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

Thanks Deejay

Hey guys, so what are the differences in the Model 1 & 2 badges? one has the same size numbers in the "18" and one has a shorter one in the "18" so which is which? and is that the only difference in the two? also the badge off a Model 12 I think it is, is that the same as either the 1&2 or is it a totally different fish? cheers guys.

Hi Jonesy,

From the research I have done, I believe that this is the Model 1 badge:

And this is the Model 2 badge:

I am sorry I cannot throw any light on the Model 12 badge, but I am sure that the Victa gurus will chime in here and correct me if I am wrong, and may sort the Model 12 issue.

Thanks Deejay, as this is the first responce I've had and so far confirms what I have been thinking, however I am not real knowledgable with the Rotomos.

The biggest different's is the back of the badges.The model with the smaller 1 was a solid back.So the alloy is thicker.The other is more hollowed out on the back and is the same as the Model 12.I think for memory they are not as thick.The model 1's were more like the fan mower badges.

This apears to be an original Model 2 badge and it appears to be painted red on the outside lip of the badge



this is a reproduction with no edge painted.



To get to the point, are the edges of the badge painted red???? thanks for any help.
PS, it seems like the Model 12 badge is the same as the Model 2.

Hey guys I dont know if this is going to be in the right area but it can be moved if needed, A bit of help also needed on the correct head for my Model 2 engine #94828 as from what I can tell from looking at others it has the wrong head on it as the spark plug comes out at a different angle, it also has cast into it a couple of threads like for a cowl to screw onto, maybee from a later model 125, did the 125 heads change from the Rotomos to the Model 4 & 5's? I will put up a couple of pics so you can see what I am talking about and the difference in the mateing surface where they meet the barrel, the model 5 type head is round and the head on my engine is square.







if my theary is correct, at what point did the change of heads come about?

cheers.

The blasted head (left) is correct. Model 2 early through to early sheerline are the same. (This includes model 3 4 auto and model 5s and any utility running the model 5 engine) Model 1 is also similar style just with thicker guage fins. The first head change was the later sheerline. Centre plug hole and the two 1/4 mount holes for the cowl. The head on the roto engine pictured is neither model 2 or sheerline. Head change date would have been 1961 approx. Im unsure what your second head is off, mid 60s models on maybee?
As for the badge the rear will tell you model accuracy. Models 2 , 3 through to 10 and 12 utilities should be the same. The red edge is irrelevant. The reproductions are heavier flat on the back and often with more casting bubbles on the rear. They are also pliable you should be able to bend them with moderate effort. I have seen 2 replica styles only. Without seeing the rear of the second its harx to tell if it is a replica.

Mal.

Nice collection you amassing jonsey:)

BLUE! havent heard from you for a while, Thanks for the info on both the heads and badge, when you say "the red edge is irrelevant" I dont get it? I am painting my badge and would like to make it the same as original, I have not seen that many original badges so I dont know, only going off photos and the one posted seems like it may have the edge painted, what have you or anyone else found to be correct from original badges?? and yes the collection is mounting all the time, with some good weather now I hope to get stuck into some painting.

Your welcome Jonesy,
My meaning was that the red edge wont always determine its being original. But yes the original badges were painted full red then faced off. So your first example is correct (painted edge). And my appologies, I stated the red badge started mid mk2 fan. This I think is incorrect. It was the first handfull of model 1 rotomos still retained the green badge. I got it wrong way around. I have 2 original examples both under 1000 serial.

OK mate, thanks, Green badge, I never knew anything about a green badge, but I'm sure this info is going to help others as well as myself, and yes the second badge is definatly a repro as I got the image from Ebay. By the way the new avitar is not as out there as the old.

Hi to All,
Would it be possible for someone to put up an image of the green Victa badge...it would be good for this archive.
Thanks fellas,

Lols Jonesy. And Will do a shot of the green badge shortly deejay:)

Thanks Mal, I don't think I have ever seen one in the flesh and must be quite a rare beastie....I often wonder what was the badge colour of the Victa 14" reel mower that Merv produced before the 'Billy-Cart'

Pleasure Deejay...yes probably rarer than the mower id think, as ive seen a few badgless fans. Oddly enough im sure the 14" reel was red, but id have to do some digging to try and confirm. I was looking at a few stored fan images I have and it seems my original comment regarding the red badge running on a portion of mk 2 fans may well be accurate as their appear quite a few original examples...my curiosity now is why I have seen (and own)a few examples of early model 1s with original green badges...again using up old stock? Another odd victa discrepancy.

Howdy fellas, thought I'd throw a few more newspaper ads I've come across. This one dates to the month of release of "plastic" wheel Rotomos, which we know to be around serial #75,000 (see previous posts).


February 10, 1957 - Sydney Morning Herald






The following ads are quite a significant find, I reckon. Firstlty, here is the final ad I could find for the fan mower in the SMH. The second ad shown is the earliest SMH ad for the Model 1. It pre-dates the appearance of the same ad in the Canberra Times by some months, and combined with the last ad for the fan, gives us a tidy three month window for the release date of the model 1 Rotomo (some time between March 6 and May 15, 1955):

March 6, 1955 - Sydney Morning Herald



May 15, 1955 - Sydney Morning Herald

have got a question on throttle, what Model or engine # change had the bakerlite? or Plastic? & steel throttle like the one below?



Cheers.

Are you sure that throttle lever is steel jonesy? It looks to me as if it could be diecast zinc.

Grumpy, you are most likely right, I should have said metal not steel, it's just not plastic like on my M2, I also noticed the same one in post #49161 of Unkie's on a M5 series 3?

You can tell whether parts are zinc (or if they are not plated, perhaps aluminium) in various ways, but usually I just look to see whether it is a die-casting. Iron and steel are not suited to die casting because of their high melting temperature, though they can be sand cast. Zinc is even easier to die cast than aluminium, and is stronger. Incidentally, for some reason Americans like to call zinc "pot metal".

Of course steel or iron, unless it is an austenitic variety of stainless, is magnetic and few other metals are, so you can usually detect steel and iron with a magnet.