The numbers do match up for a VC...But that is odd.
However i do recall seing something similar one, i cant remember when though. I have forund a few odd, and un-documented original adaptions on some mowers, I think Victa occasionaly trialed a few idea's but i guess if they didnt take off, they didnt make it into the manuals.
I have a few other odd factory fittings i will put up in the victa section.