OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Model Histories VICTA Models MANUAL - Rotomo Operator Instructions - c1954

Hello ODK history lovers,
Prior to 1956, it’s best to describe Victa Mowers as having a small
but pioneering presence in Australian rotary lawnmower production.

They sold by ‘word of mouth’, demonstration, and regular classified
adverting in Sydney and its surrounds. Victa was one of the many local
mower makers, that did not extend their market beyond
New South Wales.

Here I present the Operator Instructions that probably accompanied the
second Victa rotary model – but the first Victa “Fan Mower”. These were
introduced in late 1953 for the 1954 season. The second Fan Mower
would be made until an un-seasonal early 1955.



The thing that stands out about this three-paged instruction is the
beautiful naivety of the document. It is addressed in second person,
hand typed, and has no illustrations. It has sometimes challenging
grammar and punctuation.

This is Victa pre-history … before their Model 1.
Everything changed then. Victa crossed the borders!

TO BE CONTINUED …

PART TWO – The Instructions
This Operator Instruction is from my collection and
it is in average condition. This is an old document.

Two and one-half pages long, it presents as being
hand-typed. The thing that stands out is the informality
and simplicity of expression written in second person [‘you’].

I have decided not to include a high-quality scan for
a specific reason: Some nutter will probably try to flog
off a copy at auction as 'original'.

Instead, I supply a quality reproduction.
I have reproduced the document word-for-word,
including two obvious typos. Can you spot them?
I have reproduced most of the formatting.

Things I Noted:
- The addressee owners are both ‘Sir or Madam’;
- Starting instructions are clearly directed at the Villiers Midget engine;
- The petrol tap was of the in-line type;
- The primer button and choke lever were colour coded;
- The fan bearing needed occasional oiling;
- The ‘Fan Mowers’ had a ‘blade arm’ with pivoting blades.