Screenshot images from Tinker to Traveller, a documentary about “Two Californian anthropologists who spent a year living with the travelers on a Dublin site in 1970 return to Ireland to learn what has happened in the intervening years.”
Tag: vardo
Yes, Please
What a nice little setup found while searching images on my computer. Maybe from Lost Arts Press?
Revisited
I will always love this photo of us that Chuck took back in 2011.
Adding Windows
Finally, I’m getting around to adding side windows to the Vardo. I’ve wavered for a long time as to whether this was what I wanted. In the end, the ventilation and view won out. Many decisions needed to be made. What kind of opening, size, materials, etc. In the end, I chose reclaimed oak as it is very stable, strong, easy to work with, and looks good.
This isn’t a high-tech, double-glazed thermal window. It is a simple square frame of oak around a Lexan pane with a simple, chromed piano hinge and a nice brass casement window mechanism.
The discolored oak is visible here as I didn’t bother to remove the patina from the parts that will be invisible once installed.
I am sometimes criticized here for not giving enough of the remedial steps when building something new… So here it goes:
How to install a window into your Vardo.
First, choose where the window will be placed. I have kept this spot in mind from the beginning and have kept it free of shelves and cubbies. I decided to center the window on the structural stud.
A blank wall makes exact placement difficult.
A drill hole will mark the center of the window.
I knew where the window needed to be located on the inside, but finding the exact placement on the outside wall can be difficult. In order to find the point on the outside wall, I drilled a small hole where the top center of the window should be. Why did I need to do this? Because the cutting from the outside smooth wall is far easier and less messy (keeping the sawdust mostly on the outside).
Marker hole visible.
Measuring down to locate top of window.
Using the hole as a marker, a line was created to layout the opening.
A framing square was used to square up the other three sides of the opening. The circular saw was used, making a plunge cut (using two hands) as deep as possible, following the guide lines.
Plunge cuts made.
Trusty panel saw makes easy work of it.
The nature of the circular blade prevents the saw from cutting into the corner so a hand-saw was used to finish up.
After a dry fitting to check the size, silicone caulk was applied to seal out water and the window was inserted.
Having a look at the new window.
Checking the functionality. Interior framing is not yet complete here.
Next step… making the shutter.
Revisiting the Enchanted Bike Wagon
I have mentioned this unique little wagon before but it is worth revisiting as a near perfect mini traveller’s wagon. Günther Lorenz, a maker from Bayern designed and built this bike-towed caravan without a plan or significant financial outlay.
It makes me happy to know that this was built, fueled by beer and a dream, in three weeks worth of evenings. It weighs in at 55 kilograms empty (120 pounds) so it isn’t exactly light-weight but provides the comforts of a dry bedroom while on the road.
The body is 2 meters long by 1.04 meters wide (79 by 41 inches). The frame is constructed from 20 mm square steel tubing welded together and the 5 bows are made from 8 mm tubing covered with garden hose. The whole thing runs on 28″ wheels.
If you’re looking to build something like this, head over to Günther’s web page for a more complete photo-set. They’re thumbnailed on his page but can be downloaded and viewed at higher resolution.
Bear the Tinker
Here’s a man making his way in the modern world but likes being stuck in the late 18th century. Farrier, blacksmith, storyteller, and musician living in his bowtop.
Above is a short interview with the man himself from a few years back (opens in a new window).
Living in the 21st century, he even maintains a Facebook presence, of sorts. Click on his new little Ledge Wagon above to see what he’s up to.
Nice Camper
Seen on the Road to Glamperland Facebook page.
Update from the vault: Vardo and Sheepherder Links
After several requests for information, here is my short list of inspirational sites found on the web. Culling the web for Vardo style so you don’t have to. I will try to morph this into it’s own page soon as a place to add more links as they become available.
Romany and Traditional Style
Sheepherder Wagons
French Style
An Interesting mix of Hippie vehicles from Britain and Europe:
MORE TO COME
Early Home Built Camper
From the Road to Glamperland Facebook page. A very interesting all or mostly wooden home built camper trailer. It has two simple slide-outs, a nice little kitchen set-up and I suspect the benches fold out to be the bed. I really like the water tank on the roof. I have been looking for a vintage looking tank to use for quite a while now but so far, no luck.
Cargo Trailer Conversion
A cool conversion I saw on Tiny House America:
Virtually everything folds away and you still have a cargo trailer when needed. This was my initial plan before building the vardo but, well, you-know, one thing led to another, the wood got out of control, plans were pulled out of old notebooks and the gypsy wagon as we know it was born.
Nice and clean look here but I’d miss my cozy interior. This however, is a great, straight-forward design that could work for many people and is incognito from the outside.
Preindustrial Craftsmanship 