Bought 5 Outboards - Need help on ID

[garycolwill]

I just bought these 5 outboards from a guy on craigslist for $100 (actually, my son bought them for my birthday ). I made the stand last night.

From left to right:

Johnson Seahorse with a number 10 on it (I presume that's 10hp), and I haven't found a tag for serial or model #. Since the forward/reverse lever is stuck in forward, I can't get the cover latch off yet, but I presume I'll find the numbers under it once I do.

Evinrude Elto, on the top of the thingie that you wrap the pull cord around to start it. I also found a little badge on the body that says "Evinrude 4351 00472" and I'm guessing that's a model #, serial # or maybe both. Seems like this would be a runner - rotates nicely and there is compression.

Unidentified. has a lot of similarities with the Evinrude Elto above, but much smaller. This one's completely froze up. If I flip the motor upside down, I see a gray colored plate that has serial no 3932 and model 51-A. Also on the top of that plate I see "EISEMANN MAGNETO CORP. BROOKLYN N. Y. MADE IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" - a pretty weird thing to see on what a local outboard mechanic told me was a British Seagull. . At any rate, I'm not sure if that serial number and model number are for the outboard itself, or just the part. I haven't heard of a company by this name that made outboards, but then again I know pretty much nothing about outboard motors, or any boat motors, old or new. Also, I do see this stamped into the rusted body: OB100-3, and just be low it a number 5 just sitting there all by its lonesome.

Unidentified Blue, guessing maybe 3 to 5 hp, just by comparison to the Johnson 10. Has stylistic similarities to the Johnson. Also, if I look at the bottom, I can see the following stamped into the case: ser 54929 2 mod HD 25. I'm pretty sure this means it's a Johnon seahorse 2.5 hp because it sure looks like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJe82fWjcdQ - except that it's missing a cap for the fuel tank and another cover for the top.

Buccaneer - never heard of it. On a green label with general instructions there is 5S11B and Serial 564451.

Any thoughts on this lot? I'm not really an outboard collector, but it might be fun getting these to work, if possible. The only one I really have my doubts about is the middle one - it's the only one that seems to be completely frozen.

 

[garycolwill]

Here's a pic of the body of that small one that I think is an Evinrude:

 

[F_R]

Johnson 10hp = 1956
Elto 4351 = 1.8hp 1940-41 Likely 1940, due to WWII
Eiseman was the maker of the magneto, does not identify the motor very well
Johnson HD-25 = 2.5hp 1946-50
Gale Buccaneer 5S11B = 5hp 1955

Ain't no Sea Gulls there

 

[F_R]

Your Elto 4351 is a 1940 Elto Ace. (by serial number).

 

[garycolwill]

I think the small unidentified one is an Evinrude Elto cub. It looks very similar to the ones I see on youtube and ebay. However, there are some differences. This one does not have the round badge on the starboard side that has the model and serial number. Also, the spark plug would be on that side as well, instead of sticking out the back. Exhaust is an oval hole in the pipe instead of integrated into the prop housing. there's a button on the end of the throttle handle (or whatever that is projecting from the magneto plate), and that handle is not chrome, but gray like the plate. Wonder if that makes this older or newer than the ones I see on youtube or ebay.

Maybe it's not a cub - I was basing my guess on the shape of the gas tank. However, I now see that there are some pals that have that shape a s well.

 

[garycolwill]

Now I'm beginning to think it's a Neptune...
https://silodrome.com/neptune-outboard-motor/

 

[garycolwill]

http://www.leeroysramblings.com/history_of_neptune.html

" In 1938 they produced the first of what would, many years later, evolve into the popular Neptune Mighty Mite. This little engine was a carbon copy of the Evinrude Scout motor that had sold so well the previous year. It was designated as the 1A38 or 138A model, and was rated at 1.2 hp. The same motor was produced, almost unchanged, as the 1A39 or 139A in 1939. In 1940 the horsepower and bore were increased to 1.5hp, with the introduction of the 10A1, and the 11A1 in 1941. The 15A1 of 1945/46 was 1.5 hp as well. This group of engines was the first of the MIGHTY MITE style motors. They are easily distinguished by their spark plug, which was mounted on the starboard side of the cylinder head."

Aha!

 

[F_R]

Elto Ace running

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRK3rZGwJ4k

 

[F_R]

Evinrude Scout running

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90FxRZnqppc

 

[garycolwill]

I got that Elto Ace running - just a carb cleanout and she fired right up:

 

[garycolwill]

I've been reading up. So, all of these, with the exception of the Neptune (which I sold) are from the same company: OMC. Reading The Old Outboard book. Very interesting. BTW, I recently picked up a Johnon opposed twin that had a sheave labeled with model ABL-25, but have determined that it's really an A-35 or -45 based on the lower. This Johnson is probably the only motor I have out of the 5 that are NOT from OMC, as it predates the purchase of Johnson. It's in pretty rough shape, but should be pretty fun to work on.

I think the next one actually is the Gale, since it seems to be in the best shape. Then I'll probably turn to that old Johnson. Would be very cool to see a 89 to 90 year old outboard powering a skiff.