OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Victa Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers H G Palmer

Well after I made some shelves (for my catchers) and put into place last weekend I found my H.G.Palmer.It was on the bottom of a pile of catchers,I'd almost forgot I had it.So this weekend one of my jobs was to get it running.I think I've had it for 3 years,yes I know and I waited til now to do something.All I had to do was clean the fuel tank and carby and found the points had closed up.After that away it went.
Here is some pictures of the old girl.




[video][/video]
Also did a short video on it running as well.
I'm not sure they are the correct wheels.Are they? I don't actually know.
I think the mower was happy I sorted the catchers.This was defiantly in the out of sight out of mind category.I can't believe I left it for so long it's a wonder it still was turning over freely.

Oooooh, I remember my HG Palmer...

Wheels look close to me from what I can see, they should be 5 3/4 inch with a manufacturers name on the wall (cant remember the name but)...Pretty sure the 2S had black caps mate, Turner are black (early) and white later models.

My 7F had full red caps with HG Palmer logo.

You just need a badge, they come up now and then, and a front height adjust union cover, and she'll be on the money I reakon:)

Yours a Tiger Stamped engine Mate?

From memory The Tiger ran the height adjust on the left(yours), and the later Unmarked Victa engine was on the right. Dunno why though?

Bun muffler was also offset to miss the bars.

And I forgot yours was the one that still had its original rear guard....Super rare!!!

Pity I still can't see Vids and some images but:(

Hello Blumbly & HT6

Great photos and video!
It's nice to see serious collectors taking an interest.
All you need is a HG badge for the base ...

I've really softened to HGs over the years.
They have been unfairly discredited as only selling store-brand
mowers in the past, and I believe that needs to change. The reality
is that some of their models were unique designs, and Palmer's
supported a number of larger and smaller AUS manufacturers.

That HG Palmer should have been an example of one of the biggest
corporate collapses of the day was probably unavoidable given their
rapid - meteoric - expansion.

A story waiting to be told.
--------------------------------
Jack

Mal,

If you have site issues, please post them to the appropriate forum.
We are not aware of any technical issues at this time.

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=41&page=1

Hope this helps.
-------------------------
Jack

the badges are hard to find, I have been looking for a long time, here are a couple of pictures for the same mower and a hg model 2. the hg palmer 18 has a 2a throttle that has had the logo filed off it, so it should be dated with the 2a victa mowers maybe ??//

hard to find info on these mowers

cheers

chris

Hi Chris,

Your first image shows a HG Noble" Dep store Tagged" Victa Rotomo 2 From 1956 approx. It has a few inconsistencies, but for the most part, its correct.

Your second is A HG Palmer" Dep store 18" Utility, from the early 60's

Without going into too much detail, The HG Noble 18 was a sparsely enhanced Victa Rotomo Model 2 sold through/by Noble stores. It is still however a VICTA and retained their serial sequence.

This HG Palmer 18 was Made exclusively for "HG Palmer" stores and is in fact NOT a rebranded mower. It came in two 2S versions the Tiger" or unbranded Victa 125 and the Villiers 7F. Its base design is also unique and not used by any other Brand. The original throttle control was The V stamped alloy Universal controller.

HG Noble and HG Palmer Store are not affiliated as far as Im aware.

Hello all Contributors

Well, I hope some badges do show up, as they are an important
and integral part to a mower's identity.



For the record, the HG Palmer 'toe-cutter' base was also offered
with the rare Kirby Hi-Torque 2-stroke, and a Briggs 4-stroke, making
Palmers one of the first companies to offer Briggs engines on a AUS rotary.

The rest is history.
-------------------------
Jack

Badges are rare, but do come up a few times a year.

I bought my last one for 48$ So its not a major expense for an imperative Part of This Machine.

The real rarity lay in the rear flap IMO, as Ive only ever seen two.

The 7F Fitted Machine is also getting scarce, as Is the Tiger Branded 125.

Im still a fan of this mower, even though they have been heavily criticized by some.

Its still a unique mower in its own right, not just another rebadged Victa or the like, and is definately worth preserving.

Hi Chris,

I don't suppose you have a close-up of the HG Noble dealer plate?
I think Noble's was a Queensland Ag-supply company.
It's rare to find dealer plates on AUS rotaries (usually stickers).

N.B. Mal, you asked me if I had some images of the other two versions
that were unknown to you. I have placed them in the relevant post (above).

All very interesting.
----------------------------
Jack

Cheers,

Yes I have Seen the BS previously, but assumed it an engine mod.

The Kirby Ive never come across, thankyou.

My understanding Of HG Nobles is that it was QLD Rural Co-operative type Store, that sold everything needed by a Country Community.

They still have stores like this...One Holbrook stores in NSW comes to mind and still operates in the same way today. Like a Mini department store, which had groceries, haberdashery, utensils, garden equipment,clothing, stock feed and Machinery to name a few, with a larger emphasis placed on agricultural items and machinery you would not require in City Dep stores.

Ive never researched the company, but I do have a Nobles Plaque off an early Roto. When I find it Ill post it.

Thats all I know about them, maybe more research is required to clarify the Stores Purpose Accurately, but I think its along those lines.

Agreed, on the rarity of plaques being used. I have Nobles and a Canberra(Belconnen) Victa dealer plaque only, which was placed on the Automatic I currently owned when sold new... Occasionaly Ive found sticky back metal stickers and metal tie on tags from dealers and repairers.

I Cant find Anything to Verify what I thought I Knew about H.G. NOBLE & CO...

Mining refernces, formal attendances and Ads for Spray Painting equipment until 1954, then Nothing.




The re registration of The HG Noble co was done again in 1958.

Soooo....Did they dump painting for Farm equipment/mowers?

Why are there a few examples off HG Noble badged mowers? A little side venture maybe?

And why were they allowed to be sold modified/enhanced with the Victa logo still present?

Im now very interested to find out more about the H.G Noble Rotomos as their history is relevent to a small part of my collection...

Were they an agricultural supply company or Rural specialist department store as suggested, or.........who knows the real story?


Perhaps a move to the history forum when time allows?

Mal.

cheers jack
I have 2 of these, one is missing the plaque. I will take a photo of the one on the mower and post it
cheers

chris

Thanks Buniper

I think we will then move your Model 2 photo to its own post.
I feel the real story in that is the HG Noble dealer plate.
It's an interesting story... well interesting enough.

Mal, I have been struck by the 1954 barrier in research for the last decade.
The record stops there because of copyright issues that have not been resolved.

Yes, very much a little side venture. I have written about these types
of companies before, and I still want to discuss one who made rotary lawnmowers
under their trade brand, Hibiscus. Heard of them?

Post WWII these old 'catalogue companies' were trading on borrowed time.

The rest is history
---------------------------
Jack

Thankyou,

No, I've not heard about the hibiscus" but am well aquainted with catalogue companies from the past. Ive never seen a mower advertised in one though. Id be interested to see this at some stage.

I think its interesting also, especially since it relates to the Rotomo.

I managed to find a little gold in an unexpected form, which in part confirms the initial belief of it being an agricultural supply store, and more....And importantly how the "H.G .Noble " Victa fitted in.

Here is an extract from the life of Valma Smith, who became an employee of H.G.Noble & Co. In the 50s

See what you think.

After graduating from Stott's, Valma got a job as a Secretary to the Property Officer at Penny's in Brisbane. Although there were 41 stores across Queensland, a new store was being opened at Southport and Valma went there and served behind the counter, her first selling experience. A number of factors led her to resign, a lack of work to do, the air conditioner, and a dislike for the Managing Director. A friend of Queenie's suggested a job at H. G. Noble's where she was employed as a secretary. Noble's sold agricultural supplies such as portable sheep fences, dips and spray paint guns. Despite being employed as a secretary, Valma sold the first Victor Lawnmower in Brisbane. She also caused much amusement among the men employed in the business, when, one day all the salesmen were away when a potential customer came in to look at a new Victor Mower. Valma said that she could show him how well it worked. There was a big clump of grass outside and she started the mower and pushed it over the clump, but the grass popped up undamaged. She tried again, and still nothing! Eventually she turned the mower over to find that there were no mower blades attached. Victor Mowers were very popular and at one time there were 70 names on the waiting list, this is despite there being a ward at the hospital call the 'Victor' ward for those who cut their toes off! The motors were also used for speedboat motors.



In July of 1956, Valma went on a cruise aboard the�Elsanna, to Cairns, with her brother Paul's girlfriend, also Val. Val was seasick, so Valma sunned herself on the desk alone. Valma was very attractive, slim and poised, but very shy, and whenever she was approached by any of the men trying to talk to her, her nervousness led her to chatter about Noble's products. On her return to work some came in and bought lawnmowers, boat mowers and spray guns. The boss said he didn't know what she was up to, as she was supposed to be a secretary, not a saleswoman! None of those men had a chance with Valma, as, on the cruise, she had met a handsome ship's engineer called Barrie (the only unmarried officer on the ship), who appeared on the desk in his immaculate white overalls, and it was love at first sight. Nobles gave Valma and Barrie a Pressure Cooker as a wedding gift, and it is still in use 53 years later.

The Full Story Here,

https://sites.google.com/site/valmasmith/our-story-2/about-val

I was not expecting to find information on An H.G.Noble Employee first hand, and also to out find she sold the First" Victa mower in Brisbane! That is Cool!

Hope This is usefull.

That's a great story -

I loved her reasons for leaving the Department store Penny's:

"A number of factors led her to resign, a lack of work to do, the air conditioner,
and a dislike for the Managing Director."

Those air-conditioners can be cold characters.

Thanks for the Noble anecdote.
--------------------------------
Jack

heres some pics of the kirby hg palmer.and video




[video][/video]

Cheers Gizmo,

Is this yours?

Its running the same base/height adjust setup as the 7F.

Very archaic in design and prone to handle bar to base cracks, which this looks like its got by the Cocky poop welds That can be seen.

This would look really good restored.

Just curious, this is a Kirby 4st HK25, Jacks ad shows the 2St hi torque?

Also Jack states a B & S, does this mean there is 5 engines or this this Kirby engine incorrect?

Jacks 2ND image although hard to see, appears more to me like a B&S as stated. The cowl decal looks familiar to another mower also, I just cant think which one.

Just curious, as the base of a kirby HK25 and 7F engine are similar and would probably fit easy enough.


Cheers, Mal...

yeah its my old hg palmer.yes someones did a dodgey weld job on it. i havent done a thing to it since i got it running some time back.i am pretty sure it is a hk25 kirby.i was told when i purchased it that it was bought as new.belonged to guys father.you can just make out the hg palmer insignia on the top fuel tank.
i did at one stage find a better pick of that logo, but i cannot find it now.as i would like to replicate that when i restore it.

found this which shows the hgp symbol