OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Company Histories VICTA - News Cuttings - June 1964

Hello ODK History Lovers
News Cuttings was Victa's official news publication to its dealer network.
Introduced in the late 1950s, it would be no more than a few
pages in length.

This mid 1964 issue is of absolute interest because it covers the 1964
Victa Range in late season. Victa was on a mission to make the best
Australian rotary lawnmowers and its range was expanded to
5 models for 64!

The most interesting thing for me was the market strength of 4-stroke
lawnmowers at this time. Victa embraced the 4-cycle engine designs in
the 1960s, not out of desire, but because of market pressure from the
opposition makers [the other large makers who, combined, held the
other 50% of the market, and who favoured 4-strokes!].
There is power in numbers.

However, this News Cuttings tells an interesting take on the
2-stroke / 4-stroke divide



This is a great issue because it covers the Winter of 1964; meaning
it was not intended a primer for the 1965 range. We learn a lot more
about Victa in these months.

TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART TWO The Magazine Features
This late 1964 News Cuttings is the usual 4-page job, filled with
articles and images.

The front-page covers three stories (one covered in Part 1).
Another one covers the huge success of Victa Service Schools.
The last story boasts the early success of the Victa Air Tourer, with one
chosen to re-fly the route of the first Commonwealth air mail service.

Then there were the sales to New Zealand



Page Two presents a dealer story: Ernsmiths of Adelaide, and a brief mention
of Townsville dealers Hollimans Pty Ltd, and Angus Smith's Sport Store.



There is an early "attack" on non-genuine "bodgie" spare parts, and a timely
reminder to all Victa dealers about its "Genuine Victa Spare Parts" policy.
These were the days before the Trade Practices Act.

The final story is a quirky story involving community news Len Olive
of Chinchilla, Queensland, who mows the local airfield with you guessed it
a Victa Utility!

Page Three is an international news page.
There is a fascinating take on the different approaches taken by
North American and Australian power equipment sellers.

It appears that Aussies better understood the value of sales
and service going hand-in-hand.



The other bit of international news was the English trade journals
praise of the Victa Corvette 4 introduced to that market in 1964.

Finally, In the days before many folks had a home phone
(some of us remember those times) the Victa Red Phone was
a godsend. Yes, Victa made aircraft and they made public telephones!



Page Four is the service and light-hearted page.
Victa Service Guide NO. 23 about chrome-plated rings is re-produced;
as well as information on a new head gasket for Kirby 4-strokes.

Yes, there is the amusing Victa Short Cuts and Victa Wise cartoon.

Finally, I had to laugh at this image it appears that Townsville beat Sydney to the Mardi Gras!



TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART THREE - View or Download
This Victa Cuttings is from my collection and it is in very good condition.
As always, I make it available as a download for personal use.