Ole Evinrude

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ole Evinrude, born Ole Evenrudstuen (April 19, 1877—July 12, 1934) was a Norwegian-American inventor, famous for the invention of the outboard motor.

Evinrude was born in Norway and emigrated with his family to Cambridge, Wisconsin, USA at the age of five. At age sixteen he went to Madison working in machinery stores and studying engineering on his own. He became a machinist while working at various machine tool firms in Wisconsin, Pittsburgh, and Chicago.

In 1900, Evinrude co-founded the custom engine firm Clemick & Evinrude. In 1909, he invented the first practical and reliable outboard motor. He claimed that his invention was inspired by rowing a boat on a hot day to get ice cream for his girlfriend. In 1912, the firm employed 300 workers.

In 1919, Evinrude invented a more efficient and lighter two-cylinder motor. Having sold his part in Clemick & Evinrude, he founded the Elto Outboard Motor Company (The Elto name was an abbreviaton of "Evinrude Light Twin Outboard").

Although he faced competition from other companies, like Johnson Motor Company of South Bend, Indiana, Evinrude's company survived through acquisitions and formed the Outboard Marine Corporation. He left great gratitude to his life long friend George Moering, who helped him create OMC.

[edit] References

Kenneth Bjork. "Ole Evinrude and the Outboard Motor," Norwegian-American Studies and Records 12 (1941): 167-177[1]
Fred Carstensen. "Evinrude, Ole"; American National Biography Online, Feb. 2000.