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Two brothers, George and William Kissel founded the Kissel Motor Car company in 1908. The plant location was Hartford, Wisconsin. Like so many other companies of the period, they fell on hard times in the late 20's. In 1929 they filed for bankruptcy and the company was gone in 1931.In 1934 the brothers regained control of the plant and founded Kissel Industries. They started manufacturing candy vending machine among other ventures.
In late 1936, Kissel Industries won an exclusive contract with Sears and Roebucks Company to build an outboard motor. George Kissel and Herman Palmer would design the new outboard. They had been the chief "engine" engineers at the old motor car company.
This was the birth of a brand new outboard motor. Kissel Industries would only manufacture this outboard for Sears. To our knowledge, it was never sold under any other brand, including Kissel. Sears sold it under their brand name "Waterwitch". Water Witch (two words) was first sold in the 1933 Sears and Roebucks catalog. Up to 1936 the Sears and Roebucks outboards had many different manufacturers.
In 1944 West Bend Aluminum Company purchased Kissel Industries and the Sears and Roebucks contract to make outboards. The only outboard production during the War Years was for government agencies. In 1946 West Bend Outboard manufactured their first motor for Sears. It was in this year that Sears and Roebucks changed their outboard motor brand name to "Elgin".
This ends the Kissel Industries part of the store. The Hartford, Wisconsin plant history picks up with West Bend with a second generation of outboard motors.
Kissel Industries manufactured the Waterwitch Outboard Motor from 1936 through 1944. Please click on Waterwitch model year guide below.
Hard core parts for these outboards are getting more difficult to find as time goes on. Many older outboards used common Ignition and Carburetor venders for that period. Discount Marine Parts has Ignition and Carburetor repair kits for most all of these older outboards. If we don't have what your looking for, we have many sources to locate your part. Obviously some parts are just not available. We can sometimes find it used and often we have the part made if there is enough demand. Discount Marine Parts has a large inventory of parts for most brands of American made Outboards, Inboards and Sterndrives. We also have most parts and service manuals available.
Thank you for stopping by and please come back!
| Brand Name | Years Sold | Outboard Manufacturer |
| Waterwitch | 1936 - 1944 | Kissel Industries |
| Discount Marine Parts | ||
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| Phone | 4524 D Road • PO Box 98 | Fax |
| 906-466-2180 | Bark River, MI 49807 | 906-466-0217 |