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Two motor boats in Finland (early 1920s)

Finnish boat designer and builder Eino Antero Bergius (1884 - 1978) took this picture (here shown restored and digitally hand colorized by me) of two motor cruisers designed by him. The Vapriikki Museum, which owns the original B/W image) gives a wide date frame, 1920 - 1939. My estimation is that Bergius took the photo in the early 1920s.

 

The museum does not give any additional information about the boats, but based on another of Bergius´s images, the motor yacht on the right appears to be his own (nameless) boat, built in 1920 at his yard in the city of Tampere (located in Finland´s Lake District).

 

Bergius´ boat (12.80 m x 2.1 m) had a 40 hp engine, which gave it a speed of ab. 11-12 knots.

 

My understanding is that Bergius built a number of similar yachts primarily intended for use in the Lake District. Regrettably none of them seem to have been saved. His own yacht was burned in a Midsummer bonfire in the end of the 1950s.

 

I have not been able to find very much information on Bergius as a boat designer and builder. He is today more known as an excellent amateur photographer. The Vapriikki Museum has a collection of ab. 5000 negatives by Bergius.

 

Bergius had a good technical education. He graduated in 1907 as a Master of Science (Technology).

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Uploaded on August 15, 2024