Old Town Canoe and Johnson Outboards

[Bill Lovejoy]

Is anyone aware of a formal relationship between Old Town Canoe and OMC (Outboard Motor Corporation)?

The most recent "Antique Outboarder" from AOMCI has an article about the 'new' 1954 Johnson 5 1/2. In the article there are several pictures from the 1954 Johnson sales brochure. The boat pictured bears a strong resemblance to a 13 1/2 foot Old Town Lapstrake. I also have a Johnson postcard, post marked 1954, which clearly shows a 13 1/2 foot Old Town.

 

[Benson Gray]

Is anyone aware of a formal relationship between Old Town Canoe and OMC (Outboard Motor Corporation)?

Page 67 of the book at http://www.wcha.org/store/old-town-canoe-company-our-first-hundred-years states that "By 1923 Old Town Canoe took on the distributorship of the complete line of popular Johnson outboard motors, becoming Johnson's first distributor. " This close relationship continued until the 1970s. Most of their fiberglass boats shipped with OMC engines.

The Baby Buzz shown at https://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?attachments/227/ was designed by Johnson. Old Town and many other manufacturers built boats from these plans. Let me know if this doesn't answer your question.

Benson

 

[Bill Lovejoy]

Thanks Benson,
Did thoughts on whether exchange boats/outboards occasionally? Do you recall seeing any serial number records indicating boats were sold/shipped to OMC? Old Town wasn't a large manufacturer nationally in terms of lapstrake boats. I was surprised to see an Old Town used as part of OMC's advertising.

 

[ppine]

I have an OT from 1951, and a 1.5 hp Johnson from 1929. The engine still runs and has been in the family since 1948. No correlation that I can tell.

 

[Bill Lovejoy]

Any pictures?

 

[ppine]

I do not post pictures, Sorry.

 

[Benson Gray]

I was surprised to see an Old Town used as part of OMC's advertising.

A quick search for Johnson Motor located three records of shipments to them in Illinois and Florida as shown below. It also seems likely that professional photographers like Bruce Nett would have been selling images to both manufacturers as shown in the postcard below.

Benson