Who Made The First Outboard Motor

[Thunderbull]

Can anyone tell me who made the first Outboard Motor and what year did they come out with it?

 

[Thunderbull]

Re: Who Made The First Outboard Motor

I am soryy that I put this under the worng heading, hope you will move it under the right heading.

 

[BlkY2k]

Re: Who Made The First Outboard Motor

I`m not sure but I`d say Adam was the first to motorboat...

 

[NYBo]

Re: Who Made The First Outboard Motor

Welcome to iboats!

Contrary to popular legend, it was NOT Ole Evinrude. The maker of the first outboard sold was a guy with the great name of Cameron Waterman.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Who Made The First Outboard Motor

Not too clear on this...history has a way of getting lost at times.

OB motor patents go back as far as 1887, but were they really put into production?

The earliest OBs that actually were sold were Watermans, and they date to about 1907. But if you review patent literature, you'll see that it was thunk up before Waterman.

Ole Evinrude is often credited as the inventor of the OBM, but what he actually did was develop a usable model that was manufactured and sold by an ongoing company. The Evinrude "Rowboat Motor" was introduced in 1909. He is the "Henry Ford" of the marine world.

Like Ole, Henry Ford didn't actually invent his product. What he did was invent the process that allowed it to be mass produced, and put in the hands of the average guy.

Here are two examples of Ole's original creation - circa 1920 and 1923.

To OB enthusiasts, we still consider the Evinrude slogan to be valid......"First In Outboards".

 

[robert graham]

Re: Who Made The First Outboard Motor

Man, that's a pair of beauties!, lots of brass parts, I'd love to hear them run!

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Who Made The First Outboard Motor

I`m not sure but I`d say Adam was the first to motorboat...

HAH!! Love it!

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Who Made The First Outboard Motor

I`m not sure but I`d say Adam was the first to motorboat...

Hey Eve! Come over here and pull my finger!

 

[2ndtry]

Re: Who Made The First Outboard Motor

Here are two examples of Ole's original creation - circa 1920 and 1923.

Looks to me like a set of matched twins, on right hand and one left.

 

[Thunderbull]

Re: Who Made The First Outboard Motor

Now I have a question to ask : I have a 1946 5HP Johnson and would like to know what it is worth? It is in mint conduction? Can anyone tell me if it has brass pistons? I was told that on top of the piston was lead is that right?

It may have 400 hours if lucky. This was my fathers motor and he brought it new.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Who Made The First Outboard Motor

I could be wrong - but never heard of lead on top of the piston. Lead melts at pretty low temperatures, can't imagine it would last too long on a piston. Like I said, could be wrong, have been before - but 1946 isn't really that old - the technology had evolved pretty far by that point.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Who Made The First Outboard Motor

Looks to me like a set of matched twins, on right hand and one left.

Actually, no. They are both Model A, but different versions.

Ole's first Rowboat Motor had no tilt function, and no skeg. The one on the right is the 2nd generation model, which had the skeg added. The one on the left is the third generation - if you look closely you can see the extra tilt bracket that allows the motor to be raised out of the water. It also has the optional sheave on the flywheel - instead of using the knuckle buster handle to start it, a leather strap was wound around it, similar to using a rope in later years.

 

[Deadwood]

Re: Who Made The First Outboard Motor

I`m not sure but I`d say Adam was the first to motorboat...

From the Book of iboats:
"And Adam saw right away that his outboard needed something to steer it. While he was comtemplating what to use for the tiller handle the Almighty suggested why not use one of his ribs?"...

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Who Made The First Outboard Motor

Now I have a question to ask : I have a 1946 5HP Johnson and would like to know what it is worth? It is in mint conduction? Can anyone tell me if it has brass pistons? I was told that on top of the piston was lead is that right?
.

Lead melts at 600 degrees or so, so nope, 100% not possible the piston had any lead construction. it would be liquid!

 

[JimS123]

Re: Who Made The First Outboard Motor

Now I have a question to ask : I have a 1946 5HP Johnson and would like to know what it is worth? It is in mint conduction? Can anyone tell me if it has brass pistons? I was told that on top of the piston was lead is that right?

It may have 400 hours if lucky. This was my fathers motor and he brought it new.

It has steel pistons.

The 1946-49 Johnson 5 HP TD-20 set production records in its day. It is still one of the most common OB motors ever made. Gazillions are still in use. Thus, its not rare.

Pricing / value is all over the map. I paid $10 - $20 each for the 4 I once had. Still have 2. In mint condition and if they run, maybe worth $200. $150 - $300 range depending on where you live. A freshwater motor sold in FL will command a high price, while the same motor in WS will bring half as much.

YMMV.

 

[Thunderbull]

Re: Who Made The First Outboard Motor

OK since you answered that question could there have been lead on the piston from the gas they used back in those days?

My next question is where do you find the Model No. and SS Number on the motor?

I have 2 hoops or covers that cover the engine one has a screw on top and the other does not. I personally believe the one without the screw on top is original. My brother pick up the one with the screw on top. Why it is there I have no ideal?

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Who Made The First Outboard Motor

From the Book of iboats:
"And Adam saw right away that his outboard needed something to steer it. While he was comtemplating what to use for the tiller handle the Almighty suggested why not use one of his ribs?"...

...and He saw that it was good.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Who Made The First Outboard Motor

OK since you answered that question could there have been lead on the piston from the gas they used back in those days?

My next question is where do you find the Model No. and SS Number on the motor?

I have 2 hoops or covers that cover the engine one has a screw on top and the other does not. I personally believe the one without the screw on top is original. My brother pick up the one with the screw on top. Why it is there I have no ideal?

They never used elemental lead in gasoline, so no.

That particular Johnson has the Model and serial number engraved on the port side of the block. Without going out to the boathouse and looking, I think you might see it if you look up under the lower cowl. At worst, remove the cowl and it'll be right there. It should only have a single one piece wrap around lower cowl, with a screw on each aft end. The top "cover" is the gas tank.

If the cowl is not original, then I would not consider the motor to be in "mint" condition.