On Tuesday, June 20 and on Wednesday, June 21, outboard motor historian Larry Stevenson will present two talks exploring major innovations in outboard motor design in the early twentieth century. Evinrude 1935-1965 – The Ralph Years explores changes Ralph Evinrude brought to outboard motors and to the company his parents founded. Ralph oversaw the first developments in outboard gearshifts, electric starting, and remote controls. Amazing Innovation: Johnson 1922-1965 looks at the genius and partnership of the four Johnson brothers of Terre Haute, Indiana. The Johnson brothers started building inboard 2-cycle marine engines in 1903 in a barn behind the house and by 1910 they were building the first U.S. monoplane to exhibit their aircraft engines. In 1912 torrential rain, followed by flooding and a direct hit from a tornado severely damaged their factory. Incredibly, they started again and created Johnson Brothers Engineering in 1918. In 1922, they designed and built a radical new, lightweight outboard made largely of aluminum and by the mid-1920's, they surpassed Evinrude in sales and dominated the outboard racing scene.

After each talk, Stevenson will conduct a tour of the newly opened Stevenson Outboard Collection at Boothbay Railway Village, focusing on the outboard motors discussed in the presentation.

Stevenson is a Navy and Coast Guard Auxiliary veteran and a retired UPS International Industrial Engineering manager in the international operation with a passion for industrial design, art, history, and sailing. He is a West Boothbay Harbor summer resident.

Admission is free, a suggested donation of $5 is appreciated.  Evinrude 1935-1965 – The Ralph Years is on Tuesday, June 20 at 7 p.m., and Amazing Innovation: Johnson 1922-1965 is on Wednesday, June 21 at 7 p.m. The talks are at Boothbay Railway Village, 586 Wiscasset Road, Boothbay. For more information about the talks or Boothbay Railway Village visit www.railwayvillage.org or call 207-633-4727.