OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Identification of Particular Machines Victa Rotomo Specifications

Now thats an Impressive Document Unkie!. Its so rare people share these original documents. Thankyou to the Donor:)

So it seems right to conclude the last tin wheel models finished production around this time,Jan-Feb 57,of course allowing a little time for tin wheel stocks to run out.

At this point I still maintain the tin wheel transition was around the 75,000+ mark.
The highest tin wheel version I have seen was recently on Ebay with a 74,600 serial. My own 2 near this serial are 71 and 73,000. Now this is inconclusive at present,but all mowers above this number I have seen are Platsic/Poly wheels and would amount to more than 50 examples.

Please could any memeber contribute their Rotomo 2 serial numbers (not the complete serial if you dont wish) If they are between 70,000 and 100,000 and whether they are Tin or Plastic. Then we can narrow it down and finsih this topic completely.

Thanks again for confirmation Unkie

Mine;
71,445 T
73,876 T
86,753 P
91,196 P
94,240 P

Since This thread is Rotomo Afterall...It wouldnt be complete with out an Original Owners Manual.

Im unclear if their were 2 manuals Issued( But I think its likely).Now since its been confirmed Rotomo went well into 57,this coincides with the move to Milperra.

So as with many things at this time, (Ie..Fuel Tank Stickers) It may have been ameneded at the very least, with the Milperra Address. But Im not aware of any Pictorial or text change from the original. Any other examples To confirm would be appreciated.

Oooooh, nice manual!

May as well make this a Serial Register of sorts?! Mine:

19,431 (Should be tin, but isn't lol) Model 1 base, Model 1 badge

51,015 Tin wheels, Model 2 base

Oh and forgot to mention, that manual was still being used until September,1956 as it is the same as the one with the previously mentioned sales receipt of serial number 38,952

Coool! But you know,this now raises more questions in relation to the Roto the Auto and Milperra! Some things dont ad up!....To be continued...lols.

Hi to All,
As this thread was 'off topic' also, I have moved it here to the correct forum area.

So Iv'e been passed on a couple of genuine date/serial numbers to complement the ones we already have - these really help develop a better idea of a production/sale/serial correlation. We already have:

15/9/1956 for Victa 18" Rotomo with serial No. 38,952

Now these:

22/12/56 for Victa 18" Rotomo with serial No. 54,062

23/12/56 for Victa 18" Rotomo with serial No. 52,825

Both are verified dates/serials from sales receipts/guarantees. Gives a nice indication of production volumes and stock distribution/turnover aswell

I did some quick calculations on those numbers and arrived at a ball park figure of 4,700 units being produced each month. Given static production rates (which is a little unlikely, but helpful none the less) the following date of sale/serial correlations can be reached:

15/8/1956 - #34,252
15/7/1956 - #29,552
15/6/1956 - #24,852
15/5/1956 - #20,152
15/4/1956 - #15,452
15/3/1956 - #10,752
15/2/1956 - #6,052
15/1/1956 - #1,352
6/1/1956 - #0001

Allowing a generous %20 margin of error to accommodate fluctuations in monthly production rates, arrives at a +/- 6,800 units, suggesting a date range for the first Model 2 sold to be between the start of December, 1955 and the end of February, 1956. In reality, it's probably much closer to a January start date, but this 3 month window gives us something solid to base any further research on.

Hey guys, these dates have got me real anxes as I have been talking with an older member of our work force and he tells me he has a 1955 Rotomo at home and is going to bring it to work for me to see if I would want it, trying not to sound to excited I said that would be good, he tells me it has 7 1/2 meters of fire wood stacked around it but when he can get to it he will fetch it down, I just hope his wood burns quick and it remains cold he is a fastidious bloke and I normally hold a lot of reservations about what people say what they have but not so much with this bloke, so with a bit of luck could end up with a Rotomo model 1?????

Hey jonesy, I'd be round at his place right now re-stackin' that firewood!
Good luck mate, and a good score!

I would Deejay but he lives 5 1/2 hours drive from myplace.
He also has a photographic memory, if you tell him your phone number once he can recall it at any time,
so I know he will not forget about it & another reason why not to doubt what he is saying unless what he has been told was incorrect.

Yep start burning wood...A model 1 it may be...Unless "Praise the mower gods" Its a Mk 2 Fan Gasps*...Dare we hope to dream? lols. BTW its not fair that you should have so many recent Rare aquisitions....I will speak for Unkie ...WE think you should SHARE! lmao...Hope it all turns to Gold For you Jonesy! And if it does...Just keep in mind..Tassy aint really to far away! Maaahaaaaa

I had Fan in the back of my head and was really trying to keep it back there, but kept creeping back forward until it got the better of me, I had to ring him, he does not recall a fan, Bugger! but everything else he explained to me sounds promising, so fingers crossed as he said "I dont think it has plastic wheels". so it's a long wait.

Yep, what that guy said!!!

So around what model/year did they start putting Victa on the crank cases?

Start of the Model 2 mate. Though some of the early model 2's had the model 1 crank case - but that's a whole different story lol. If your serial is below 9,000, you would be pretty safe to say you have a model 1 Roto. why? No "Victa" stamped on your latest?

Haven't got it yet, but a bit of info I did get was "no brand on the engine, no fan, pully on top, unbolt each wheel to adjust height, single two stroke, does not remember being any brass couloring on flywheel, no side throw just a round tin base" he told me he picked two up a long time ago and paid $50 each for THEM! No I haven't asked " where's the other one?" Yet!

Billy Cart? lol...imagine that! Probably more like a model 1 or early model 2, but either way a great score!Keep us updated

#76,799



Great example of one of the first "plastic wheel" model 2's

Cool...That puts the 75,000 serial for the transition,pretty much right on the money! Another point confirmed! This yours Unkie?

Nah, ebay mate. In Brissy though, doh!!!!

Gee Unkie didnt take long to pounce on that info

Unkie is a machine!!! lol
I was just about to post this after looking at it on eBay....
Nice border collie though

Now just a question while we are here....the front axles on the model 2 above don't look right....are they meant to have an 's' bend like that?

Yep those axles are correct - they look the same on mine at least! lol

Pretty sure I've nailed the release date for the Model 2a with this advertisement:

The Sydney Morning Herald - Sep 29, 1957

So here are some images of an ex Victa Collection Model 3 held behind the scenes at the Powerhouse Museum storage facility. Three things of note:

* The engine number is simply "XY" which may indicate it was a prototype
* The throttle control is both plastic and metal
* The carby button is painted red

Not sure what to make of the big black choke, but maybe it's correct?

I have also heard the Automatic had the red "tickler" on the carby? can anyone confirm this?

Hi ODK members,

The Red Tickler is confirmed:-

Thanks Jack, that would have been were I seen it, I just could not remember, this info needs to go into the Automatic thread also for later reference, cheers

Hi Jonesy,
As requested I have posted that info in the Automatic thread