OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Thread Like Summary - Help IDing this mower - Victa, H.G. Palmer? [Pathfinder]

New to the forum and vintage mowers.

Currently restoring my first mower and picked up this oldie with a Victa motor (see attached photos).
Not sure about its actual brand though. Victa or H.G. Palmer perhaps?

There's no decals or badges anywhere just a Mobil pegasus on the tank lid.

Looks like it was green (repainted gold) with a red cowl.

Any help understanding what I have (type of motor, carb and starter etc.) and age would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Hello Max and dubrosa22

Many thanks dubrosa for giving us these clear images for the record.
Max is second-to-none in his garden equipment forensic skills.
I think this is a Pathfinder too.

Of course I want to add a complexity.
Who made the thing!

I know that Pathfinder mowers were made by more than one OEM.

I attach two documents, one addressed to me.
[Steve Coleman was hired by Victa when Victa took over Pace mowers.]

The second document is an extract from John Mason's self-published
book about his time at Victa. It reproduces Steve Coleman's thought
about Pathfinder, when he was at Knock & Kirby, a large NSW Dept. store.

I guess the implication is that Victa was behind at least one Pathfinder.
You decide... Read between the lines.

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

G'day dubrosa22 ,

I've seen the same mower base but with the Villiers Midget Mk2 engine fitted and the mower is called a Pathfinder,
sold by Myer department stores.

I would say the Mobil pegasus on the fuel cap is because the cap has come off a Mobil tin can.

The motor is the Victa industrial Tiger motor. https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=52936

The same engine used on HG Palmer mowers https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=68985&page=all

The motor looks to be from about 1960.

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/u...ry-mower-with-villiers-midget-motor.html

http://vintagemowers.net/villiers_midget.htm

I can't see from the images if the engine mounting holes in the base are elongated ,meaning the original engine was the
Villiers ,the engine mounting nuts under the base may have to be removed to see that or if there is another set of
engine mounting holes in the base.

I haven't seen this base with a Victa motor before.

Cheers
Max

G'day dubrosa22 and Max and all
In my view this is a very handsome classical rotary chassis.

It does have overtones of a Boundy chassis, with its
beautiful sleek and shallow skirt and forward side-discharge chute.

Very likely Victa was being provocative to a certain Victorian
'cutlery manufacturer'... That's a personal view.

These were competitive times and Victa did not become
Number One through niceness. Victa played by the rules but
was clearly secretive in many commercial dealings.

Dubrosa22, many thanks for sharing this project. We look
forward to future images. All good stories need resolution,
and this topic is great provenance for your now rare mower.

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

G'day dubrosa22,


They are not Victa wheels , Pathfinder / Pace of this vintage have Walter Barr wheels https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/98727/walter-barr-pty-ltd-c1941.html

There are a few vintage mowers that use these wheels for example Hg Palmer https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=68985&page=all

Turner wheels look the same but have Turner molded on the side of the tyres https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=59375

Victa hubcaps won't fit Walter Barr wheels .

Up to the restorer if they want original wheels ,some just use cheaper ,(more easily obtained) new wheels https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=44612

Cheers
Max.