Outboard Marine Corporation
The American group of companies OMC worked within the water sports industry. It sold initially mainly outboard engines from Evinrude and Johnson. Later inboard engines and motor boats were added.
History
The company Outboard Motors Corporation was founded in 1929 by the merger of the company " ELTO Outboard Motor Company ," " Evinrude Motor Company " and " Lockwood Motor Company ". Ole Evinrude, owner of the company ELTO had obtained this merger to get back the rights to the trademark " Evinrude ", which he sold along with his old company in 1914 to Chris Meyer. The relatively insignificant business Lockwood was taken because of working there chief engineer Finn T. Irgens. Despite the merger, the motors continue under the old three company name (company ) were sold. Only one model was produced under the label " Outboard Motors Corporation ". It was the " Fold Light", a split in the shaft engine that was shipped folded in a suitcase (1930 - 32).
Despite the effects of the global economic crisis OMC rose in 1931 to become the world 's largest producers of outboard motors. 1936, the main competitor " Johnson " was officially integrated into the group, which called itself from then Outboard Marine and Manufacturing Company. Then outboard motors were only sold under the brand name " Evinrude " and " Johnson ". They were identical, as a rule, and differed only in the color of the paint. In 1956, the company was shortened to Outboard Marine Corporation.
Under the company OMC inboard engines were produced with Z-Drive from 1985, the " OMC Cobra Stern Drive ". To the motors are assembled entirely in or on boats to better market, was founded in 1987 the " OMC Boats Group" and bought a total of twenty-one boatyards in subsequent years, including eg " Chris -Craft ", " Donzi " and " Four Winns ".
OMC went bankrupt in 2000, in 2001 acquired the Canadian "Bombardier Inc." the outboard motor range. This incorporated it in 2003, the company "Bombardier Recreational Products ' (BRP ) from.
Motor factories
(before 2000)
- Bruges, Belgium
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
- Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
- Sturtevant, Wisconsin, USA
- Waukegan, Illinois, United States
Racing
1981 OMC built the world's first 8-cylinder outboard motor and put him in the race of the Formula 1 World Championship in. It was built as a V-type engine had 3600 cc displacement and eight dual carburetors. From 1985 this engine was sold with a nominal output of 300 hp, also in the leisure sector.
Even before that, and after that OMC was actively involved in powerboat racing and won since 1946, a total of about 120 world and European champion.