Hey Cinders, and all in Australia

[painter777]

Cinders,
If there is a OFF TOPIC SUBJECT this surely is one. No more than killing bees I guess !
Roughly ten years back I decided to sell off the last few Antique Outboard Motors I owned. Worked down from a collection of nearly 45 that I'd gathered since being a teenager.

So every time I see your in South West Australia I think about a old outboard motor I sold to a guy in that area, can't recall which port over there it was shipped to. The buyer had arranged for me to just ship it to I believe Portland, Oregon to his Export Shipper. He had gone to college near me and while visiting family here had ran across my for sale add and contacted me.

This particular motor was a rare Johnson Model A, 2 cast iron cylinders, 2 Horse Power.
Made in 1921 and sold early Jan 1922. These motors started with serial number 507 at the end of 1921 they ended with serial number 606, total production of 99 units that year, from Dec 19 to Dec 31. In 1922 serial ran from 607-3930... total of 3323 units, all at the same cost per unit of $140.00.

This one was Model A, serial number 595, 1st production year, making it the 88th first version offered. It's believed that they had made 6 pre-production motors, then began with serial number 595 (CORRECTION SHOULD BE 507) for commercial sales.

While visiting an ole time blacksmith friend of my fathers who made heavy link chains for my old man I noticed this old motor way up under a heavy work bench full of dust and spider webs. Me being about 15 he was easy on me while we wheel and dealed. He could remember the last time he used it, in like 1952 and had stuck it under the bench after it giving him problems out on the water. No way would he take my initial offer of $15, but countered with $17. Deal was done and he gave me that GOTCHA Grin!

After getting it home and cleaning it up you could see it was an all original barn find, with not even so much as a buggered screw head or rounded corner on a bolt head. Cleaned out the fuel tank, lines and un stuck the cork carb float. Fresh gas mix and 3 pulls later she was idling in the tank. I was careful not to buff or shine to save that vintage patina. All Aluminum, brass and copper fittings...etc.

So be on the lookout for a classic wooden skiff with a Johnson Model A serial# 595

The new owner had a old time skiff that was near the same age and wanted this to motor out to his moored yacht.

The pimped picture below wasn't mine and not exactly like they came, like the cylinders having a hammerite finish over the cast heads.... etc. But even as a barn find they were awesome looking with the brass, copper and aluminum parts.

Bottom picture shows the GW INVADERs, This one wasn't mine but these are the same models I raced for years. 10 foot 60 horse power class. I liked the 3 cylinder 3 carb late 70's Johnson/Evinrudes (higher compression). I'd use a long shaft that helped pulling those sharp turns, as we raced river courses. Power trim wasn't allowed. We'd use fixed trim tabs, without them a hole shot could very well flip you over, even with them a hard start could nearly stand you vertical. Had to give it up after breaking my back in a auto accident.

Posted just for the fun of it

Cheers
Charlie-Painter777

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[CINDERS]

If was in the SouthWest Charlie chances are it would be one of these 3 ports Bunbury, Albany or Esperance as they are the only ones outside of the metropolitan area that handle general freight.
Hope you got a reasonable price a bit more than $17/US..........

[Peter Laidler]

I enjoy reading these stories Painter. Great to read and see...... Someone on this forum renovated a US wartime chain saw.