a vapour lock. This would of course prevent it working correctly on both gas and mains. The cure was then to empty the fridge and take it out, turn it upside down for a couple of minutes, and then turn it back the right way up and reinstall it. Apparently it was by no means unknown on a rally for a group of the tame engineeers in the club to announce a "fridge morning" when they would go the rounds of the assembled ralliers doing this job for anyone whose fridge was not working properly.

Certainly I have once successfully used that technique on a similar caravan-type fridge that an elderly and slightly eccentric neighbour was using in his house as his sole domestic fridge.

6. If you do have to take the fridge out there are two jobs that are well worth doing at the same time, both safety-related. One is to fit a high level brake light, and (for an end kitched layout) neat concealment of the wiring is most easily done while the fridge is out. If you feel that a permanently mounted lamp would compromise the originality of the van, consider instead a removeable one placed on the shelf just inside the rear window, and remove it when not towing; while the fridge is out (or otherwise) you can instal on the same shelf a neat and inconspicuous 12V socket wired to the stoplamp circuit to supply it.

The second job is generic to many caravans, not specific to Safaris, and relates to a danger which is surprisingly little-known. Some years ago there was a letter in the Caravan Club magazine drawing attention to the danger of corrosion in the main gas feed pipe at the back of the fridge; the length of pipe that is part of the fridge itself is steel, and once that corrodes far enough you have a gas leak in close proximity to the lit pilot jet. Ouch!! Apparently the writer of that letter found that he had just such a leak, although I don't now remember whether he discovered it before or after a devastating fire. While the fridge is out it is therefore sensible to clean up and repaint that gas pipe.

In the days when I did my own servicing I put this into my standard routine service items, at least to take it out and check it, at three-year intervals. I actually only needed to repaint it once, because I used about three coats of Hammerite, and at every subsequent check it was still in perfect condition.

Yours,



Oliver

[Brian M]

From: Brian (Original Message) Sent: 28/09/2004 10:30
Oliver has sent me another email that I think should be posted in full as it provides some very interesting background to the Company from someone who has been dealing with them for over 30 years.
I have added some comments that are shown in italics in brackets.

Dear Brian,

Although it seems that Pearman Briggs no longer see themselves as having any special involvement with Safaris today, and have disposed of all their old stock of spares, it is nice that there has been absolute continuity of management from the old days and that they still have someone on the staff who is personally involved with the marque. (I received a very curt email from PB when I first started the group just saying they were no longer involved with old Safaris, but their Managing Director passed my email to Gareth who immediately got in touch)
They were of course originally the retail arm of Safari Caravans, and I understand that the Pearman brothers founded the Safari firm. (I knew of Jim Pearman, does anyone know the other brother's name, and who was "Briggs?) At the end of the life of the marque, after production was first moved to Grimsby and then discontinued, there was a management buy-out of Pearman Briggs, and I presume that that was led by Vernon Meadows although I cannot vouch for that since I did not get to know him until a few years later. (Safari Caravans Ltd was bought by the Cosalt Group in 1968, but production was only moved to Grimsby in the early 1980's) By the time I got to know him his Sales Manager was Neville Thompson, and although by then traditional Safari production had ceased some years previously they still maintained a substantial stock of spares, and their senior engineer was one of the workforce who had built Safaris in their heyday. Pearman Briggs were still effectively the country's principal source of both spares and expertise for these vans.

At some stage during the nineties Vernon retired, and Neville then took over the firm, presumably buying out Vernon's interest, and the firm continued to hold a stock of spares. Neville himself owned a very fine Safari 14/2, which he later sold to Ruth Elliott in the late nineties, still in beautiful condition; despite being recently widowed she was at the time still an active member of the Safari Club (as far as I know she is still a member, although I would expect that age and widowhood might now be leaving her less active a member), and when I called in at Pearman Briggs last month her Safari was in for service and repair, sadly now looking somewhat tired and jaded.

At some stage during the nineties, but I cannot now be certain whether it was while Vernon was still there, they recruited onto the sales side a young lad, Andy Baker, one of my late pupils at The King's School. He obviously made good progress, because he stayed with the firm and rose to seniority. When I was there this year I found that Neville had retired a year or two ago, and that Andy had bought the firm.

I gather that John, the senior engineer who had previously built Safaris, has retired, but they have been joined by Gareth Williams who is a keen Safari man and owner of a 12/2 (and a member of this group). He made himself known to me as soon as he saw my 17/2 in their forecourt. I am not sure whether you are free to publish Gareth's professional involvement with the caravan repair business, since I see that he makes no mention of it in his membership details. (Gareth is pleased to provide "inside" knowledge to group members, and continually promotes the group to owners who visit Pearman Briggs.)

Sadly it seems that shortly before Gareth joined the firm they had finally disposed of their remaining stock of Safari spares.

So although they have quite recently ceased to stock Safari spares, they still have continuity of management all the way back to the days when these vans were in production, and they still have a Safari owner on the workshop staff.

An a separate topic, several years ago my brother came across a chap who had stripped out a 17/4 with a view to restoration, and who had then decided that the body was too far gone for the proposed restoration to be viable, so he reluctantly decided to scrap it. At that point Nick, my brother, rescued all the interior woodwork, and later passed it on to me in case it was ever of use as spares for my 17/2. The vast majority of it is still sitting in my garage, as I have not had occasion to use it, although the chest of drawers from the front has found a use at home as a bedside cabinet, and very occasional minor pieces of wood have been reused. As far as I am concerned this is a useful resource which is available to help with any traditional Safari that may need it. (If anyone does need any interior parts, post a message here and Oliver will respond, he lives in Liverpool)
Yours,

Oliver





From: Brian Sent: 16/10/2004 07:18

Hello Brian, Sorry i've not been in touch with group for some time old computer started to play up so had to get a new one. Just been looking at various messages posted on the site message board you wanted to know who the Briggs was. I seem to recall readind something I found on the net when i was trying to find out about Safaris. That Briggs was some connection with Briggs Stratton. Also in the same article there was something a bout Alco cant remeber the details and not sure if I have them any where but if I can track down the information will let you know. Regards and happy Safaring Pat

[Brian M]

From: OliverShaw1 (Original Message) Sent: 12/04/2006 08:02
I have occasionally in previous posts mentioned Ted Billington, one of the "B"s in B&B Trailers (whose chassis our Safaris use), the past Managing Director of the firm and the engineer who designed the chassis.

I used know him through the Safari Caravan Club, although it is nearly ten years since I was last in touch with him, and he was elderly then, so I wondered whether he was still alive. I now understand that he has recently passed away, and although I missed the announcement (I didn't get round to doing anything more than very quickly skimming the magazine) this was reported in the March issue of The Caravan Club Magazine.

The current issue reports a delightful detail. Picture, if you will, the start of his funeral service. The congregation is assembled in the church, and all eyes are on the procession as the coffin is carried into the church and down the aisle.

And there, on the back of the coffin, is a shiny new 50 mm towball!





Oliver



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Recommend Delete Message 2 of 2 in Discussion

From: Brian Sent: 13/04/2006 12:05
While I never knew the gentleman, when I saw the article in the CC mag, I admired his sense of humour - assuming it was on his instructions that the tow ball was fitted to the coffin.

If Ted was buried, just imagine the consternation of the equivalent of "Time Team" in a few hundred years time! They will be hunting for references to people towing coffins!!

Brian Miller

[Brian M]

From: Brian Sent: 02/07/2006 19:49
Thanks Alec

I did say it was a draft - shows how long ago I started writing it! We now have 139 members.

If anyone can add anything their contribution will be acknowledged if or when it ever gets published.

Brian


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Recommend Message 10 of 23 in Discussion

From: ColinCLee Sent: 22/07/2006 13:25
Hi Brian

Don't want to rain on your parade but you did ask for comments.

Your deliberate error, as you well know Cosalt took over in 78 not 68.

I also think that any reference to death duties and company valuation is an invasion of privacy.

Regarding Jim as the company founder, I believe that is incorrect but will obtain confirmation. The article doesn't even mention Tony.

Also the company name was Pearman Briggs Ltd.

Don't yet know who Briggs was.


Regards

Colin


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Recommend Message 11 of 23 in Discussion

From: OliverShaw1 Sent: 22/07/2006 16:47
> Your deliberate error, as you well know Cosalt took over in 78 not 68.

Sorry, but their own literature (i.e. the 1978 Handbook, which I have in front of me as I write) states: "It was in 1968 that the company joined the Cosalt Group, ... "

However it was somewhere between a few months into 1978 and very early 1980 that they changed the front badge from the earlier Safari Caravans badge to the Cosalt one (between serial numbers 78110, which has the earlier badge, and 80002 which has the later one).

Regards,



Oliver


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Recommend Message 12 of 23 in Discussion

From: ColinCLee Sent: 22/07/2006 17:09
Hi Oliver

Will check on that.

I was at the factory many times in the 70's, and rallied with both Tony & Jim.

If Cosalt were involved it was kept very quiet.

But you could be right.

Regards

Colin


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Recommend Message 13 of 23 in Discussion

From: ColinCLee Sent: 22/07/2006 17:31
Oliver

It also reads in the 1978 Handbook page six.

Your caravan is not wired for mains electricity.

My 78 15/4 is.

Colin


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Recommend Message 14 of 23 in Discussion

From: Sylvesteruk1 Sent: 22/07/2006 18:37
Colin,

I believe that no SAFARI caravan ever left the factory wired for mains, yes it may have had a mains hook up supply to the early ZIG POWERPAK or the later ZIG CF5 unit. That was your lot, now through my hands in the last 16 months I have had several 1977.78,79 SAFARI models all with home made connections which was a spur off the mains input to the charger.

All were poorly installed with no fused protection and enough 13amp sockets to equip a four bedroomed house.

The correct way today is to install a Consumer unit with RCD and MCB`s between the input supply socket to the van and then distribute it to the charger, 240 volt lighting and 13 amp sockets as required.

As Oliver will know better then I, caravan sites with mains hook up were few and far between when are our caravans were built.

If the factory ever installed full 240 volt electrics then there would be a standard kit, with say 2 13 amp sockets and 240 volt lighting and mentioned in the brochures.

But what about the fridge, reading the fridge installation manual it states the 240 volt supply should be protected by 5 amp fused switch! Well I have never found that on any SAFARI caravan except now when I re wired my 2 SAFARI caravans.

Mike


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Recommend Message 15 of 23 in Discussion

From: Brian Sent: 22/07/2006 18:42
Re the date for Cosalt take over

I found the following on the internet about three years ago but didn't reference it properly so can't now find the source, but I'll continue looking.

News also broke in 1968 that Cosalt had acquired Pearman Briggs, makers of the super luxury Safari brand. The deal was worth an estimated £180,000 and Safari founder Jim Pearson was also employed where he would put some of his experience into the Abbey models as well. However, despite the take over of the Safari brand, the Safari was still remain at Stroud until the early 80’s when production was finally moved to Grimsby until the brands demise.



It is where I got the Pearson name from that I now accept is wrong.

In Andrew Jenkinsons book "Caravans from 1960" page 50 he writes:

In 1968, Cosalt (the maker of the Abbey) bought Safari to market as its luxury range.Safari was basically left to run as before although the up and coming Tony Hailey from Abbey helped with the transaction

On page 66 he adds

The South Humberside caravan industry was completed when Jim Pearman who had left Cosalt in 1972, started what became a famous Clubman make - Cotswold Coachcraft.

On page 75 he notes:

In the mid 1980's.........Cosalt also closed down the Safari factory in Stroud in an effort to consolidate tourer manufacturer, and moved it to Grimsby launching a wedge shaped Safari to boot which was to mark the end of an Era.

The comment about death duties came from the article by Andrew in Caravan Life Nov 1993

Regarding the change to the Cosalt badge - my latest serial number to carry a "Safari Caravans" badge is 78606.



Please don't apologise for corrections - I have pulled together information from various sources and some of it may well be totally wrong. Only by lots of people making comments will we make sense of it all.

Brian

[Brian M]

The History of Safari Caravans Limited
Adapted by Brian Miller from an article by Andrew Jenkinson that appeared in Caravan Life in November 1993. Photographs provided by David (Mr Knowlsey) Hayes, and from the Classic Safari Enthusiasts Group at groups.msn.com/ClassicSafariCaravanEnthusiasts

Safari caravans were popular in Clubman circles. Long-standing caravanners will remember these vans as traditional coachbuilt tourers, and that the price to pay was a heavy unladen weight requiring a hefty towcar.
To find out more about these classics we must go back 57 years. It was back in 1946-7 that Jim Pearman founded Safari Caravans Limited in a small factory situated in Cainscross, Stroud in Gloucestershire.
The factory was only about 10,000sq.ft in total floor space. Production was limited and only one model was built.
This caravan was of an unusual design, being a small 9ft two berth tourer named the Minor, and with the addition of an awning it could be made into a four berth. Even with this first model, Safaris already had a lantern roof. Photographs show the Minor with only one window on each side. But in a brochure there is a cutaway drawing that shows a three-piece rear window and four roof lights that was subsequently a feature on all larger Safaris.
One of its features was the entrance positioned over the drawbar at the front. The entrance consisted of a pair of double doors that were central and gave the impression of the van being much larger than it was.
Safari began to build larger designs, and it was these that established them a reputation for high quality caravans. On the ALKO website Pearman Briggs are mentioned as being the customer for the first major batch of caravan chassis made by B&B who went on to be the major UK supplier of caravan chassis before being taken over by Alko.

They chose a lantern roof design that was to become a trademark for nearly 40 years. Construction was of a timber frame with an aluminium skin. The chassis used was an all steel welded design made by B&B Trailers. The mainstay of the range was the Safari 4, a 14ft four berth. As with all caravans the 4 was subject to minor changes over the years. Originally the line of the raised lantern roof was carried down the front of the caravan. Probably to reduce building costs this was soon replaced with a one-piece straight front. The door was in front of the axle on the near side. By the late 1950’s Safari were established amongst the clubman sector.

A brochure dated 1957 shows two models, called the Senior and the Super Senior
In 1958 it was decided that an owners club should be set up. The Safari Owners Club is still going strong today, although none of its current members actually owns a Safari!
As demand grew, so production was stepped up and this became more difficult in the Cainscross factory. This meant that larger premises had to be found so that production could be increased. Safari’s aim was to produce quality caravans and sound designs.
Eventually a new factory was found in Bowbridge, also near Stroud. This building at the rear of the British Oak, in London Road, Bowbridge, was known as The Eagle Brewery, and had also been used as a carpet works. It was later demolished and flats now occupy the site.
The factory had to be totally revamped to produce caravans. The new factory was over twice as large as the old one. Safari had now got 23,000sq ft of space. The job of organising the factory was left to works manager Gwyn Jenkins who spent 12 months getting everything ready for caravan production.
Mr Jenkins had been with Safari for nearly ten years, and had brought from his previous job a wealth of experience of factory management. He had gained his know-how from a coachbuilding firm in Coventry. With a staff of 40 men he could now turn out seven vans a week in total.
The photographs below show the spacious new production areas,
As the approach of a new decade came closer, Safari decided to give the design a major revamp. After nearly ten years of only basic changes the new Safari came to light in 1962. This shape kept the lantern roof, but used distinctive curved front side windows. These added to the flowing contours of the van, it also meant that the windows were unique to Safari.
The design was to last twenty years, with only minor changes to the exterior. The front window treatment went through several changes. Starting as a three piece, by 1966 it was a two piece with a central divide and finally, in the seventies, a fixed one piece window. The contrasting side stripe started with a drop at the rear but had disappeared by 1966 when a contrasting panel at window height was standardised. The side stripe under the windows returned in 19## and remained to the end of the production. On the new model the door had moved to the rear and had a distinctive round top that was only replaced with a square top in 19##.
In common with other Clubman manufacturers the basic design was applied to a wide range of sizes and by 1966 a 13ft two, three and four berths, a 15ft two, three and four berths, and the massive 17ft four berth were offered.
In 1968 a 13/2 was priced at £617, a 13/3 - £615, a 13/4 – 654, a 15/2 - £828, a 15/3 - £750, a 15/4 - £828, and the 17/4 - £899.
Two berth models had a rear kitchen and washroom, with various designs of cocktail cabinet and wardrobe in the centre, and two beds separated by a chest of drawers at the front. On four berths the kitchen moved to the centre on the nearside with the washroom opposite. A single dinette that converted to a single bed was placed across the rear of the caravan with a removable bunk above it. These interior changes resulted in a variety of window positions. Those with a side kitchen had extra side windows and a one piece window across the rear.
Throughout the life of the “classic” Safari, the interiors were constructed of high quality materials. No thin plastic laminates for the doors, all are framed in real wood, with effective metal catches and attractive handles. Standard equipment included a fridge, and Carver heater. To re-inforce the up-market image all were built with a cocktail cabinet, some of which had glass doors. The cabinet was lined in velvet and contained 12 glasses, each engraved with the Safari logo. These are now much sought after by current owners.
The Company seemed to be a good training ground for those with ambitions to own their own caravan manufacturing company. The Royale Caravan Company Ltd started production in Upton Street, Gloucester in 1969. It was the brainchild of two gentlemen who had that broken away from the Safari Caravan Company, Mr. Fudge and Mr. Woodward, they designed a luxury caravan and named it "Royale". Also in 1969, Fred Vowles left Safari and along with a Mr Alan Blick started the Compass Caravan Company. This was a short-lived venture and ceased trading one year later.
A few years later Gwyn Jenkins, the Works Manager previous mentioned as the planner of the new factory left Safari in 1973 and started Cotswold Coachcraft.
Two other manufacturers based their shapes on the classic Safari lines. One was the Irish make with the Pullvan range and the other the short-lived original Compass clubman van. As these makes fell by the wayside, Safari prospered.
Another successful manufacturer in the 1960’s, the Humber Caravan Group, part of the Cosalt group of companies, was later to be re-named Abbey. In 1968 Cosalt acquired Pearman Briggs, and with the takeover the rights to the Safari brand. The deal was worth an estimated £180,000 and Safari founder Jim Pearson was also employed where he would put some of his experience into the Abbey models as well. It was said at the time that the takeover saved Safari from closure due to high death duties. Despite the take over of the Safari brand, the factory remained at Stroud until the early 80’s when production was finally moved to Grimsby.
The Classic safari design was finally replaced in 1981 with the launch of the XL range, but these were Safaris in name only. The last caravan to carry the name was launched in 1985, built on the lines of an Abbey Executive.
Even celebrities appreciated the quality of Safari Caravans. Nothing is known about this publicity shot showing John Noakes and Shep from Blue Peter. I have written to his current agent to see if John has any recollection of the circumstances, perhaps he was an owner?
A Safari caravan featured in the video for Robbie's 2000 hit Love Supreme, in which the star played the part of a racing driver competing against Jackie Stewart. In the video, original footage of the famous racing driver in the Sixties was put together with footage of Robbie to tell the tale of the rise and fall of a would be champ.
During the video, the singer is seen sitting in the two berth caravan and on its steps. He even slept in the bed. Just before the start of the last and deciding race of the World Championship, Robbie is seen taking a toilet roll into the smallest room of the Safari. His Manager checks inside the caravan and seeing no-one, locks the door. Defying belief, Robbie doesn’t try the interior door handle, nor open any of the windows and so making him miss the race which could have resurrected his flagging racing career.
A 19 year old Robbie Williams fan Gemma Willmer from Sussex bought the Safari from Brighton based classic car dealer Gerry Wadman, who owned the caravan. It was advertised at the Goodwood Revival Meeting where it was spotted by Gemma’s mother. After two months of saving, Gemma finally had enough to buy the caravan, for £695. Gemma said: "When she came home and told me I thought she was having me on. We came to have a look to make sure it really was the right one and I decided I had to have it. "I am so excited because I am a big fan. My friend Theresa Collins and I must be the biggest fans in Britain. I just think he's dead good”
I have a copy of the video that is available on CD to anyone interested for £2.00 including postage.
It seems that Pearman Briggs did not export any Safari Caravans, but I have tracked down one in Northern California that was taken there by its English owners, and is still in regular use. There is also a rumour of one being seen in South Africa but this has yet to be confirmed. At the European Classic Caravan Rally in Belgium in 2004, I found a 1979 12-2 that had been abandoned by its English owners at a campsite in Holland. It was purchased by a Dutch couple who totally rebuilt the front end without ever having seen another Safari.
When I purchased my 1978 Safari 14-2, in March 2003, I was disappointed to find virtually no information on the Internet about Safari Caravans. Encouraged by another owner, I started an internet group for Safari enthusiasts that has grown in nine months to 31 members. If you are a past or present owner of any model of Safari caravan, you are welcome to join, just log on to groups.msn.com/ClassicSafariCaravanEnthusiasts.

[Deleted]

Celebrities owning Safaris:

While I was living in Gloucestershire and looking for a Safari for my parents, to replace their utterly disastrous brand new Abbey 215GT, I had a look over one for sale at Pearman Briggs which had originally been owned by Princess Margaret. There was of course no evidence as to whether she had ever spent a night in it.

I don't think that was the one that we eventually bought for my parents, but I can't remember why. It may be that it had fallen into neglect, in which case we would not have been interested. But it may alternatively have been the absolutely superb one bought for his own use by the then owner of the firm, Neville Thompson, in which case it was clearly not available to us.

But certainly there was one Safari temporarily on their forecourt, with the story that it had originally been owned by HRH.




Oliver