Hello ODK History Lovers

The Sunbeam Corporation made a cash offer for the shares and assets of Victa Ltd
in February, 1970. Two months later (late April) Victa had a new owner Sunbeam.

Sunbeam, the giant Appliance Manufacturer, had a commercial relationship with
Victa prior to this: I believe Victa secretly made Sunbeam's (Australia) first petrol
lawnmowers the 2-stroke and 4-stroke Lawnkeeper of the late 1960s.
I do not have direct evidence of this claim, but the design screams 'Victa'.

My best guess is that the Lawnkeeper was introduced in late 1967 for the 1967-68
lawnmowing season.

Originally powered by Kirby 2 stroke and 4 stroke engines, they appear to have had
no common parts with Victa mowers. Most probably designed by Victa and Sunbeam
engineers, it was a mid-arch, feature-full design of considerable complexity,
and I have no doubt that it was equal to Victa's flagship of the day, the Corvette.

I should add, after the Sunbeam takeover of Victa, this mower survived.
But the 2-stroke was powered by ... Victa 125cc & 160cc units(no surprises there).
The 'new' Lawnkeepers were introduced in about 1972.

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TO BE CONTINUED ...