CROWLEY - ‘American Restoration’ a show on The History Channel which is devoted to the restoration of old objects such as vending and pinball machines, will be showcasing a 1939 Evinrude eight lb. outboard motor owned by Crowley resident J.C. Webb. Webb had the engine in his garage which was handed down to him by his grandfather C.L. ‘Papa Zeke’ Schisler who owned a repair shop (Schisler’s Repair Shop) at the corner of Oak St. and Ave. I during the time the engine was made.

“I wrote them about the outboard last year and they called me back,” said Webb. “However, they told me that I would have to pay my own way and the estimates they gave me were just way too much and I had to tell them ‘no’.”

“Then they called me back with a much more affordable estimate and I agreed to do the show,” he said. “It seems they really wanted to do an outboard engine.”

Webb and his wife, Suzy, will be leaving for Las Vegas on February 18 and filming the show on February 20. He had no idea when the show would actually run but he was happy about one thing.

“We’ve never been to Las Vegas,” smiled Webb Friday afternoon. “Suzy and I are really looking forward to it.”

The engine the Webb’s will be bringing with them weighs only eight pounds and is only 1.1 horsepower. It, if repaired, would be less powerful than a trolling motor on a small boat. It will fit into a suitcase but Webb was a bit concerned about one aspect of his trip.

“The airport security these days had me thinking that it may be tough to fly with this thing,” said Webb. “So I called the Houston airport and they told me that if it contained no oil or other flammable materials that they could do it for me at a special gate at Houston International Airport.”

The Webb’s aren’t only going to Las Vegas for a a visit or a weekend of gambling. J.C. was told that the estimate on the engine would be between $1,500 and $1,800. However he saw one on eBay for $2,800.

“It originally sold for $26.50 in 1939,” he said.