Object Biography: 1948 Evinrude Outboard Motor
Stephanie Sterling
Figure 1. View of various outboard motors hanging in the collections warehouse, with the Evinrude centered.
In Memory of H. Ben Stowe, Gastonia, NC
The Evinrude Opposed Twin outboard motor was manufactured in 1948 and was donated to the North Carolina Maritime Museum – Beaufort (NCMMB) in 1992 (Figure 2). It represents one of 17 Evinrudes in a collection of 76 historic outboard motors housed in the museum’s collection. The oldest outboard motor is not currently on display and is a 1901 Evinrude. The research conducted thus far has been two-fold and includes:
1) investigating the history of outboard engineering and
2) analyzing the accession information on previous ownership
Both channels of information have offered insight into the impacts of the development of the outboard motor on maritime recreation, commercial industry, and community relationships to North Carolinian maritime culture, however this biography will focus on the exchange and meaning of ownership.
“Not only do objects change through their existence, but they often have the capability of accumulating histories, so that the present significance of an object derives from the persons and events to which it is connected” (Gosden and Marshall 1999). Objects that end up in museum collections don’t always find a home in a display case, most likely they will end up in a housed through a highly organized system in a museum storage facility; a climate controlled resting place if you will. The stories that objects such as the 1948 Evinrude hold transcend the use of their original manufacture as memories of loved ones. Donated in 1992 by George B. Stowe, this motor was among several boat and fishing-related donations that belonged to Mr. Stowe’s late father, H. Ben Stowe. What formerly belonged to the family as a means of recreation and industrial progression, now holds a greater meaning once the object passed ownership. Listed in Museum Record Catalog, George Stowe requested that whenever displayed, this outboard should give courtesy credit: “In Memory of H. Ben Stowe, Gastonia, NC” (NCMMB 1992).
The decade around the time the Evinrude Twin Opposed motor was manufactured saw a huge increase in boating activity (Venk 1958). Evinrude had established itself as a company officially in 1910, merging later with Johnson and Gale to form the Outboard Marine Company (Chilton 1973) until 2000, when they filed for bankruptcy. The growth of the company spans the industrial revolution to the technological revolution and that cannot be understated as the development of the outboard motor was essential to the livelihood and enjoyment of many people. The 1901 Evinrude motor that was donated to the NCMMB was donated in 1994 by Ms. Mildred Godwin and with it came a letter that mentioned the connection of the donation to her father’s life.
One cannot assume that the value of an object lay exclusively in monetary terms, as evidenced by how important the memory of a person connected to an object can be. Museums hold so many artifacts that may forever remain under lock and key, but even an old outboard motor has a story.
Figure 2. Front and profile of 1948 Evinrude Motor
Evinrude Twin Opposed Outboard Motor
Manufacturer: Evinrude
Manufacture Date: 1948
Material: stainless steel, aluminum
Catalog Number: 92.026.003
Accession Number: 92.026
Location: North Carolina, United States
Figure 3. Letter from Mildred Godwin to the museum included with donated 1947 Evinrude.
“Dear Mr. Macon,
Thank you so much for the information that will, hopefully, lead to an appraisal of the value of the Evinrude motor I have donated to the museum. I shall pursue it right away.
As regards my father in trying to find a possible source for the motor, I mentioned his hardware store. I suppose that fact did not represent the man. J.K. Vann was a member of the General Assembly of North Carolina in 1935, 1943, and 1945. He was a farmer, a lumberman, a peanut [braker], County Commissioner, as well. I suggest you use this information in whatever ways you deem advisable.
Thank you so much for your help, and, should it be necessary, I will certainly contact you again.
Mildred Godwin”
REFERENCES CITED
Chilton Automotive Editorial Department
1973 Chilton’s Repair and Tune-Up Guide: Outboard Motors Under 30 Horsepower, Illustrated. Philadelphia, PA.
Godwin, Mildred
1994 Letter to “Mr. Macon,” of the North Carolina Maritime Museum. 1947 Evinrude Outboard Acquisition attachment. Museum Catalog Record, Beaufort, NC.
Gosden, Christ and Marshall, Yvonne
1999 The Cultural Biography of Objects. World Archaeology, Vol. 31, No. 2 (1999), pp. 169-178. Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.
North Carolina Maritime Museum – Beaufort
1992 1948 Evinrude Outboard Acquisition. Museum Catalog Record, Beaufort, NC.
North Carolina Maritime Museum – Beaufort
1994 1947 Evinrude Outboard Acquisition. Museum Catalog Record, Beaufort, NC.
North Carolina Maritime Museum – Beaufort
2000 1901 Evinrude Outboard Acquisition. Museum Catalog Record, Beaufort, NC.
Venk, Ernest
1958 The Complete Outboard Boating Manual. American Technical Society, Chicago, IL.
APPENDIX
Drawings
Drawing 1. Ink rendering of 1948 Evinrude outboard motor. (Cat. #92.026.003)
Drawing 2. Field sketch of 1948 Evinrude outboard motor. (Cat. #92.026.003)