OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Collectors General Discussion Early Rover, Victa Model 5 and More!

Good point Jack. Do you ever think we will be able to confirm engine numbers?

Hi Kye,
I don't think so. I believe this production information has all been lost
to history. The best we can do is explain what information we have in an
open way so that it may be tested by other examples and by other collectors.
But after half a century, much will be based on speculation.

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Jack

I removed a previous post from this topic by a now de-registered member
because it was in clear breach of forum guidelines. We will not tolerate
personal attacks here. We welcome intelligent argument.

Kye, as a young member, has asked a serious and intelligent question about
the status of Victa engine dating. As Forum Historian, I am committed to
dispelling old myths and replacing them with objective evidence. This does
not mean that we avoid speculation at all - that should be welcomed - but
everyone knows the danger of Chinese Whispers.

We have made advances with our understanding of Victa Engine numbers in
dispelling hearsay and myths. Credit must be given to Vintage Mowers for
starting a Victa register. It's sample, though very small, has already helped
clarify some production numbers. But in the lack of factory documents,
much will remain speculation, both in relation to Model start and finish
dates, and the particular specification of any one model.Some things can
be said with more certainty; some with less certainty. What we must not do
is claim 'correctness' at this point, after half a century or more.

John, the owner of the Vintage Mowers website, expressed the concerns I have
consistently expressed here, way back in 2009, when he said:-

"most of the information of these engines has been supplied by word of mouth, or ownership of these mowers.
It is very difficult to get some sort of documented proof to back up what people have stated, in many cases these people have either worked for Victa during that period or have been collecting mowers for many many years or have met and spoken to people such as Gary Richardson or John Mason etc.

So gathering proof is what we are setting out to do, serial numbers will clarify the myth with regards to how many were made, the most common figure was 10,000 as most of the engine numbers seemed to fit that assumption, however it is now evident that this could well be wrong, it is looking as though it is about 8500. Victa manuals have proved to be inconsistent, we can't rely on these things when they purposely leave details out or in the case of the Automatic, remove all existence of them.

Too many story's and tales are told by individuals who are either guessing or have completely misinterpreted the information told to them, many others are just simply out to cause trouble or are as Eddie said "B@#$%ists"

This is a nice, succinct summary of the situation.
Any discussion must be in good faith and we can only proceed
with rational argument and evidence and respect for all views.
We put up or shut up ... but we always do so in a respectful manner.

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Jack

Jack, did I miss something, somebody picking on our Kye?

No Norm, just some stuff about engine numbers and some arguing.