Evinrude Motor Girl Outboard Boat Motor Advertising 1913 Real Photo Postcard
Evinrude Motors, founded by Ole Evinrude in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, played a pivotal role in the popularization of outboard motors. Ole Evinrude introduced his first commercially successful two-cycle gasoline outboard motor in 1909, making marine propulsion accessible to a broader market by allowing a standard rowboat to be converted into a motorboat. The "detachable motor" concept was revolutionary, enabling boaters to easily transport and attach their engines, a significant advancement in early 20th-century recreational boating technology.
The figure of "The Evinrude Motor Girl" was a prominent feature of the company's advertising campaigns, particularly in the 1910s and 1920s. This imagery aimed to convey the ease of use and reliability of Evinrude motors, suggesting they were simple enough for anyone, including women, to operate without assistance. Such advertising tactics were common in early 20th-century Americana, utilizing women to represent modernity, leisure, and the broad appeal of new consumer technologies.
The figure of "The Evinrude Motor Girl" was a prominent feature of the company's advertising campaigns, particularly in the 1910s and 1920s. This imagery aimed to convey the ease of use and reliability of Evinrude motors, suggesting they were simple enough for anyone, including women, to operate without assistance. Such advertising tactics were common in early 20th-century Americana, utilizing women to represent modernity, leisure, and the broad appeal of new consumer technologies.
