Hi Ty and ODK members,
Ty, I think you're the first person to see the significance of all this.
Sometimes the staunchest critics are the best friends of these icons.
But I don't think some folks are too happy when their cherished beliefs are just that.
It has annoyed me for so long that electric rotaries have all but been erased from
the history books. I have come to have an interest in them. The obvious question
I have asked myself is why?
On the Vintage Mowers site I introduced a thesis that explained this.
[1] The electric mower was more of an appliance than a garden tool.
Because many of the electric mower manufacturers sprung post-War from
radio manufacturers (Tecnico, Tasma, Breville, etc.) they were marketed
and sold through electrical stores.
[2] The electric mower did not conform to Australian masculinity.
By the 1950s cars were becoming more common, and the "man's job" was to repair
anything mechanical in the household. But electrical?
Electricity was the wonder miracle and darling of the 'housewife'. But using electricity
outdoors brought danger. On the other forum I wrote an extended post on electrocution.
There were three main reasons: household electrical standards did not meet the demands
of the new electric rotaries; the male often attempted repairs with no knowledge; and
there was insufficient public education about the dangers of electricity.
Early Victa ads played on this: Petrol rotaries were 'safe', even for a child.
So ...
My argument is that Richardson took from the electric rotaries the idea that:
- the idea of the rotary
- rotaries should be light
- rotaries should be cheap
Richardson took from Hall:
- rotaries can be petrol powered
- the idea of a cheap round base
Richardson added:
- a rotary should have a cut greater than an average reel mower (16").
- Marketing - sales & service; the many advantages of rotary design.
Ty, a question here is who invented the swing-back blade?
It was used right from the Victa prototype.
The bottom line for me is that the Victa is a rightful AUS icon,
but for the wrong reasons. It would be nice to correct the record.
All very interesting.
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JACK
