We are deaccessioning some items from the (now-closed) Hemmings Motor News museum in Bennington to make room for our project vehicles/raise funds for our '36 Chevy panel-truck project. I've been asked to handle disposal of our collection of antique outboard motors. This is a slight problem because while I love boats, I know very little about them--especially outboards. Anyone have a suggestion as to where I can research these (and a few others) to make sure I'm sending them off to good/informed owners? I am hoping to avoid using Facebook for collector groups as I haven't touched my dormant account in a few years now and am in no hurry to go back!
David, there was a time in my life that I had a sizeable (15-20 or so) collection of antique, tiny outboards. I used to buy them in running condition for no more than 10-15 bucks. BUT now , like everything else they seem to worth their weight in gold, especially the more obscure brands. I would say $100 +for the Chris Craft and probably 50+/- for the Merc ( only because of the condition and missing shrouding). I consider them to be "jewelry", good for decoration for theme restaurants, display and such... There is a chance of me being off on my estimates though. Good luck, Mitch
I agree with Mitch, his prices are pretty much on the money. I was a long time collector (I still have 5), and just keep them around for the occasional antique engine shows. They don’t bring that much. I have had a couple of “holy grail” outboards over the years but sold or traded them off long ago…
If by any chance you have an ELTO 4cyl I would certainly be a buyer. Still angry with myself that I let two go when I never thought I would get to my rail frame midget project. Good luck with your project and dispersal.
Thanks for the input fellas. I'll be trying to get a more detailed inventory of what we have soon, but I'm pretty busy between now and the middle of May. Now, I just have to figure out where the buyers are, since these look like they'd be a bear to ship anywhere. I've seen a few for sale here at the Spring Carlisle swap meet this week, but I haven't seen anyone carting one off as a purchase.
A local chapter we have here but some links good luck on the panel truck . We enjoyed the article on the panel truck in hemmings http://www.motorheadsil.com/links.html
David, the "FRESHWATER FISHING HALL OF FAME" in Hayward Wisconsin has a large, large display of outboards, that is where my inspiration came from. Someone involved with the place might have a good idea on values maybe. Mitch
Mercury Outboards: One of Mercury’s famous trolling motors of the 50s was the Mark 5. Mercury ran exciting ads reading: Trolls all day at a crawl Had plenty of power for a fast run. Mercury engineering gives you tomorrow’s outboard today. Truly weedless operation. Mercury full jeweled power too! We saw it in our backyard play room sitting in a corner covered when not in use. It was in the middle of his "fishing" area of that room. (later on to become our hot rod garage, engine building location, desert motorcycle build area and surfboard finishing area) Hello, We have seen this old green Mercury outboard motor since the 1949 Buick 4 door Roadmaster time period. Our dad was a fishing fanatic. He liked all sorts of fishing, especially cold, opening day April in the local Mammoth Mountain area, just off of Highway 395. At first, he rented an outboard motor and a skiff to venture out on the cold lakes to catch the hungry trout. He was good at finding the best location and always came home with a cooler frozen with fresh trout. Our dad used to take just his outboard Mercury Motor with him when he went with his friends to the opening day of trout fishing in the Lake Crowley area, every year. We tried going one year and it was too cold to even go outside of the motel room. Snow on the ground and some falling at night. So, this was his thing to do. He took our family on a couple of road trips, but the first time we were on the small skiff boat, it was so cold that it was not enjoyable, despite, the blue water, snow on the mountain tops and having fun adding cheese and salmon eggs to the small hooks. In between the fishing action, we had on our warmest clothes and gloves. But our mom made the decision that we would spend our time in the rented rooms and the local restaurant. Our dad was not to be disappointed. The trout were biting like crazy and he had a wonderful time on the small skiff with the outboard motor. After our first journey, we stayed home and our dad went with his friends. We just saw the green Mercury Motor on its rolling stand across the backyard garage during our hot rod days. Our hot rod/drag race/engine building stuff was in 3/4 ths of the workspace. Jnaki He bought a 5 hp Mercury outboard motor from this boat dealer in Sunset Beach, just south of Seal Beach, CA on PCH. Note: Our dad went to the boat shop next to the old blue building so he could look at several small outboard motor powered skiffs. He wanted to try fishing inside of the jetties as he did like surf fishing just up the beach in Huntington Beach. He also knew several of his friends that said the fishing under the overhead PCH bridge leading from Seal Beach to Surfside was a good place to fish. But parking was not available due to government property. So, the only way to get access to the fish was by boat. Note 2: My brother and I were laughing at the idea that our dad would launch the boat and cruise around fishing from the inland water ways. We laughed because that boat shop was named Cruzon for cruising. No, he did not buy a small boat. Although we always saw his Mercury Outboard sitting in its cradle in our Westside of Long Beach, hot rod building backyard shop. It was in “his” corner… But there on the other side was a family barrier. Our dad’s massive fishing collection and rod making equipment. Plus, there was an old Mercury Outboard Motor on a rolling stand plus his dust free cabinet for all of his custom reels, spinners, and even a giant tuna reel that was the biggest reel we had ever seen. He even had a space behind a curtain, inside of the open wall beams to hide his collection of poles from a lightweight trout fishing pole, to a multiple piece surf fishing pole that was rather long and a very thick pole for the giant tuna hunting expeditions. All hidden from view by a drop curtain, to keep the poles + stuff, dirt free, until ready for use. Then, next to cabinet was an unusual wooden rolling reel that had the longest amount of monofilament lines we had ever seen. We used that tabletop size wooden reel with the old monofilament line to fly our custom made kites in various local contests. But, we should have taken a good look at the set up as our dad was a stickler for a dust free workplace and his equipment was always spotless. His motor was always in “ready to go” shape. He used to take it when he took us to the local quiet fishing spots in Newport Harbor Bay coves. It sure beat rowing an 8 foot dinghy to the selected fishing locations. As the motor got older, it was harder to start. Many pulls would give us strong right arm build up power. At home, we would put the motor in a galvanized trash can filled with water and start the motor or take it apart to tune it correctly, so it would be ready for our dad’s fishing trips. YRMV Note 3: When my wife and I were in the middle of our sailing adventures, we had a 26 foot long racing boat. It was low, fast and sometimes a little scary in larger waves and windy conditions. But, we learned a lot of ourselves sailing this lightweight boat out in the ocean. One of the neat things was an additional add on outboard motor. Thinking back to the green Mercury Motor, we did not want such a heavy outboard sitting on the rear of our lightweight sailboat. So, we got the latest innovation, an all electric motor that was more powerful than the old Mercury motor and I could carry it with one arm from the station wagon to the boat and lift it easily. Now, it allowed us to enter and exit the narrow docking area and when finished, take it home for a thorough cleaning, ready for the next weeks sailing adventure. Plus, it had a solar panel to increase the time on one battery charging, while the other one was in use. It powered the small racing sailboat faster than the gas powered outboard motor. YRMV
How ironic......I was making a fast trip from Milwaukee to Kaukana to pick up a vintage John Deere lawn tractor. I had my son-in-law with me and our one and only 5yr old grandson. My son in law had never been in that part of Wisconsin and was very interested in the area. We were going thru Fond Du Lac and I pointed out the huge sprawling Mercury Marine complex along the road and gave him a history lesson.......including the Nascar racing history of Carl Kiekhaefer with all his Chrysler hot rods.
The Jalopy Journal
