So I got eyes on those engineering drawings and thought I would throw up a consolidated list of dated info we have thus far:
17/5/1957 � Back Carrier Plate (Part No. 6-004) of the Predicta mechanism drafted in engineering drawings at the Victa plant.
24/5/1957 � Front Carrier Plate (Part No. 6-005) of the Predicta mechanism drafted in engineering drawings at the Victa plant. No further amendments are noted on this drawing.
24/8/1957 � First advertisement for the Automatic appears in the Canberra Times, with a price of 56 Guineas, and the opportunity to �order NOW�. It may be assumed that this advertisement was for pre-orders only.
13/9/1957 � Full page newspaper advertisement appears in The Sun, stating �out to-day�, and �Victa Agents everywhere are displaying�. This can be assumed to be the formal release date of the Automatic � at least in Eastern States.
17/9/1957 � Amendments made to Engineering drawings for Back Carrier Plate (Part No. 6-004).
19/9/1957 � The Nepean Times (NSW) advertises the Automatic as being �on display� in store and offers at-home demonstrations.
20/9/1957 � Front Carrier Arm (Part No. 6-006) of the Predicta mechanism drafted in engineering drawings at the Victa plant. Drawing is noted to supersede drawing No. V-426/B
28/9/1957 � The West Australian newspaper invites readers to �Preview at the show ... the pre-release models of the amazing new Victa Automatic. This advertisement indicates a delayed release date in Western Australia.
?/10/1957 � Victa Archive note states that the Automatic required modification at some time during the month of October.
03/10/1957 � A Canberra Times advertisement invites people to �see the Victa Automatic� in store.
15/10/1957 - Amendments made to Engineering drawings for Back Carrier Plate (Part No. 6-004).
25/10/1957 - Amendments made to Engineering drawings for Back Carrier Plate (Part No. 6-004).
22/11/1957 � The Melbourne Age advertises the Automatic along with the Standard (49gns.)
04/12/1957 � The Australian Women�s Weekly publishes the first of four monthly, full page colour advertisements for the Automatic, using black and white photos of the Automatic, in which the Predicta mechanism appears in its final state.
31/1/1958 � The Automatic is listed along with the Rotomo as being available, in a Canberra Times advertisement of this date.
09/2/1958 � The Melbourne Age prints a full page advertisement for the Automatic which also offers the �Standard� at a price of 49 Guineas. The �Standard� Illustration is that of the Model 3 Rotomo. This advertisement uses an image of a woman in shorts pushing the mower, which later appears in other advertisements offering the Automatic together with the Standard and the Special simultaneously. A second photo illustrates the mower without its safety rim-guards fitted.
25/2/1958 � The Canberra Times prints two advertisements, one of which lists the Rotomo and the Automatic on almost equal footing, the second advertisement invites the reader to �see the new Victa motor Mower � the Victa �Special� at 55 pounds 13 shillings. This represents the first advertised mention of the Special.
12/3/1958 � The Women�s Weekly full page advertisement is amended to include the availability of the �Standard 18� Victa�, and pictures the Model 3 Rotomo with a price of 49 Guineas.
12/3/1958 � The Canberra Times advertises the availability of the Special and the Automatic.
13/3/1958 � Canberra Times advertisement represents the final advertisement for the Automatic, along-side the �powerful new� Victa 18� Petrol Rotomo.
?/3/1958 � An article notes the �huge demand for Victa mowers� and the increase to 3,000 units produced per week to cope with orders. The article also notes that agents will be able to fulfill orders �within a few days�. The article goes on to advertise the Automatic (56gns.), the Special (53gns.) and the Standard (49gns.). Of note is the illustration of the Special appearing without a badge and the Standard illustrated as the Model 3 Rotomo.
17/4/1958 - Amendments made to Engineering drawings for Back Carrier Plate (Part No. 6-004) and Front Carrier Arm (Part No. 6-006).
13/6/1958 - Amendments made to Engineering drawings for Back Carrier Plate (Part No. 6-004) and Front Carrier Arm (Part No. 6-006) �Tollerance + note added� � interpreted as indicating part designs had reached their final state.
29/8/1958 � Canberra Times advertisement offers �2 Mighty� mowers � the Standard (49gns.) and the Special (53gns.). The absence of a reference to the Automatic indicates that by this date, the automatic was no longer offered.
That's it for confirmed dates thus far. Still need to compile other info we have discussed, but that'll do for now lol...
