Mercury marine was founded by carl kiekhaefer in 1939 under the name of kiekhaefer corporation of cedarburg wi. Mercury marine introduced the saltwater series of outboard engines in 2000. Second part of the marine outboard boat motor maker mercurykiekhaefer. Carl kiekhaefer was a revolutionist engineer that used his passion for engineering, competitiveness and salesmanship to change the marine industry. Mercury outboard parts diagrams accessories lookup. Mercury marine originated from the efforts of elmer carl e. Historical records and family trees related to carl kiekhaefer. Mecury saltwater series engine specs gone outdoors. Kiekhaefer was a modernday giantkiller who delighted in spoiling the welllaid plans of competitors. Mercury marine mark engine bone yard kiekhaefer mark. This weekend i should spray all the nutsbolts and moving parts with liquid wrench or pb blaster. Born on june 4, 1906, in mequon, wisconsin, to arnold and clara wessel kiekhaefer, carl kiekhaefer became familiar with the workings of gaspowered engines at a very young age, while working on his familys farm. Jeff lives in fort lauderdale with his wife, karine, awardwinning photographer of the classic mahogany boasts and classic race boats calendars, and their twin children.
The memory of its founder, carl kiekhaefer, lives on in the hearts and minds of engineers and boat enthusiasts alike. The lake x facility was designed and built by mercury marine founder carl kiekhaefer in 1957. Working as a mercury lake x test boat driver for carl. Kiekhaefer mercury vintage outboard motor service manuals. Mercury marine group business information, profile, and.
Elmer carl mercury june 4, 1906 october 5, 1983 was the owner of kiekhaefer mercury later mercury marine and kiekhaefer aeromarine and also a twotime nascar championship car owner. Kiekhaefer marine was able to spin volvos success into its own by watching how the stern drive was manufactured and marketed. Since kiekhaefer s departure in 1970, mercury marine has come into its own while holding on to those qualities inherited from its founder. Rodengen is destined to join the bestselling ranks with jeffs other nautical best sellers, the legend of chris craft, evenrude johnson and the legend of omc, serving the silent service. His manic genius found outlet in greater speed, more features, and high value. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Mercury serial numbers are usually found on an id tag on the engine mounting bracket. Kiekhaefer stayed with brunswick for awhile, but left the corporation in 1970.
The rest is, of course, history and its all on display in the mercury museum. After twenty years armchair racers read in awe of his determination, expertise and sportsmanship. Jeffs best selling titles include, the legend of chriscraft, the legend of mercury marine and the rerelease of iron fist, the lives of carl kiekhaefer. How to identify mercury kiekhaefer outboard motors gone. From 1941 to 1957, mercury also built wizard motors for western auto that closely resembled the kiekhaefer motors, but. Carl kiekhaefer resigned as president of kiekhaefer mercury in 1969, and the name was changed to mercury marine. Pronunciation of kiekhaefer with 1 audio pronunciation, 1 meaning and more for kiekhaefer. The lives of carl kiekhaefer sixty years old in 1999, mercury marine is the most recognized mane in the marine. Rodengen the legend of mercury is a coffeetable book with excellent illustrations and a great companion to iron fist. Mercury marine, founded in 1939 as kiekhaefer mercury by carl kiekhaefer, is now a division of the brunswick corporation. In addition to marine engines, the mercury museum displays include water pumps, chain saws and aerial drones manufactured by kiekhaefer mercury during world war ii, a prototype kiekhaefer lawn mower, a mercury snotwister snowmobile, a race boat, and even the moped founder carl kiekhaefer used to prowl around the. The lives of carl kiekhaefer tells the story behind mercurys own rise and ultimate triumph, and reveals the mystique behind mercurys name. You are just one click away from the service manual you are searching for.
Omc, a longtime rival of kiekhaefer mercury launched its version of the stern drive in 1961, and to carl kiekhaefers delight, it had less hp. It all started with the fact that engineer carl kiekhaefer acquired a small company for. Carl kiekhaefer, the industrial caesar of the mercury marine industry empire. Without carl kiekhaefer, the companys founder, there is no mercury. Kiekhaefer had little intention of becoming a giant in the yachting industry when he purchased a manufacturing plant near his familys wisconsin farm in 1939. Carl kiekhaefer took to the skies of central florida in 1957 in a small, singleengine plane in search of a site away from prying eyes and complaining neighbors where he could secretly test his marine engines day and night. Born on june 4, 1906, in mequon, wisconsin, to arnold and clara wessel kiekhaefer, carl kiekhaefer became familiar with the workings of gaspowered engines at. We offer the largest selection of old stock, quicksilver original parts and quality discount aftermarket parts by sierra marine, mallory marine, and cdi electronics. Bednarek explained that, according to jeffrey rodengens book, the legend of mercury, carl kiekhaefer decided to leave mercury marine in 1970 upon the urging of company executives, namely brunswick president jack hanigan. Founded in 1939 by the talented engineerbusinessman carl kiekhaefer, the mercury brand of boating engines are found as factory equipment with many watercraft manufacturers.
The lives of carl kiekhaefer, reveals the breathtaking life of the indomitable founder of mercury marine. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Records may include photos, original documents, family history, relatives, specific dates, locations and full names. The company has several factories around the world, including a joint factory in japan with tohatsu corporation. To achieve his obsession of making mercury the largest manufacturer of marine propulsion in the world, he would sacrifice almost anything. Mercury marine carl kiekhaefer took to the skies of. Mercury marines primary business is outboard motors. They are seldom the first in any given arena but they are the first to repurpose, reinvent and create markets that werent realized before. Kiekhaefer mercury vintage outboard motor service manuals marine service manuals has made every effort to make your kiekhaefer mercury vintage outboard motor service manual shopping experience as easy as possible. Mr mercury pronounced mercueree was born on june 4, 1906, in mequon, wisconsin, to arnold and clara wessel kiekhaefer. Carl kiekhaefer historical records and family trees. The lives of carl kiekhaefer reveals the breathtaking life of the indomitable founder of mercury marine. The joint venture is called tohatsu marine corporation. The longawaited story of the marine industrys most celebrated personality, carl kiekhaefer, the industrial caesar of the mercury marine industry empire.
Kiekhaefer was a modernday giant killer, who delighted in spoiling the welllaid plans of competition. Carl kiekhaefer bio, facts, family famous birthdays. Carl kiekhaefer that, when published in 1991, sent shockwaves through the local community and the worldwide marine industry. We should all be thankful he chose to plaster mercury outboard motors on the best car available. For example, in 1947 mercury came out with their fulljeweled power antifriction ball, roller and needle bearings in all major bearing locations. The first ones incorporated a 250 cc twoman chainsaw engine. Fred kiekhaefer steps down from mercury racing boating. So, here is the first part of the chronology, 1961 1987, and a pictorial flashback. His obsession with success, and his legendary style made him the most extraordinary.
Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Know as, the old man, kiekheafer is as big an icon in boating circles as lombardi is in football circles. A place so confidential it didnt have a real name, the lake x test station was a reflection of the personality of mercury founder carl kiekhaefer, a man so obsessed with secrecy that he allegedly once denied a request from a troop of boy scouts to tour his plant in fond du lac, wis. After his companys kiekhaefer stern drive dominated the offshore world championships in key west in 1988 and 1989, brunswick asked kiekhaefer to come back to mercury to run the highperformance division. Now in its third printing, jeff rodengens book on carl kiekhaefer exposed the previously unknown conspiracy in creation of the modern sterndrive. Mercury marine is reviving a piece of its history as the company returns to its storied lake x proving ground in central florida. Lake x a 1,400 acre body of water originally named lake conlin near st.
Listen to these stories from chuck larson, who worked for the old man at the famed lake x test facility in central florida. An equal number of men claim to have worked for, and been fired by, carl kiekhaefer, founder of mercury marine. Shortly afterwards the kiekhaefer name was removed in favor of mercury marine. Quicksilver original parts and quality discount aftermarket parts by sierra marine, mallory marine, and cdi electronics. In this lavishly illustrated the legend of mercury marine, jeffrey l. During this time, mercury produced snowmobiles, like many other companies in the late 1960s. Mercury has consistently emphasized quality, performance, innovation and reliability. You can read more about carl kiekhaefer in russ hamiltons book full jewelled. I was 18 and fresh out of high school when i got a job at the mercury research lab where the racing headquarters were located. The son of mercury founder carl kiekhaefer, fred took over the family company, kiekhaefer aeromarine in 1983, when his father passed away. Whether its a 1940 k1 or a 1979 merc 2000, the identification of a mercury kiekhaefer outboard motor depends more on the model number than on any other factor, including appearance. Mercury marine is the world leader in the marine industry.
Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. The company manufactures marine propulsion engines. I used liquid wrench for years and its a good product. In 1957 carl kiekhaefer, founder of mercury marine, set an endurance record by running nonstop for 50,000 miles over 68 days on lake x in florida. Kiekhaefer was a modernday giant killer, who delighted in spoiling the welllaid plans of. Looking back at this exciting history, as with many outboard companies its roots can be traced back to its very unique founder. Carl herman john kiekhaefer was born on month day 1879, to johann gottlieb august kiekhaefer and augusta johanna wilhelmine kiekhaefer. Founded by wisconsin engineer carl kiekhaefer in 1939, mercury continues to produce inboard, outboard, sterndrive, towsport and jet engines for recreational and highperformance boating. His book iron fist is a noholdsbarred biography of mercury marine founder e. Not only were his inventions and marketing strategies novel but you see them emulated today across many different industries at every scale. The legend of mercury marine write stuff enterprises, llc. A leading name in marine engines, mercury is recognized for producing topquality outboard motors as well as the mercruiser line of inboard engines. His obsession with success, and his legendary style made him the most extraordinary entrepreneur in the history of the industry. Mercury outboards, 30 hp and less, are made by tohatsu in japan.
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