Hi Break and ODK members,
I guess you are referring to the Victa Electric.
Could you confirm that you bought this machine new or second-hand?
The Victa electric really represents the third generation of electrics in
Australian lawnmower history.
The first generation - from the early 20th century - covers the period when
electric mowers were introduced. In Australia, the iconic firm of Scott Bonnar
deserves credit as the pioneer.
The second generation - from the mid 20th century - introduces the first
Australian electric rotaries. That's a big story.
The third generation - the one in the picture - is what I coin the 'renaissance'
of Australian-made electric rotaries. We are talking mid to late 1980s onwards.
Your machine would date from the 1990s. It was inspired by the banner-carrier,
the American Sunbeam, and then the Australian Victa-Sunbeam.
I'm not so sure I agree with your S.A. 'old guy'.
The Victa electrics probably followed the European trend in re-discovering electric mowers.
The Victa range continues to this day to offer electric mowers of this type.
These machines would not have sold in high volume, but would have catered to
an emerging trend in a market-niche that favoured electric over coal-powered machines.
Maybe a member will come forward with a brochure picture of your electric utility model.
Historically, these are under-valued machines.
All very interesting.
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JACK.
