OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Rotary 1st Fan Model Victa

My Fan model. This is the first Fan model made, you will note that the base is flat with the engine held of the base by brackets this one has some angle iron welded across as there is some small cracks across the base
The wheels are different to all other Victa�s as they are dished and I�m missing one wheel someone has put the next model wheel on
There is no cutting disk just a flat bar with blades on the end and that is original
The engine has good compression and good spark so should go
What I understand is the first fan model have only been found from Newcastle to Wollongong
This is the only one in Queensland unless some has bought one in, the story behind this one is a chap from Newcastle moved to Charters Towers to work in the gold mines and bought the mower with him
Will I restore it one day, don�t know have a lot of other things going on
There is another fan model on here at https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=35536#Post35536




Ian

Consider yourself a very fortunate man Ian. A near complete and accurate Mk1 Rotomo "Fan" In easily restorable condition.
What a little beauty! This and the billy cart are the 2 models that still elude me.
Victa had not yet expanded to the other states as it was still early days for Production. I will ad that the cost of mowers were quite exorbitant at the time in comparison to ones wage and a luxury many could not afford. So when people moved they took their mowers with them same as you would your car.

My fan actually came from South Australia with a second engine assy and a broken fan and rusted out wheels but hey a fan is a fan,in time i may try to trade my spare engine for an original fan assy so i at least have a complete and accurate Mk2.
But you information is correct,they were only sold in the areas stated,again because production was really only in its infancy and far off from expansion.

A fair portion of the fans produced had the X coding which denotes australian produced engines this happened roughly towards the latter part of the Mk1 . Your number can possibly be checked for accuracy,but it looks spot on to me.

Send Voljon a Pm and he may possibly be able to tell you if it was produced for Victa.
Now dont get your hopes up to high,but im sure I have 1 wheel hiding somewhere,I got in a box of parts with some pace metal wheels too. IF I still have it your welcome to it.

I need put more progress pics of my Mk2 as the base it finished. While I have a fan it is not complete,I still need the fan and the cutting bar or one to replicate,but all else is correct.
Again your blessed to have such a prized gem in your collection,and Im happy to see another one come out of the wood work.

Regards Mal.

WOW, and as Blue said, Ian, what was the story behind you coming into possession of such a rare mower if you wouldnt mind shareing?

Charters Towers is older than Townsville and a better place to find old stuff and Charaters Towers is only 1.5 hs away
I go from Townsville to Emerald to Cloncurry the Gulf and there is some very old stations around and HA HA, sorry, to far you blokes down south to come
I go to every display I can go to and ask has everybody 'seen any old machinery laying around' and try and follow up the leads, I would say I get a 1 out of 3 strike rate
It was one of these leads for an old Villager mower and sitting a few feet away was the fan mower, I was not the first person to see the mower and was luckily the others though it looked home made and at first glance it does look that way. The owners son who I spoke to said his father bought it with him when he moved
I tried not to get to excited when I saw the mower but, it was not missed by the owner's son, oops, BUT he had seen some of my engines, chainsaws, outboards, mowers on display before and liked what I did and I was the first person to show some real interest in the mowers result being I got the mowers for a very fair price
Ian