Saving Old Seagulls

does anyone know when 2 stroke oil was 1st made specifically for outboards

Not much info about ...

For anyone wanting to research - here's a few starters:

The 2-stroke cycle was invented by Dugald Clerk (Glasgow) in 1878.

Joseph Day (London) is credited with inventing the 2-stroke that we know today (crankcase scavange system/ transfer ports/ reed valves etc) during 1881-9.

By 1892 2-stroke prize-winning engines were running commercial generating sets.

By 1912, 60,000 two-stroke engines had been built in the US, many for motorcycles, or boats.

I found an inference (wouldn't put it stronger than that) that Castrol were producing 2-stroke oil in 1919.

Back in the sixties, I started as a mechanic for a rather large letter delivery company.
We had a fleet of telegram bikes, (BSA Bantams), and these ran with ordinary SAE 30 oil in the petrol.

I used the same in large and small outboards with no ill effects.

I think that this "special" oil for 2 stroke outboards, is just a "marketing ploy" to get us to pay ,more for the same oil.

The Little Model Forty handbook talks about 'good quality oil' mentioning a few, but cautioning against racing oils 'cos they're insoluble in petrol. The Marston handbook from 20 years earlier reckons Castrol R is as good as anything.

I must say I have a personal preference for those that just smell nice. Nice to me, that is,not necessarily to SWMBO. And I like a nice blue haze, too.

Charles if you've ever tried to remove Castrol R gum from inside a 2 stroke, you might well sing from a different hymn sheet, I don't think epoxy sticks as well!

Here in Australia Goldenfleece made & marketed Seagull Oil for use in the fuel mix it was a straight 30grade oil. I purchased this back in the late 60s from the then Adelaide Seagull dealers Rasch Motors. At the time my Seagull owners manual had a small printed sticker in it saying to use a good quality 30 grade motor oil , but that owners manual has since gone missing.

in the sixties i was fishing daily with a 102 and using ordinary engine oil-----i spoke to SOS john about it and he says that was the reason i was forever wire brushing the plug ----regards blue

As far as I can see 2 stroke outboard engine oil appeared some time in the 1960s.

It's mentioned in manuals from the early 1970s but not in 1960.

The TC-W spec appeared in the early 1980s. It's mentioned in manuals around 1984 but not 1982.

I've managed to source some evidence of Castrol 2-stroke being in existence from as early as 1959 - 2 adverts referring to scooters: one in 1959 showing a 2-stroke dispenser, and one referring to the London-Milan rally in Nov.1960

Dunno when it was used in outboard engines, but I suspect these adverts were all about promoting this new product.