Outboard History Talks: Johnson 1922-1965 – Amazing Innovation

Join outboard motor historian Larry Stevenson every Tuesday evening in August as he presents highlights and history from the Stevenson Outboard Collection. On August 21, Larry will discuss the Johnson Motor Company, an early competitor of Evinrude Outboard Motors. After the talk, Larry will offer a guided tour of the Stevenson Outboard Collection.

The genius and partnership of the four Johnson brothers epitomize American mechanical innovation in the first half of the 20th century. The brothers began building inboard marine engines in 1903 in their barn in Terre Haute, Indiana and quickly expanded to aviation. In 1912, a tornado severely damaged their factory, but they started again and created Johnson Brothers Engineering in 1918.  In 1922, they designed and built a radical new, lightweight outboard made largely of aluminum and by the mid-1920’s, they surpassed Evinrude in sales and dominated the outboard racing scene.

Admission is free, a suggested donation of $5 is appreciated.

Larry Stevenson is an outboard motor collector and historian with passions for industrial design, art, history, and sailing. Larry is a Navy and Coast Guard Auxiliary veteran and a retired UPS International Industrial Engineering Manager.

Boothbay Railway Village 2018 lectures are made possible by Bath Savings Institution.