OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Victa Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers Early Victa: Oddities and Anecdotes

Great story from March, 1967. I Wonder if 4097 is still going strong...

A great piece, thanks for sharing Bestseller. I note the carby on this one is the "later" style and not the circlip type. Engine number 4097. I wonder when the hinged clip style of carburettor was introduced ?

Hello bestseller and Paul

These stories are just sensational.
History comes alive when person stories reveal the
'Golden Age' of Australian lawnmowers.

Good ol' 4097.
-----------------------
Jack

Cheers fellas. Regarding the carby, it would have had the brass nut originally, but were mostly replaced due to unwanted loosening, I've heard.

I think the clip-on style arrived around the 2a/model 3, so late '57ish.

Since you liked that one...

September, 1961

Hello bestseller

I have but one Victa - a Model 1.
It's serial number is ... (drum-roll) ... 4697
How about that!



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

BAH! So close!

Interesting story....I wonder if she still exists and what actually happened to the 1" on ole number 8s Plaque?

The ciclip style finished with the 2a. Although many have been changed to the later style due to cap wear.

The latch top carby was introduced on the Model 4 Auto. Obviously Twin port for the predicta system. The second port was closed with an alloy plug, when returned for warranty and the removal of the predicta system was carried out.

Due to the Autos demise the twin port cap wasnt necessary. So one port was not drilled and kept permantly closed until CC could retool for the single port top.

The model 4 std and model 3 were fitted with these twin port tops until the single port was released around or just before the model 5 series 1. Twin port tops could be seen on those models in between, around 20,000-30,000 mowers.

Hello again HT6, I have missed you and your wealth of knowledge. What would Model 3 Rotomos have had, I thought circlip. Would it be a mix of circlip for early and then latch type for later runs ?

Hey Paul:)

The whole run of model 4 Autos had all but ended at the release of the model 3. This carb was well in service already. While the 2a pulley was a carry over and correct for early model 3, Im unaware of the earlier circlip carby being used this late. Remember there are often discrepencies in early Victa models especially in transition stages. So there is a minute possiblity the last 2a mowers may have had the newer latch style 3f, but highly unlikely the model 3 got the circlip style (but I wont discount 100% that a few wernt used if original examples can be shown). Also Approx 20,000 mowers had been released since the new carbs intro prior to the Model 3 release.

Great info there HT6, thanks for sharing your knowledge!

I may as well add another obscure vintage Victa article to keep this thread going. I've seen some crazy modifications on Specials over the years, but this one takes the biscuit:

December, 1968

Hello Bestseller

That was a personal treat for me. And a real surprise!!!
I met Cedric many times in the late 1970s. He was the biggest
stockist of Briggs parts in Brisbane. I remember him as a quiet,
decent man, with vast experience and knowledge. Air Cooled Engines
was in a narrow street in Fortitude Valley.

AS for multiple wheels? It wasn't a new idea ...
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=51528

Although the Minter's production 6 wheeler could not match Ced's ad-hock 10.

Ced was a true wheeler and dealer.
--------------------------------------
Jack

Surprised to have found a personal connection there - bloody small world!

Last one for the night - one of my personal favorites:
April, 1966

What is this bestseller ... memory lane!

As a 'lil kid it was a treat to visit Uncle Jack's poultry farm.
It looked just like this - rows and rows of cages. The fowls didn't
look like they were ready to preen their feathers either. I now feel
sorry for them. They looked dazed - like the audience at a Frank
Ifield concert:

It was not a favorite job - sweeping the floors.
If only uncle had a Brushmatic!

There is no end to Aussie ingenuity ...
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=58306

Thanks for sharing.
-------------------------
Jack

Love the brushmatic. Only in Australia

Frank Ifield sounds like a 125 with a blown bearing! Loved the thread on oddities there Jack.

Speaking of oddities, here's a nice little article on the complex life of Special engine AC54244:

April, 1968

Yet another Rotomo with a long and distinguished career:

October, 1964

Hi bestseller

Thanks again for these entertaining insights!

I love the description, "Mr. Mitchell, a methodical man"
I think his record keeping is verging on what is coined 'anal'.
Just imagine his workshop - everything labelled and in place.

-------------------------
Jack

It is amazing how things change with time with these people carefully maintaining their machines and the fact it got reported in the newspapers. Nobody would bother maintaining a mower these days, cheaper to get a new one than pay somebody to repair it

These stories might bring back some memories for a few of our more 'senior' members:

June, 1961



January, 1960 - Peter and Barry Hayward, Carnegie, Melbourne

These light-hearted stories were used to great effect by Victa.
Icon building meant that Victa was a part of everyday life,
and building community.

I like the reference to the "Victa Sweep" technique.
[from Mower Guide below:]