Who Was James Kermath, and the, Kermath Manufacturing Company?

Image Gallery Port side of the restored Kermath model 20.

7964 Oakwood Park Court, St. Michaels, Maryland 21663

In the spring of 1990, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland was offered a model 20 Kermath marine engine, serial number 19951. Thirty-three years earlier, it had been removed from a buy-boat when the boat was scrapped. Then it was stored in the woods behind the donor's house. During most of the 33 years it had been covered by a tarp. The manifold and carburetor were missing and the engine was stuck and very rusty.

I do some volunteer work for the Museum. Despite the condition of the engine, we decided to accept it. The photographs show the restored engine.

 My approach was in three directions-to learn the history of the manufacturer, to start restoring the engine, and to find a manifold and carburetor. This article is mainly about researching Kermath Manufacturing Company of Detroit, Michigan.

James Kermath, the founder of the company, was born May 4,1874 in London, Ontario and came to Detroit in 1899. From 1901-1907 he was part owner of Eclipse Manufacturing Company, a machine shop where he built engines on contract for Detroit Auto Marine Company. They built fifteen hundred 1¹/₂ HP engines the first year. That original shop was in the old Boydel building on East Congress. The Dodge Brothers shared the building and built engines for Henry Ford before they went into the automobile business for themselves. The Detroit auto fever must have infected Kermath, for he built an experimental automobile in 1907.

During 1907-1909 Kermath was employed by Gies Gear Company in Detroit as superintendent, and in 1909 or 1910 he formed the Kermath Manufacturing Company, of which he was part owner.

1911 was the year that 'The Kermath' marine engine was introduced. It was a four-cycle, four-cylinder L-head engine with the cylinders cast in pairs, and rated at 12 HP. It would appear to be the first engine to bear the Kermath name. The reverse gear was a Gies; remember that Kermath worked for Gies Gear Company 1907-09. The engine was not distributed by Kermath Manufacturing but by Morton Motor Company, which was located at the Kermath factory.

An 8-page booklet dated 1915 introduces the 20 HP model 20, the star of our drama. That booklet assures the public that production of the new model 20 will not interfere with manufacture of the model 12. They planned to build 200 of the new model 20's in 1915.

Kermath Manufacturing Co. appears in the 1916 Detroit directory, but not under incorporated companies. The 1917 directory does list it under incorporated companies, operating at 45-49 Fort St., John B. Farr, President. James Kermath is not listed as an officer. 1916 or 1917 must have been the year the company was incorporated. The 1924-25 directory shows the company at 4880 Commonwealth Ave., as manufacturers of tractor and marine engines, John B. Farr, president. It seems likely that investors bought into Kermath Manufacturing about 1916 and installed Farr as president. James Kermath either lost control of his company or sold his interest. The factory was at the Commonwealth Ave. location for the remainder of its existence.