Seamaster & Seasprite


Seamaster was a 3 ½ hp air-cooled outboard motor first manufactured by the Australian Marine Engine Company (AMECO) Pty Ltd, of 59 Little Latrobe Street Melbourne Victoria and noted for its streamlined design, easy starting, smoother and longer running and splutter free operation.

The Seamaster is said to have been “designed after years of experimenting under practical conditions and developed by engineers with experience in every type of outboard manufacture. The Seamaster was the conception of Australians who had always stated that Australia could produce an article comparable to that of foreign makers”.

The names Trevor Ormsby Neuendorf of Toorak (Manager), Alan Davie Male of Black Rock (Salesman) and Desmond Firth of St. Kilda (Engineer) appeared in an application for Certificate of Incorporation lodged with the Registrar General on 26th of August 1946 and are likely those of the founders of AMECO.

An on-line search of digitalized newspapers reveals advertisements for Seamaster dating back to July 17 1946.

Many of those earlier advertisements were by distributor partners of AMECO and took the form of an invitation to inspect and purchase the Seamaster, generally indicating limited quantities available for immediate purchase (at £74’7’6 including 25% sales tax) and orders booked for delivery in order of priority.

In the absence of any earlier advertisements or editorials from other Australian outboard manufacturers, it is not unreasonable for one to speculate that Seamaster may have been Australia’s very first commercially produced outboard motor. Further research to establish whether that is indeed the case or not needed.

During the first half of 1947, AMECO extended its offering through the release of Seasprite, a 3 ½ hp water-cooled outboard that shared much of the Seamaster componentry. The Seasprite was produced in a more open style featuring semi-wrap around fuel tank in lieu of a full cowl, thus making it lighter and substantially more economical. As a result, Seasprite became the preferred option particularly amongst anglers who were the target of most Seasprite advertising campaigns.

An advertisement in the Courier Mail of Brisbane confirms that by February 1 1950 manufacturing rights for Seamaster & Seasprite had transferred to A.W.Pryor Brisbane, Queensland. Thus Seamaster and Seasprite became the very first outboards to be manufactured in that state.

It is understood that AMECO had distributed approximately 2000 Seamaster and Seasprite outboards before the transfer of rights to A.W.Pryor, previously a distributor partner of the Australian Marine Engine Company.

A.W.Pryor continued to manufacture Seamaster until the early-mid 50’s and Seasprite in to the late 50’s and possibly the early 60's. Records suggest improvements to Seasprite during 1958, hence confirming production continued until at least then.

A.W.Pryor was also the sole importer of the British Anzani outboards.



Photos, specifications, highlights and acknowledgements to follow.