Make over ?? That's a bit of an understatement. This is a lovely full restoration. I guess the only thing one could pick on is that the Series one 20 inch Model 45 never came with a Briggs power plant fitted, rather the HK30 Kirby with the large One Quart fuel tank which certainly filled out the large width solid deck area much more than the smaller Briggs unit, Nevertheless this is one of the best restos I've seen on here.
Actually I'll go as far as saying this one is too good to use and would happily sit in my lounge room to be used as a coffee table, which sadly isn't possible just like they do with early Victa 18's with the handle folded over to support the glass top.
Congratulations are certainly in order.
Cheers, BB.
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
Thanks BB. This one completes the set of the series one model I've done (14",17",20"). I'll have to put them together and take some photos to post up one day. And yes, they won't be cutting no grass, just dust collectors now.
Just love dust collectors. Just find it hard to do all that work and then have it messed up, it's the old "dammed if you do, dammed if you don't" scenario.
Just out of interest why did you put a Briggs onto this one when it originally would've had a Kirby HK30 on it ?
Cheers, BB.
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
I have Kirby's I could have put on it but I simply just don't like them. To be honest I have questioned myself, but at the end I put it together for me as I have no plans on selling it anytime soon.
Holy Crapola Batman - what a brilliant restoration!!!
These are brilliant images of a concourse restoration. The restored edger accessory is a brilliant bonus
I give this a five-star.
Many thanks for showing us the 45's continuing potential to shine. ---------------------------- Jack
p.s.I would be scared to use this machine. Similar to Jay Leno, I would just sit back in a comfortable chair, with a good wine, and just marvel at the beauty!
One thing I really love about this project is that you've sent all the fasteners away for re-plating in original zinc opposed to painting them. I know you've painted the handle bars, but they are a real deal breaker for most folk price wise. Plating them there wouldn't be any change from $300.
Also the catcher has probably had a good panel beater straighten it out perfectly without any ripples showing from tree rash as they all suffer from during their lifespan, especially the 20's.
BTW as "Aldi" would say, my lounge room has a big Scott Bonnar hole in it at the moment.
Cheers, BB.
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
I much rather the zinc than just painting over everything but yes the handlebars have been powder coated which I think looks good against the green. I did purchase a brand new after market catcher but couldn't bring myself to use it. And I actually took the original catcher to a local panel beater because I wanted it done right but they wanted nothing to do with it. So I ended up spending hours on it myself. It's by no means 100% but I got a little self satisfaction out of it.
I'm going to christen them the Lucy Turnbull set. Delicious colour scheme on all four. You could display them in a mower shop showroom and think they were a new classic style series!!
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
