Artifact Archive

Ole Evinrude moved from Norway to Wisconsin as a child, where he developed a love for boating. After marrying wife Bess in 1906, he began experimenting with rowboat motor design. His first commercial one weighed 62 pounds. As Bess's health declined, Ole sold the Evinrude company to his business partner, while continuing to design motors.

Five years later in 1925, he started the "Elto Outboard Motor Company" with a largely aluminum motor weighing only 48 pounds. Soon his business exceeded Evinrude. The museum's model is Elto's first commercial product.

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