OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Victa Lawn Mower Frames Victa Model 5 Store Brand - not seen before ?

I haven't seen this style of base on an Export model before

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/VINTAGE-...DefaultDomain_15&hash=item1e9f982537

I thought all the Export/Department Store bases were Model 5 type

What are your concerns Paul?

Dep store models were generally green cowl on red base. Ive seen variants of full red and red cowl on green.

No Victa logo on base or any victa marked parts.

Base retains no groove or skirt mounts. The 18 flash was retained.

Axle mount extensions are long gone as per model 5 series 3

So the base is a model 5...BUT, what I find unique is it appears to have 2 skirt humps remaining on an dep store unmarked base....This is a new one for me.

The colour is also incorrect, but it may have been painted.

A transitional casting may have been used for a very short time, before they cast the final base for the dep store models as we know them?...hence the reason the 2 skirt rises remain.

In any case I have never seen a dep store base with 2 skirt rises remaining.

The engine number may tell more...eg IAACxxxxx

My concerns are the same as yours :-) also the ugly mould scars where the groove cover use to be. Makes for some very ordinary mould making skills, would make a unique restoration I would say.

Actually I must admit Paul it does seem to be a different cast.As it has the mount for the edger (On the outside,for the bolt holes)and there are some long lines there.Here is one I have before I got it fixed.


So yes it does appear to be different indeed.
No long lines and no raised bits for the bolt holes.

Agreed Paul....It would be the kind of unique or low volume pieces I would normally like to collect.

Give it a shot and bid mate, it may well be another little known piece to the Model 5 story we don't know of, and with its discrepancies would make a nice add to your collection.

It would be good to have, remember this one

Looks a bit different now

:-)

Hello Paul, HT6 and Blumbly,

I have seen both types.
I think these machines are important in that they do represent Victa's
first venture into the world of branding.

From a historical point of view, I would like to see the demise of the term
"Export Model" when speaking of these. I think the last thing Victa wanted in the
1950s was to export without their name on it. It's a pity this name myth has
endured for so long - without any evidence at all.

I think the best descriptive term is "Model 5 Store Brand" - as you guys have used here.

Cheers.
-----------------------------
JACK

Hi Jack,

So the store brand mowers never left the country ? We're these the first home brand products ?

The first instance of partial store branded Victas were the Enhanced offerings of the Model 2 Rotomo by HG Noble stores.

They were not full Store mowers in the fact they were still branded by Victa, but had the addition of some basic extras and were adorned with the Companies plaque and service details, and sold by them.

Something like Tickford/FPV or HSV enhanced cars.

But yes, the Model 5 S3 unmarked Victas were the first true generic offerings available in Australia.

Later variants of early model Victas EG the Sheerline and Corvette have been seen in a few overseas countries, Some branded Victa, some not.

Where they exported by Victa? Ive not seen much evidence to say which models,years or amounts definitively,if at all, but were more likely 3rd party exporters offering to OS Markets in these early days.

Its not something I've researched much, so others may know the full story.

I also Just noticed Paul, that its only 20 mins from me, so I'm gonna hit it, if your not interested.

I was always told that they weren't exported that they were store brands.As such company's like Myers wanted to sell there own brand and that why there was no Victa name on any and every part of them.So Myers could put there name on them.
If Victa wanted to export wouldn't they want there name on them?
If any one was to purchase this particular one from eBay,just check the first photo and look at the back part of the base.I think there is a big part missing.I could be wrong.

Hello Paul,

Yep, they were Victa's first store brands - but with a qualification.
I don't think they were as 'generic' as we now know store brands.

I think they were very specifically sold to, perhaps, one or two large
retailers in Sydney and Melbourne. These were the secretive deals Victa engaged
in at the time. John Mason alludes to this in his Victa book.

All very interesting.
-----------------------------------
JACK

Go for it HT6, the mower is in Sydney and I am in Brisbane :-). Good luck !

Cheers Paul,

Spoke to the bloke, the Serial is correct and no base issues. Looks to be correct as sold in my opinion. More likely its an early variant and sold by a store other than the usual Myers Version.

So Something a little different from my Myer Store branded mower.

Hello,

This appears to be an old thread but I just like to mention the store brand that I have. I'm just about ready to restore this one that I have left images on here and as you can see this particular one has the undrilled and tapped side bosses as well. I would be interested in any information at all on this model as I'm going through the rebuild. I would be interested in information on the engine number if correct to this model.

Regards





Steve.

Hello Steve
The Victa Store Brand of the 1950s is surrounded in mystery.
I do not feel that anything will change there.

The red and green is consistent with other finds
I have no reason to doubt this engine is anything but original.



I suspect these machines were only sold in NSW, and only
sold to specific department stores.

Victa did a pretty bad job at concealing their identity with these.
I feel more is to be told about 1950's Victa store brands.

--------------------
Jack

Thanks, Jack,

Shame there is little information on these, will post my progress on this model Victa.

Regards

Steve.