I have just gotten a Ted Williams 5hp motor. Got her up and running seems to run good. Is there anything about this motor that I should know about new to the outboard world. I have a Sears Ted Williams Model 21, 20gauge shotgun. The serial number? Is 583.2080 There is a proof mark? That looks like an upside-down mushroom.

1. Sears Ted Williams Outboard Parts
2. Ted Williams Outboard Motor

Through the years, Sears, Roebuck and Company changed manufacturers and outboard brand names several times. In 1914, the company began offering outboard motors through catalog ordering. Sears continued to provide outboards through 1996.

Motorgo

From 1914 to 1932, the first outboard motor sold by Sears, Roebuck and Company was the Motorgo. This outboard was manufactured by Lockwood, Caille and Muncie Gear Works.

Water Witch

The Water Witch outboard was also manufactured by Lockwood, Caille and Muncie Gear Works. Sears, Roebuck and Company continued to offer this model from 1933 through 1935.

Waterwitch

Kissel Industries obtained the outboard contract from Sears and Roebuck in 1936. They renamed the outboard model to Waterwitch. This ended in 1945 when Kissel Industries was bought by West Bend.

Elgin

In 1946 West Bend produced a new line of outboard motor to be sold under the Sears and Roebuck name. This new outboard was named the Elgin. The outboard remained Elgin through 1964.

Sears

In 1964 the outboard brand name was changed to Sears. Later brands available included Craftsman, Ted Williams and Gamefisher. By 1987 Gamefisher was the only remaining brand sold. Sears discontinued selling outboards in 1996.

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Sears Ted Williams Outboard Parts

Sears had outboard motors built for sale under its name from 1914 -- three years after Ole Evinrude first patented his outboard design -- until 1996. The motors were built by 10 different manufacturers under a variety of brands, sometimes with more than one manufacturer using the same model numbers, but different model names. Sometimes when model names were the same, the model number prefixes were different. As long as you have the model name and the model number, you can generally figure out when your motor was built.

1. Search for the prefix 'M' on the model number of outboards labeled 'Motorgo' or 'Sears Motorgo.' The model number is found on a tag attached to the right side of the powerhead. It may also be stamped below the Motorgo name on the front of the motor. If the Motorgo outboard has no model number, it was built by Lockwood-Ash from 1914 to 1927. If it has the 'M' prefix before the model number, it was built between 1928 and 1932 by Motorgo or Caille.

2. Remove the top cover of 'Waterwitch' motors and locate the tag on the right side of the power head. If the model number on the tag begins with '550,' it was built by Johnson Outboard Motors between 1932 and 1940.

3. Lift the top cowling of the motor. Look inside the cowling for a plate with the model number. The manufacturer's name will be included on the plate. Model numbers that begin with a 571 prefix were built by Muncie Gear Works date from between 1932 and 1936. If the manufacturer is Kissel Industries, the motor dates from between 1936 and 1945.

4. Look at the motor's product name: if the motor is an 'Elgin,' it was built between 1946 and 1960 by West Bend. If the motor is identified as an 'Eldin,' 'Sears' or 'Ted Williams,' it's model number prefix is 574, and it was built by McCulloch between 1959 and 1968. If the model number of a Sears or Ted Williams outboard begins with 217, it was built by Eska Outboards -- which purchased Tecumseh's designs before Tecumseh built any motors -- between 1968 and 1986. Eska also built the Sears 'Gamefisher,' also with the 217 model number prefix, during the same period. Gamefisher motors with a model number prefix of 225 were built by Force Outboards -- the Force logo is found on the powerhead -- from 1987 to 1996.

Ted Williams Outboard Motor

About the Author

Will Charpentier is a writer who specializes in boating and maritime subjects. A retired ship captain, Charpentier holds a doctorate in applied ocean science and engineering. He is also a certified marine technician and the author of a popular text on writing local history.