OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Identification of Particular Machines Victa Skimmer - Made for Santa by Victa

Hi Bestseller if you want a challenge we know whom made it BUT BUT who sold it
Ian

Only sold in NSW or manufactured in NSW?

Manufactured in NSW by Victa and going by the map most likely only sold in NSW
Ian

Was this a NSW Christmas special or something ?

Cheers,
BB

Closest I can get is a Victa Charger from 1979. This sold in the ACT at 'Waltons' Department store:






Other than that, I'm stumped.

well they really did re badge this model to anything huh,

Quite so. That's why Victa Model ID docos list them as 'store brand' models - Victa would make a batch labelled as whatever brand the client wanted. Catcher and cowling colours varied, but that was about all, apart from decals.

Subject to a minimum order of course, but I have no idea what the quantity was, back in those days.

However, it's clear from the number of these with long-forgotten retailer names that pop up on ODK, that it can't have been all that large!

The Mower Specialists Association of Australia, a servicing dealers' buying group, introduced their own 'Craftsman' branded line of storebrands [and not just Victa-made models] in the 70's, so that they could compete in this market segment.

The Mower engine is a Series 70 Mark 4
It is a shop brand mower but which shop ??
The clue might be the last 'A' in Santa is sloping backwards
I have tried all kinds of searching like business names etc so far no result
What makes the search hard is the 2 words you have to use 'Skimmer' 'Santa'
Can find plenty of oil skimmers/milk skimmers and the like BUT not a mower that skims over the lawn
Try and search for a lawn mower and use the word 'Santa' all I can get is Santa's personal lawn mowers 'Reindeer'
Ian

I tried to post earlier but the tablet prevented me.

I note there appears to be a labell missing from the cowling. The base label looks slightly too new/clean and perhaps not quite the right shape?

Anyway, try this:

Skimmer made for Santa by Victa

where Santa refers to a type of grass (Santa Ana Couch?). Then the mower becomes a promotional item with no seasonal hangups.

The mower was very dirty and when hosed of most of the paint came of. The frount label hade scum? On it so gave it a light rub wjth some car polish came up good and now looks to new for the mower
Ian