These are simply the best posters available! You will be thrilled with the image quality, vivid colors, fine paper, and unique subjects. This is an original image that has been transformed into a beautiful poster - available exclusively from Posterzilla.
OUR POSTERS ARE SIZED FOR STANDARD OFF-THE-SHELF FRAMES, WITH NO CUSTOM FRAMING REQUIRED, PROVIDING HUGE COST SAVINGS!
This beautiful reproduction vintage poster has been re-mastered from an original 1956 advertisement for the West Bend fleet of outboard motors.
The high-resolution image is printed on heavy archival photo paper, on a large-format, professional giclée process printer. The poster is shipped in a rigid cardboard tube, and is ready for framing.
The 13"x19" format is an excellent image size that looks great as a stand-alone piece of art, or grouped as a visual statement. These posters require no cutting, trimming, or custom framing, and a wide variety of these frames are readily available at your local craft or hobby retailer, and online.
A great vintage print for your home, shop, or business!
HISTORY OF WEST BEND OUTBOARD MOTORS
The West Bend Company of West Bend, Wisconsin, operated from 1911 to 2001. The West Bend Company manufactured aluminum cookware and electrical appliances, but also made two-stroke cycle engines, including outboard boat motors. Art Ingels used a surplus West Bend engine to power the first kart. Clayton Jacobson II used a West Bend 2-stroke motor to power the first stand-up Jet Ski.
West Bend’s best-known products were their sturdy and reliable outboard motors, sold from 1946 to the early 1960s, by the Sears & Roebuck Company, under the Elgin brand name.
The company’s outboards were generally basic motors offered for about 30% less than similar units sold by the major brands. Branded as Waterwich outboards, the motors were sold through Sears stores and catalogs.
In the mid-1950s, West Bend offered a new “Fleet of 5” outboard motors, including 25, 12, 7.5, 5.5, and 2 hp. models, designed “for every sportsman.” The 25 hp. model with an electric starter sold for $520, and the 2 hp. model sold for $125.
West Bend continued adding to their product line when their competitors were struggling. In the early 1960s, West Bend outboard sales moved up to third place behind OMC and Mercury. The company’s success led Chrysler Marine to purchase West Bend’s outboard division in 1965.
Chrysler suffered financial setbacks in the 1980s, and the outboard division was sold to US Marine, which was taken over by Brunswick Corporation, owners of Mercury outboards.
Some West Bend and Elgin outboard motor parts dating back to the 1950s, can still be purchased from Mercury dealers.
