MERCURY Marine this week celebrated its 75th anniversary – the company came from humble beginnings in Wisconsin to grow into one of the world’s leading marine engine brands.
Mercury, a division of Brunswick Corporation, designs, manufactures and sells the broadest range of marine propulsion products for applications ranging from inflatable tenders and fishing boats to cruisers and yachts.
Mercury was founded by E. Carl Kiekhaefer in 1939 when he purchased a bankrupt engine manufacturing plant in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, not far from the Kiekhaefer family farm. The plant assets included 300 outboard engines that had been rejected by a large mail-order retailer due to defects and operating problems.
Hoping to transform the engines into working capital to fund the future business he envisioned – magnetic separators for the dairy farm industry – Mr. Kiekhaefer redesigned, rebuilt and sold the engines to the retailer that had initially rejected them. The engines sold immediately and Kiekhaefer suddenly found himself in the marine engine business.
Mercury made its initial mark in the marine industry by providing reliable, innovative products. But it didn’t take long before its engines were highly regarded for performance and speed. Mercury has long been recognised for producing engines that not only get you where you want to go, but also get you there first.
Mercury directs the activities of more than 5,400 employees in dozens of countries from its global headquarters in Fond du Lac, Wis., and works hand in hand with more than 4,200 dealers and distributors around the world.
Mercury’s year-long 2014 celebration plans include events in various locations throughout the world.
