OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums General Discussion Forum Off Topics Bragg Jetfast-Victa Ride-on: What to do with them?

A mate gave me 5 push mowers and a ride on today and I'm not sure what to do with them. The ride on has no deck and is pretty run down, motor and trans apparently ok the push mowers are in reasonable condition, all complete with nothing hanging off or tied together, and all have catchers. Problem is these days you would struggle to give these things away, do I bother trying to get these running or is it just a waste of time. I'll get some pics of them tomorrow

What is it that makes things sought by collectors, some of these mowers I picked up must be 30 years old but they are just old mowers. Would/will they become sought after in another 100 years, only because the few that survive have become rare. Will a Hyundai in 100 years be collectible or only because it is the last one in existence. The Victa toecutters don't fit this thinking because they are old and still reasonably obtainable, not like there is only one or two left

G'day Norm
That's always an interesting question. I feel the more accurate
question (from my point of view) is ...

"What is it that should make things sought by collectors"

When I think about old lawnmowers I have developed my own criteria.
The acronym is HARD.
- Heritage: How early did the company start making mowers?
Is there an interesting or important provenance?
- Aesthetics: how stylish is the particular model?
Is it appealing, unusual or weird looking?
- Rarity: how many were made?
How many survive?
- Design: did the maker introduce new or novel features?
Were these features influential on future designs?

I have found it a handy scheme for evaluation 'importance' of
old things. But I guess it doesn't really answer your question.

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

Not sure about this mower, never heard of it


This one is just for Jack

This one is for anybody who may have some idea as to what it is, has a Victa sticker on the back and I believe the transmission works, so if somebody needs one.

G'day Norm
The walk behind is a Bragg Industries Jetfast c1980.
Bragg had a niche market for entry-level lawnmowers,
that sold through dealers that, perhaps, could not secure
big name brands. Here is a similar machine:-



Awwrr ... the second photo just for Jack
I don't know what American make but as a Victa it was a:-



I did notice a non-original feature though...
This was just before I smashed every dinner plate in the kitchen.
Coincidence? I think not.

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

Jack I'm sorry about the smashed plates.

As for what makes things collectible I guess is the evolution of mower design over the years. Once manufacturers finally came to the rear catcher design, I think from the mid/late sixties, it is very hard to go away from this because it does what it is designed to do, cut and catch grass.This then makes all mowers look the same and the only thing they can play with now is the colour they paint them. I can't see any collectible motors being put on them for future generations to get excited about

That's okay Norm ... good practice for the Greek wedding next week.

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

Interesting thing with the Victa ride on, it must have been left outside over the last few weeks of rainy weather we have been having, I pulled the carby, it was full of water and gunked up, the inlet to the inlet valve had water in it, the oil had probably a cup of water in it. Cleaned the carby, put in new oil and the thing started straight up and runs well. You can just never tell with this stuff, but now I have had it running it looks like water is dripping out of the transmission