OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Rotary Vi-cat Rotary Mower - A Total Mystery!

Hi Jason/Sir Bat,

yes the previous owner did go a bit overboard wit the paintbrush on the logo didn't he :-)

It's great that you now have a 'provenance' (? I suppose?) or at least history for it, you should record all those details before they slip form your memory (and our history)- people, places, dates, times, anecdotes.

I knew I had seen that type of exhaust somewhere else a long time ago, just can't remember where. Maybe an old Lister motor...?

I don't think there's fluting to the blades, can't see an 'fan blades' on the blade carrier, jsut those holes... would the grass ejection have worked OK?

Just to play Devil's Advocate: except for the dodgy Victa anagram name, are we sure the Vi-Cat came after the A-V: how do we know that A-V didn't copy the Vi-Cat design???

Cheers,

Hello Patrick & Sir Bat

Patrick, Canberra is the home of the Machiavellian.
The Vi-Cat must be post-Hercules for reasons I gave above. The Hercules
was introduced in late 1959 and was fitted with their favoured Villiers.
The Vi-Cat - real or imagined - is unmistakably 1960's 4-stroke.

Still speaking in the spirit of Machiavelli, I feel the extra photos confirm
the cleverness of the deception. This is a fantastic lawnmower - perhaps a
work of art - and this topic is now part of its provenance.

The base does not so much reveal the inadequacies of a Dulux penchant,
but the characteristics of sand casting. I will have to defer to the
experts, but it appears to me the base is a one-off sand casting. The
surface is not production quality at all. It may well be that the 20" A-V
base acted as the outer mould for this re-constructed base.

The Vi-Cat logo is decidedly oddly placed above the discharge chute.
I am struggling to think of any other vintage rotary with that style.
The Hercules side-catcher would have covered it! The logical place for
rotary badging has always been the base front.

The cast Vi-Cat logo is compromised by the gaping square hole on the 'V',
something a production machine would never have. It's a sort of insult.
I guess it may have been part of the casting process...

The Hercules was Austral-Villiers' first rotary to take a side catcher.
As such, I guess it would have taken fluted blades of some sort.
In the Victa style, perhaps flat cutting blades, and optional
fluted blades for the optional catcher.



This is a clever and collectible mower, and Patrick's advice to
record all information about it is important. I hope Sir Bat will
explore the engine numbers that should still be on the cowling, perhaps
covered by a thick layer of Dulux ...

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

Well some good news and some bad. I have stripped the paint from the engine cover and there is no sign of engine numbers, the inside was not painted and still shows no signs of indents from numbers being marked into it. The good news is a family friend has reminded me that there used to be an aluminium foundry locally, and there is some suspicion the original owner might have been involved in some odd projects from time to time, nothing confirmed and upon looking at some of his work it is not to the usual standard (apparently a perfectionist). The person I bought the mower off is adamant that is Australian but can not remember where he got the information from, had written on a plate to put on mower when taking it to shows. Sadly may never find out the full story as people involved in the foundry are long gone, and previous owners are old and probably not much longer for this world,but a great conversation piece.

Hi Sir Bat and Jack,

You've covered off on a couple of thoughts I hadn't actually expressed...

Yes Sir Bat it's definitely a conversation piece. I think you've done well and it needs mounting!

And whilst I first suspected it was a possibly overseas copy I did also wonder whether someone had cast their own copy-cat version and I think that's what it probably is. Especially if Sir Bat knows of a possible local foundry and possible sand casting.

Also like Jack I had wondered about the rough-n-ready design and flaws- the finish, crude height adjustment with copied parts and the funny square indent cutting the strangely placed logo which does somewhat resemble one of Victa's later logo styles.

And Jack, sorry, I went back and reread your post above about A-V mowers and timelines. Sorry it was all a bit much for me earlier, I knew I'd missed something. The learning continues...

Hi Patrick and Sir Bat

This has been a great story.

I feel the possible link to a local foundry is telling.
I wonder whether we ill ever find out more about this most deceptive
of lawnmowers?

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

Jack back then Australia was a country where people saw something and they thought I can make that, mowers in particular were expensive so they were worth giving it a go and that is why for probably 10 years so many small manufacturers decided to give it a go. Sadly these innovative days are long gone

Yes Norm

Well said mate.
The 1950s was an exciting time - when the 'little guy' could have a go.
I'm hoping to draw attention to the 1930s as well. There is a key
difference though: the Australian lawnmower industry started with big
players (not small guys). There is good reason for this ...

Cheers
-----------------
Jack

Well bit of a breakthrough, tried a few things and have finally found the numbers on the motor, sadly don't show up on a photo but the numbers are as follows- 80906 945090 6101100

cheers Sir Bat.

I think that means it is 01/01/1961, I think

Hello Sir Bat, Patrick, Kye and all,

The numbers are no surprise then.
They fit in nicely with my reasoning. Close Kye - 10/01/1961.
And yes, it did have a wind-up starter.

Spare Parts Manual here:-
https://www.m-and-d.com/pdfs/briggs/80900-ms4216-0188.pdf

You can now sleep in peace Sir Bat.
Perhaps new info will come to light at a later date.

p.s. Would you have a full view photo of the machine from the front?
[including the handle]

Thanks for the update.
--------------------------------
Jack

Here's a couple more pictures
cheers Sir Bat

I was so close! oh well I will get it next time!

Well that put paid to my theory about copy-cat B&S motors...

Thanks for that Sir Bat.
I think they complete the picture of this most unique lawnmower.

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