Need help?


Search OutdoorKing-Forum by entering Key Words Below



Who's Online Now
0 members (), 4,468 guests, and 265 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Online Spare Parts


Online Store


Newest Topics
Yardking crank case
by Spreefarm - 28/09/25 09:00 AM
Yard King Mower Manuals
by - 23/09/25 01:12 PM
Victa Identification
by RayNewt - 19/09/25 09:28 PM
Mowcart 66
by Willo - 19/09/25 10:41 AM
Topic Replies
The bends in the snorkel?
by KevinJP - 30/09/25 05:22 PM
Yardking crank case
by Spreefarm - 30/09/25 09:12 AM
Contessa fan
by mice_elf - 26/09/25 08:58 PM
Yard King Mower Manuals
by Muzho68 - 24/09/25 02:02 PM
Victa Identification
by maxwestern - 20/09/25 10:05 PM
Mowcart 66
by NormK - 20/09/25 12:07 PM
Hello from Vic
by mice_elf - 19/09/25 10:37 PM
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Hop To
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 637
Likes: 1
Qualified Senior
Over the weekend there was an auction at Bookham NSW. Sold at the auction was 100+ lawn mowers. I thought I would show some of the bargain and some of the record prices.

I am glad to see that finally something which isn't a Victa had entered the $1500+ range. Hopefully some other rarer lawn mowers will start to go up in value as well.

Some of the Highest prices included:

-A 1954 Mark 1 Victa Fan Mower for $2250 + buyers Premium

-1955/56 Spoke Wheeled Pace for $1600 + B.P.

-A 1956/7 Pace with parts Villager, 4-star and M5 for $450

-Victa Rotomo for $850

-Victa Dep store for $250

Some of The cheapest inclded:

-An early Champion for $5

-Model 4 Automatic with rear flap and parts of front flap for $350

-Rotoscythe for $10

-Rotoscythe Country for $60

-Austral Villiers Kickstart and Qualcast rotary for $20 the pair

-Whirlwind for $20

-Southern Cross for $20

-Clyde for $10

-First model Pope Rotary for $20

-Austral Villiers 7F for $10

-Green Hornet for $30

-Barclay (I think) for $5

-Complete whirlwinds for $30 and $5 each


Lots of mowers for high prices and lots for low, especially when it came to Victa Model 5s and Rotomos.

https://burnsandco.hibid.com/lots/?


Thanks for reading!
Portal Box 6
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 304
Forum Historian
G'day Kye
Many thanks for that comprehensive report! smile

I've got to say that most AUS collectors have not moved on - beyond Victa.
They won't touch 'pushies' or anything without the 'V' logo.

On these forums, I have tried to explain the richness of our vintage mower history.

I failed.
--------------------
Jack

Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 8,087
Likes: 222
SENIOR TECHNICIAN
You didn't fail Jack, don't be so hard on yourself, it is I guess just the sheer numbers of the early Victas out there and their unique style and the fact that nearly everybody can remember when dad or grandad bought one back in the fifties or sixties. All the other mowers, no matter how unique and with whatever innovations they had they now remain oddities a bit like the Victa Imperial compared to the SB's

Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 637
Likes: 1
Qualified Senior
I wouldn't say you failed Jack. Personally I like being able to pickup something more unique for a lower price. As Norm said, people remember Victa, its a personal thing.

This Pace might end up being a trend setter... who knows.


Thanks for reading!
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 585
Likes: 8
Qualified Senior
Hey Jack absolutely no failure there matey.I love your history lessons and have gained a true appreciation for the non V crowd.

Last edited by Gizmo; 20/03/19 04:49 PM. Reason: miss spelt

If my collection is complete ( then how come i keep buying stuff ? ) 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 304
Forum Historian
G'day Norm, Kye and Gizmo

Many thanks, of course. Very welcome thoughts there. Thank you all!
This is such a complex issue ...

Harry Potter told us that the 'V' word was uncomfortable to speak out.
There is good reason for that ...

'V' held, at best, about half the market in rotaries in AUS during the 'golden years'.
The problem - for me - is that the other half was held by about half-a-dozen makers.
There were implications ...

No one smaller maker could match V's advertising budget - or expertise!
I think Norm summed up the issue very nicely. Numbers won the day.
The 'V' became iconic; the others a cat's aside from the prized mantelpiece.

Norm, Kye and Gizmo - the underdogs - understand rich history -
and there is a life beyond the "V crowd".

I hope more folk will engage in lawnmower history and save
the fewer remaining beasts that once roamed the gardens of AUS.

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

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14
Novice
It was a massive auction I had a quick look for 5 minutes on Friday until they locked the gates. Bought a SB 33 on day one but missed getting a bid in on this thing on day two..I think it went for $20 not sure what it was but it was funky and i now am dreaming of it lol.

What is it?

Attachments
oQMZqsX.jpg (51.84 KB, 30 downloads)
Last edited by CyberJack; 21/03/19 07:43 PM. Reason: Insert image to ODK server.
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 304
Forum Historian
Quote
...but missed getting a bid in on this thing on day two..I think it went for $20 not sure what it was but it was funky and i now am dreaming of it lol.What is it?
G'day all ...

bUd540
This explains this first - and most interesting - 1950s Pope ...
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/u...e-first-pope-rotary-c1957.html#Post60056

This is such an underrated and important rotary in our history.

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


Moderated by  Bruce, CyberJack 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Donation
These Outdoorking Forums have helped Thousands of people in finding answers to their equipment questions.

If you have received help, please consider making a donation to support the on-going running cost of these forums.

October
M T W T F S S
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
ShoutChat
Comment Guidelines: Do post respectful and insightful comments. Don't flame, hate, spam.
Newest Members
Stenny, Andrewb92, Panhead, Nappy12, Brodie410
17,607 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums145
Topics13,000
Posts106,906
Members17,608
Most Online16,069
Sep 18th, 2025
OutdoorKing Showcase
20 Bucks from FB Marketplace
20 Bucks from FB Marketplace
by Return Rider, February 20
Victa Cortina 2 Shed Find
Victa Cortina 2 Shed Find
by Return Rider, January 25
My Rover Baron 45
My Rover Baron 45
by Maxwell_Rover_Baron, April 16
SHOWCASE - Precision Mowers - 2021
SHOWCASE - Precision Mowers - 2021
by CyberJack, April 14
SHOWCASE – Atco Rotary – Paul C - 2020
HOME |CONTACT US
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.0
(Release build 20240826)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 8.3.25 Page Time: 0.048s Queries: 32 (0.040s) Memory: 0.6572 MB (Peak: 0.7211 MB) Data Comp: Zlib Server Time: 2025-10-02 02:14:07 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS