Bruce,
I noticed on TV a couple of weeks ago that the Victa company celebrated its 50th. Birthday. The mowers shown on TV were not the earliest production mowers.
Are there many of the Pre.V1 Victa mowers around?
I have a Villiers powered Victa with the fan cooling the cylinder. Can't tell you the serial No. at this moment but it doesnot have the snorkel as shown on the 1954 Royal Sydney Show Advertisment, so I presume that it is earlier than 1954. I'll send you a photo if I have your emai; address.
Regards
Rick.