Caravan terminology

In order to reduce the caravan’s height, Ackerman steering was used which is the same as that on a car where the wheels turn individually on stub axles unlike the big wagons where the wheels are both on the same axle and turn together on a turntable.

A brushing slide is a sliding shelf between the top drawer and the top surface of a chest of drawers. Originally, it provided a pull-out surface on which clothes could be laid out for brushing prior to wearing.

The clerestory roof is the raised story or highest part of the roof.

The crown board is a panel set into either end of the wagon, below the extension of the arched roof, intended to adorn the caravan. The crown board of the Peterson Eccles is in the style of Watts Burton with decoration of acanthus foliage in gold leaf and red.

The drawbar is a triangular frame connected to the trailer, containing the overrun brake mechanism with cables running to the wheel brakes. The drawbar attaches to the trailer hitch on the towing vehicle. The Eccles’ innovations of the overrun brake mechanism and the ball coupling are still in use today.

The hallmark of Holophane lighting fixtures is the borosilicate glass reflector/ refractor. The glass prisms provide a combination of uplight and downlight to illuminate any environment evenly without creating dark spots or glare. This ribbed glass shade/reflector, called “Holophane”, is iconic in “vintage” style lighting.

The mollycroft, one of the most distinctive features of the caravan, is the raised, clerestory roof that runs the length of the wagon’s roof. The main roof is slightly arched, probably to keep the rain from pooling; then the mollycroft rises about twenty centimetres (nine inches), and itself has a smaller arched roof of about the same curvature as the main roof. A series of narrow windows runs the length of the upright area. These windows are wide but short casements which are hinged at the top, allowing air to circulate:  letting hot air to escape and fresh air to enter. (Described by writer John Labovitz in his article, On showman’s vans, living wagons and gypsy caravans.)

An overrun brake (called a surge brake when invented in 1927) is a brake system commonly used on small trailers where the motion of the trailer with respect to the towing vehicle is used to actuate the brake.

A pelmet is a framework placed above a window, used to conceal curtain fixtures. These can be used decoratively (to hide the curtain rod).

Steadies are the adjustable jacklegs (Eccles patent) used to steady the parked caravan.