Hi folks. It is now a runner. I mowed the nature strip with it. The weeds in the first pic were very overgrown and were the best part of a foot high. Only problems are it over revs slightly at full throttle and it doesn't rev as low as I'd like at low throttle, but it has a sweet harmonic sound to it, which suggests this engine hasn't seen much use since new, in keeping with the unworn, though rusty body. It's like having an old mower with rebuilt engine that hasn't been rebuilt.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!