OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Identification of Particular Machines COLDA: Old Mower with Hurricane & Victa Engines

Hello BH

I'm confident in saying that it is more probable than not that
these mowers now have an identity. I believe they are the
elusive Colda power mowers. There is corroborating evidence:-

[1] the decal is a close match to the Colda washing machine.
I found this evidence compelling. I think we can see the top part
of the 'L' in your decayed decal.

[2] the timing is right. The ads I have show Colda mowers sold
from early 1957 to late 1959. I dated your mower close to this.

[3] The old firm of Malleys took over Colda on 1959, suggesting
to me the possibility the Colda mower was killed off by them. I note that
Colda was fined for tax avoidance in mid-1959 - suggesting that it was
an easy takeover by Malleys.

[4] I have found an ad for a Colda with a Victa engine,
confirming one of the machines found. I have clear evidence that they
also used Hurricane engines.

There are plenty of advertisements for Colda products. None show
any illustrations of their lawnmowers - unfortunately!



Hope this helps.
------------------------
Jack

The Museum of Victoria has a 1958 Colda fridge in their collection, and it has this oval logo on the freezer door.



Museum Item LINK

Hello Mod Gadge

You can see how that [Censored] fridge put me off the trail.
That logo was repeated in many ads I have recorded.
It did not show the wing emblem crucial to establishing
the lawnmower's identity.

The breakthrough was a single ad I found for the Colda
washing machine of 1957. It added the wing shape to the
oval Colda logo.

Though not exactly the same as the remains on BH's machine,
it is convincing evidence that the lawnmower is indeed a Colda.

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

Too bad he has not responded any further, to request for pics of his, or anything...

someone else emailed me yesterday saying it was a Villiers, but was just a guesser, by sounds of him..

Hello BH

That's an old myth that's been hard to correct.
In the photos below all 4 mowers have been incorrectly identified
by the respective engines fitted to them...

None of these engine manufacturers made lawnmowers.



Hope this helps.
--------------------------
Jack

Anyway, looks like is now settled conclusively, I saw another antique mower site, and reading one typed-list page he has, he had a list of mowers fitted with Hurricane engines, 125cc and 160cc.. the Colda was second on the list...(125cc, apparently) but no pics. I hit the contact button on the site, and asked him if he had an image of one ..he has replied quickly, and sent a pic of a fully restored Colda, painted emerald green deck...there is no decal on front, of course a repro decal would be non-existent , but the mower itself is a spot-on match in every way that I can see...I've asked him for permission to display the pic elsewhere, as I thought it might be rude to just save it and post it here, but if he does not mind,( or does not reply again) I will put it here..

the simplex in those pics looks a bit like mine, too, doesn't it..

surprising there have even been this many local mower manufacturers, frankly, must have been a thriving market with either no foreign competition or a lot of trade protection, to support them all..
Now, what, I don't think there are any local-powered local brands, are there? Victa use imported engines various brands, i think the Victa 160cc 2-stroke is officially extinct, isn't it? And Rover always did mostly just use Briggs 4-strokes..

Hello BH
Yes, I use to write for that small forum.
That particular machine was presented in this post in un-restored form.
It was No.2 to your No.3 machine.


The restoration colours do not accord with the evidence in the original un-restored photo.
Quite a loss (in my view).

Not really BH. I have written about that important lawnmower here:-
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=51528

I have begun to write about how our lawnmower industry started in
the 1930s - brought about by protective tariffs. This takes noting away
from a couple of pioneers that started prior to 1930, the most important
being Scott Bonnar.

The rotary revolution of the late 1940s and 1950s produced a few dozen
manufacturers. Most were small firms, who could eke out a living because
of the simpler designs of the time.

All that changed by the start of the sixties. Our expectations changed
about what a lawnmower should be. Only half a dozen 'big players'
could survive in that climate.

Colda was not a small firm. In this late 1956 advert we see the size
of the factory. Note that this is the year before their lawnmower would
be made. Colda had clear capacity to deep press bases with a high skirt
(for cutting efficiency).


I have argued here that your machine is more probable than not a Colda.
It is not yet conclusive. That would require an illustrated advert or brochure.

I have argued that what killed off the Colda was probably the Malley's takeover.
The Colda design (like yours) was too old for the 1960s and considerable
capital would have been needed to produce new designs. I might also add that
lawnmower manufacturers in the 1960s needed a 'range', not just one design.

That's right. Victa have signalled their intention to 'phase out' the 2-stroke
over the next few years.

Rover (first named Wizard) started out using the Australian-made Simplex engine.
They then used Villiers, Kirby, Briggs, Suzuki, and Tecumseh engines.
It is true that by the late sixties, Briggs was their preferred power unit.

Hope this helps.
-------------------------
Jack

"Suzuki, and Tecumseh engines.
It is true that by the late sixties, Briggs was their preferred power unit."

I've seen a couple Victas and Rovers with the Tecumseh engine..I had something else on ebay not long back with the Tecumseh, possibly a Morrison...that turned out to be the only Tecumseh-powered anything I've ever picked up that actually ran..so the impression I have is that they are a bugger of an engine, as well as naturally being about 3X as difficult and expensive to buy a part for as a Briggs..apparently Tecumseh in US has now actually folded altogether..they're big, though, their units, I think they were all @209cc, ones I'd had here...so they probably go, when they go..

it seems conclusive with Colda and that mower and mine, because that image I was sent this morning, is a 100% match.I cannot see any difference at all, same red tank , shaped like that, mounted up like that, rubber mountings on end,same aluminium cowl, his restored one has the actual plastic height knob where mine just has bolt/nut remaining, same position..
all details match, cannot see any deviation.

what colour should they be, just a light green?

Yeah, that emerald/Brunswick colour might have been too vivid for it, actually...might have looked better a lighter more subdued green..

Bit like the people who mistakenly go around spraying all old Holden sixes Chevy Orange or even Rocket Red is not correct for all of them, there was a third correct colour that most 173s and 202s and a lot of 253s and 308s were actually painted, a pale pinkish orange,not as wild as Chevy Orange, and it never seems to have come out in engine-paint spray packs or whatever..

Not quite BH

The original un-restored mower photo appeared on the Vintage Mowers website
in July as unidentified. The poster was John (owner of VM) who posted it on
behalf of the owner. The owner was attempting to identify it!

Yesterday, the restored photos appeared (that you have been sent). These
were also posted by the site owner. The mower was identified as ...a Colda.
Unfortunately no evidence was supplied as to how the unidentified
mower became an identified Colda in the new post...

Perhaps you might email again and ask how the unknown mower was identified,
and ask for the evidence - an advertisement, brochure, or original
photo showing the brand name would be needed. As you know, I have presented
my evidence here in the form of four separate arguments. That is the best
I can do until positive confirmation comes along.

Your machine is the best preserved and clearly shows a light aqua
or pastel green, not unlike some of the soft pastel fridge colours
offered at that time. I believe the handles, wheel hubs and tank
would have been red (to match the red in the decal remnants you have).

Hope this helps.
------------------------
Jack

Hello BH and Gadge

Gadge, I missed an important clue in the link you supplied
to the Museum of Victoria: http://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/items/256843

The winged emblem is there! At the bottom, and the Colda oval sits
within the wing, just like on the mower!




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

I do follow you, ur saying that although the two mowers match 100%, it was never 100% confirmed that that other restored mower is in fact a Colda..

anyway, whatever it is, it the twin brother of mine, I cannot see any difference whatsoever..

anyway, I also have the emailer through Gumtree who contacted me, saying it was Colda, and he had one himself...I don't think that that was john of Vintage Mower(apparently that mower is actually owned by a "Colin" was it ?)

But unfortunately that Gumtree respondent then fell silent and won't give any more info..

UPDATE:-

It is with much pleasure that I can say we now have confirmation.
The mower with the mysterious decayed decal is indeed a Colda.

Member Paul_C notified me today that he acquired what is believed to
be a first model (alloy base) machine - and it retains its beautiful
Colda Badge.




This is a better example of '1' originally shown in this topic:-


This is a highly significant find.
The machine has its original Victa engine (unbranded) and painted
quite badly. It is only missing the small flywheel cover. The
wheels appear to be all original and in great condition!

It has some unique crankcase numbers:-


I would like to thank Paul, again, for his astute collector's eye.
This is an important early rotary mower that provides good evidence
that Victa were supplying engines to other manufacturers right from
the early days.

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

Great find Paul! Great to see that we can confirm that the first mower is a Colda!

Had some free time today, cleaned up the points and the result was a decent spark. Cleaned out the carby and fuel tank, replaced the fuel tap and fuel line.

Started first pull

[video][/video]

Not sure how much cosmetic work I will do on this one yet, air filter is not on the mower in the video as it was soaking in cleaner :-)

Looking great! I subscribed to your channel too, so now i can see all the awesome mower vids you post !

Hi Paul and Kye

That would be the first video of a Colda mower then.

I guess the missing tin plate flywheel cover will be identical
to the Victa; given the same magneto model was used (?).

Are there any traces of the original paint scheme Paul?

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

Hi Jack,

The magneto is the same so I will keep an eye out for a replacement shroud, I can't see any sign of original paint but I believe the bars and tank are a good match from other pictures that I have seen.

I think the best match for the base is GMH/Dulux Torana green



Holts made a small touch up pressure pack in that colour, I think they still sell it.