OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Identification of Particular Machines Victa Utility - Unknown

Can the experts please identify this one for me. many thanks.

Hello Christo.

I believe this is a bitsa.

The 'streamliner' cowling was reserved for more expensive models.
The utes had the rear, top-mounted fuel tanks in the 1960s.
Also, the carby is on the wrong side. The Carby should be on the
same side as the height adjustment lever.

Similar to this (but without Chieftain):-
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=71011

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

Here's another one, I have come across a few of them over the years, they were definitely built but I'd dare say it was more of a transitional model between the model 8 and sheerline.

Hello Joe,

Sorry, I'll have to disagree with you there.
The green books and advertisements show no ute with that cowling.
The muffler on the height adjuster side is a big no-no as well.
Perhaps I've missed something. Any information welcome

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

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=48704&page=1

There are pics of two more in there, TY did have more information at one point but he was gone before that happened...

Obviously when they were putting the barrels on somebody screwed up and put them on the wrong way around and they just decided to leave them that way and push them out the door as is, nothing really unusual with manufacturing back in those days

Hello Joe

I certainly stand corrected in view of the evidence you present.
I would like to know the source of the illustration, of course.
[Hopefully, HT6 will supply that].

I have managed to track down and catalogue a better quality image of
HT6's ad from October of 1961 (and will show that shortly).

The issue for me is whether this was a production machine, or one
relegated to the 'Victa Museum' (as the ad suggests).

And, of course, this does not mean that every utility base with a
Sheerline cowl is genuine. Hopefully, a more careful reading of the
Green Book will show my error, and not its.

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

Hello NormK

Good point. I don't think it is that easy here though mate.
Joe and HT6 have produced good evidence that needs to be addressed.
It may be that Victa got it wrong, either in prototype, or for a
short period of production.

The exciting thing is that the record improves through friendly
argument, rather than adversarial nonsense.

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

Hello All

That great link that Joe included here shows that there had been some debate on this issue,
but there does not seem to be an adequate resolution.

It is widely held that the first Victa 'Utility' was the Model 12 of 1962-63.
This had the Model 8(x) engine and Model 10 chassis. The Victa Model 8 'Standard'
had the earlier Model 8(x) engine and a Model 8 Chassis.

The difference between the two chassis (the Standard and the Utility) is that the
latter had removable axles:-



The issue is: were either (or both) the Standard or the Ute fitted
with the Sheerline style Model 10 engine?

It appears to be that the standard was, but the Ute was not.
The photos appear to be all Standard (Model 8 bases).

The problem is that HT6 posted an illustration (probably from a User Manual)
that purports to show a Model 10 engine on a Model 10 Chassis.



My current view is that the illustration is in error, and
that the Sheerline engine (Model 10) was only fitted to the
earlier Standard base. This is shown in the October, 1961 ad:-



You probably noticed the problem: the word 'Utility' is used -
before the Utility's said introduction in 1962-63!

In summary then: evidence suggests that a Sheerline engine was
fitted to a Standard base for the 61-62 season. Perhaps this should
be considered the first Victa 'Utility'? I currently do not believe
that the Sheerline engine was fitted to the later Model 10 'Utility'
base. Any ideas Joe, Norm, Christo? Anyone? Anyone?

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

Hi Jack, I have a model 12 here that is in unmolested condition(apart from a siezed motor). What I am curious about is were these bases just old Rotomo left sitting on the shelf and to get rid of them they just fitted the later motor, height adjuster and flogged them off. Sound business practice of the day and I guess nobody would have thought that 50 years later people would be pondering the reasons for all these oddities that now surface

Hi Norm

That's a great question that pushes me beyond my comfort zone.
The Model 12 is credited as being Victa's first 'Utility'.

But you know that that heritage is ... Rotomo.
The name 'Rotomo' was the name Merv gave to his first rotaries,
even though we have coined some as being 'Billy Cart' or 'Fan' or ...

I do believe that Victa made a good attempt to modernise the
Rotomo 'toe-cutter' chassis for the sixties. The single biggest
improvement was the single point height adjuster (Model 8) and
then the more serviceable chassis (Model 12). But the Utility
that would define the 1960s would be the Model 509, 510, 530,
540 and 550.

So, to answer your question Norm,... No. The toe-cutter base would
could no longer be the mainstay of the 1960s line-up. It was too unsafe
as a domestic mower. Skirted side and rear discharge mowers would dominate.

The biggest draw-back of the model 12? ... the engine cowling.
This post shows that Victa played around with this, finally settling
on the more squarish look of the 63-64 and beyond Utilities.

The DNA of the original 1952 Rotomos would remain for three decades,
but the move was from mainstream to just professional use.

Interesting question I must say.

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

Is this pic from a fleebay Victa Mower Manual useful for your archives?




One more question? What colour do I paint her?

Hello all Contributors

It's amazing what turns up on eBay... and timely too.
This seems to solve two questions, but leaves one unanswered.

What is its name?
It is not the first Utility, but the last Standard.

When was it introduced?
It was introduced for the 1960-61 year.
This would bring forward the release date of the Utility to 1960-61.
[This is the only way to make sense of the October 1961 ad(above)]
The Standard was no longer the cheapest Victa, it would be the Utility.

The unanswered question is whether the manual illustration, showing
the Standard with the later Ute chassis is accurate. The photo
evidence from members shows the Sheerline engine on the standard
chassis. But did this change for the final Standards?

All very interesting.
---------------------------
Jack

Hi Christo, I have one of the Utilities in original unmolested condition. The only variance from the pic is it has the big low mounted air cleaner. I have seen pics of them set up this way. Paint on this one is original,it is a lightish green colour. I believe the base on these were from obsolete,left over Rotomo stock. I pulled the motor from it yesterday and a strange thing was that the bolts that held the motor to the base were about 2 inches too long and had spacer tubes fitted, they cleared the top of the blade carrier. Looked very strange but also looked factory