OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Photos of Collections My Collection - Revised

So over the past few weeks while waiting for parts I decided to collect some reference material. Here is my collection so far.

Continues:

Im still searching for the unicorn tho the small engines 199. Also looking for number 424.

Purchased these today as a birthday present to myself. Coming from The UK. Just another piece of Victa history for my collection....

Hi Sean
That is a great purchase in documenting the growth of Victa UK.

The UK was Victa's base for sales there and on the Continent.
Victa set up shop there in about 1961.

The thing is that Victas sold overseas did vary from their AUS
counterparts. Some overseas models never sold here!

Cheers
---------------------
Jack

I know that things in these books may be completely different to the Australian versions and models. It was just another little piece for the pool room. Thanks Jack

I have these for reference if I want:

Stumbled upon another little gem last night. Small engines no.112. It's on its way! Can't wait to have a look through this one!!!

So I finally found the final gregorys manual on victa mowers!!! I also found one on body repairs that is going to be an essential tool in restoring plastic cowlings!!!!

I got this from a WA seller recently for much less than what SCA wanted for a similar book.

The new edition, I'm going to need to get that one! I want as much information as I can get when it comes to fixing or mocking up a cowling.

I started to have a good look at the fluoro green cowling for my store brand high arch contessa today. It looks like someone has tried to put a poor quality clear coat on it at some stage but it may be the way they were produced. Anyway, I started to clean it today with some good quality car wash and a toothbrush and this layer started to come off and this amazing bright green colour started to shine, the quality of the plastic underneath looks smooth and excellent. It's going to take some serious time to get it to the point where I'm happy but I know I'm going to be very very happy with the end result!!!

I'd think it's just the same thing pretty much, just repackaged. I do like my cover, I won't hide that lol.

I haven't posted on this thread for a while and I've picked up a few things since I last posted so here's a few things:
Victa part reference guide from 1970-1987 in 2 separate files
5 part's amendments and prices revisions
Victa 71-72 parts reference guide
Victa power units engine manual
Scientific publication number 100 Mowers
Victa owners guide to the 78-80 PowerPlus
Victa owners guide to the 78-80 High Arch including corvette
Victa owners guide to the 73-74 VC range
3 Villiers Mark 7F engine manuals
And a heap of new old stock and a couple of mowers that I'm picking up after lockdown!

So I found it. It's in the mail, Gregory's Small Engines Manual Number 199. I've also acquired Gregory's Rover mowers guide number 99 and 101.

There are plenty of other guides and manuals I've been picking up recently too. I have also acquired a printer with a good flat bed scanner and am currently scanning everything. It's a massive job......

I need to get one of those.
Found a steel bodied Rover with Briggs 375 last night.
The bar blade is in great condition.

Age?

Late 1990s or 2000s at a guess.

Here's the rig to sate your curiosity.

Not my cup of tea to be honest but only because I'm ageist! Anything after the mid 80's I just struggled with the lack of flair in design compared to the 70's. I would have grabbed that mower tho too but to see if it was able to make a few $$$ off it.

So I have the money, I put it out on my platform's recently that I was looking for a Red 73-74 Mustang, Mint Purple VC-SPORT with catcher or a decent twin. Well there is a twin available but in Tasmania and the guy is pick up only and won't budge.

It cost nothing and the bar blade looked good. Body and wheels in good condition plus I have a couple of spare Rover catchers doing nothing, so may be a handy bit of pocket money, we'll see.

I have found 3 great quality mowers that I serviced and were like new. I could only get $50 for each because Facebook marketplace is just saturated with good cheap mowers. I hope you do make a little pocket money but in my experience it's never been worth my time. So I don't do that any more.

Fingers crossed you make some $$$

Nomondo!!
The catchers won't fit. I'm "gaina" try and get the motor on the Vantage (just visible in front of it) going with any parts of the Rover, and then transfer that onto another Victor chassis. Plans don't always go to plan.
I may just strip for bits.

I shall call you Verbal Kint, "THE Man With The Plan" and you dubed me Red "THE Guy Who Can Get Things".

So the guy who I'm getting my impala 2 has told me he has found the cream/white petrol tank cap. He still hasn't had a chance to look for the catcher due to covid but thinks its there too. No one on Facebook has seen one and most haven't heard about 1. I've seen the post on here from an ex member who found one. Besides the one I've got, it's the only one I've ever seen

You're also the bone collector (another1990s film reference) the man who can get the bone white top, plastic fuel cap and tap in one very coveted mower!

I should be called a typical politician mower man as I have plans I don't follow through often!

I'll have to "catch" The Usual Suspects when I can now.
There's no actor quite like Kevin Spacey!

Remember Verbal was "Keyser Soze" so really you secretly have a ruthless side to you that means you will get what your after in the end!!!

"And like that. Poof, and he's gone" 🤣🤣🤣

Oh Lord now I really want to see that film.

So this is a list of the scientific publications and later called gregorys guides/manuals to do with any thing mowers and small engines that I have put together as I go.

Mowers:
Scott Bonnar series (to 1977) number 97
Rover series (1960-78) number 99 ⭐
Rotary mowers series (1971) number 100 ⭐
Rover series (1978) number 101 ⭐
Victa series (1974) number 102 ⭐
Victa series (1977) number 103 ⭐
Victa twin and lightweight series (1977) number 161
Victa rotary mowers series (1955-81) number 200 ⭐
Victa rotary mowers series (1955-84) number 220 ⭐
Victa rotary mowers series (1955-87) number 403 ⭐
Victa rotary mowers series (1955-91) number 424 ⭐

Small engines:
Small Engines (1974) number 112 ⭐
Small Engines (1982) number 199 ⭐
Small Engines (1990) number 199
Small Engines (1992) number 426 ⭐

Any with a star I have or have on its way in the mail. I have my ones in the order above in the pictures.

I don't know what the 1990 Small Engines number 199 looks like and the same with the Scott Bonnar 97, I can't even find a picture on google. But there is one picture of an above manual I'm waiting for, the twin and lightweight. I'll have to post it in a reply.

Cheers

The victa twin and lightweight manual. I'm waiting for lockdown to end to get mine!!!

Here is the evidence of the Scott Bonnar number 97. If you also see how many models they show on the back of this manual? The only reason I have been able to add on to the original list of these manuals, that I got off ODK, is because I had a list of these to start with that was provided to me by ODK. I have spent quite a few $$$ and a lot of time putting this together the best I can. So thanks and I hope my above information helps others who collect manuals as well as mowers!!!

To 1977 for Scott Bonnar? Yet it's still such a well known brand. Shame on Rover for taking it over and effectively shutting it down as for Victa with Pace and Masport with Morrison, robbing consumers of choice with anti competitive conduct such as this.
Companies should be banned from buying out a competitor offering an alternative to their products, unless it's proven beyond a doubt the said company is about to collapse on it's own.

Companies claim competition is good only when it suits their ends but really are against it behind closed doors.

Yes this elusive Scott Bonnar, Scientific Publications number 97. I can't even find a picture.

I also need to change the date of the Rover SP number:101 to 1973 as the release date.

Here are a bunch of manuals I have organised to collect after the closing of a dealership. All for free, I have offered money but they have flat out refunds.

The ones I'm really really looks forward to are the metal work instructions and guides. They are close ups of them in 2 of the last 3 pictures. The other of the last 3 pictures is a ? Over a big folder believed to have all of the 70's and earlier model information. But won't know for sure until tomorrow.

So I got a delivery of manuals today for free. I'm only posting a few.

But the big one is the twin and lightweight manual in excellent condition!!!!

Just picked this up off ebay. An original magazine advertisement for the Victa Rotomo. I love it!!! This one is getting framed straight away!!!

I've picked up quite a few nice pieces recently to add to my collectables here are just a couple of my favourites.

A very nice original manual and envelope it came in for the Model 8 or standard.

Another very nice manual, guarantee card and accessorie kit with 1 original replacement fuel tank decal. Also it came with an original receipt/invoice for 6 Victa special mowers.

I found a toe guard in excellent condition and with some original paint on it in places still.

And finally the Rofo ignition coil in the original box.

Sorry to disappoint you, Seanoss; but wrt the ROFO box, I'd speculate that that Victa branded coil may be a failed unit, that was replaced by a ROFO one.

ROFO was an independent aftermarket manufacturer, back in the day, whose products were branded with their own logo.

Ahh all good I bought it for the box anyway. I have 2 brand new ones but victa branded and still in their pack.

Hi Gadge, I hadn't looked at the unit that came in the Rofo box since I took the original pictures. Now I'm under no illusion that the unit itself is most likely a failed unit. But I decided to take a closer look at it today and it's definitely got the RO⚡FO branding on the unit. It's very small but it's definitely there. I have a zoomed in image of it and a couple of Images of my NOS victa branded one.