OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Component Histories VICTA - Component Painting - 1956

Hello ODK History Lovers

As is frequently the case, research into vintage mowers brings about unexpected results.
I was researching Clancy Engineering - a Sydney company that made the Lawn King rotary mower -
when I stumbled upon some photos from the State Library of NSW.

The poor quality photos depicted enamel painting carried on by a small company, Baker Enamelling,
situated at 58 Derby Street, Lidcombe, NSW. All the photos were dated 7 November, 1956.

Here is a photograph of the premises:-



A couple of photos did show Lawn King mower bases prior to painting, but most showed the
inside of the factory where other components reminded me of another manufacturer.

I contacted Early Victa Expert and ODK member Bluegmhtmonaro who confirmed that the
components were clearly from ... Victa!

TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART TWO

The Victa records show that by 1956 Victa was producing 3,000 mowers per week!
That is an incredible amount, given that Victa Mowers Pty. Ltd., had opened for business in
February of 1953, with a staff of 6, and a production of 60 lawnmowers per week, from an old
shed behind a Mortlake church!

To dispel the myths, Victa was more an 'assembler' of lawnmowers in the early days.
Mervyn Richardson did not have the capacity to manufacture major components ... engines,
bases, etc. These were 'outsourced' to mostly unknown suppliers, and brought together
for assembly.

These photos appear as good evidence that the painting of Victa components
(that required painting) were outsourced to Baker Enamelling of Lidcombe.

The photos show flywheel covers, handles, blade discs, and bases. Late 1956 would indicate
that these would be Model 2 bases.

Here are the photos:-

PART THREE

As Victa expanded and gained the financial capacity to more closely control the production
of its components, it did more things 'in-house'. This was the case with casting processes,
and it was the case with 'enamelling'.

In this extract from Victa News Cuttings of February, 1969, [price, 5c] Victa boasts in its
headline, "Paint Finish Equals Any Mower Anywhere".

I'll let the statistics speak for themselves:-

Component Histories Forum: -
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php/forums/146/1/component-histories.html



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