Help with ID on..........

[Tnic]

A possible Peterbourough? In Bangor, Maine?

I had driven by this antique mall several times lately and today I decided to stop and have a look. Then decided to get some pics. I didn't notice the decal until I was home looking at the pics I took.

Am I reading it right that its a Peterbourough Canoe? And YES, I WILL def go back and move that tape for a better shot.

Ser Number (?) on the stern stem 1105

 

[Tnic]

A few more pics

And some details:

Tapered and beveled ribs with several replacements not beveled and also thinner than the originals maybe 1/4" as opposed to 3/8" (?) originals.
Ribs and planks look to be red cedar with ash thwarts and seat frames and decks too(?).
And as you can see Heart shaped decks. I forgot to measure them sorry, but the boat is an 18 footer if that gives some scale.
Both outwales have splices near the center
Brass bang plates on both ends as well.

While I was looking her over a Korean War Vet meandered over to see what I was up to and it turns out he worked at Old Town for 15 years. We were both thinking E M White or Kennebec at the time, but now I have a badge.

I really don't need or want another 18' boat, but the price tag isn't outrageous and I might be able to haggle it down some. Not in bad shape at all, in fact I could take her out as is, but some wood does need replacing and new canvas.

 

[Benson Gray]

There are no known serial number records available for Peterborough canoes so there isn't much more information available. The catalogs scans from http://www.wcha.org/store/canadian-wood-canoe-and-boat-company-catalog-collection may help. Good luck,

Benson

 

[Roger Young]

Before you go back to look at this possible Peterborough canoe, you might want to have a look at a thread on PCC decals I posted a while back. This attempts to set the various iterations of the Peterborough decal in a chronological order, and sets out some rough idea of dates when they may have been used. Be sure to see the last posting which belatedly introduced what is likely the very earliest PCC decal - http://wcha.org/forums/index.php?search/24499/&q=dating+Peterborough+decals&o=date&c[title_only]=1.

I can't quite make out enough of the decal in your photo to make a guess as to which version it is. However, by using a potential date from a particular decal period in combination with measurements and photos compared to old catalogue illustrations and descriptions, you may be able to better ascertain whether the canoe you are looking at 'fits' what PCC produced.

Good luck.

 

[Tnic]

Thank fellas.

Roger, I saw that thread, very interesting. I think this decal is in the #4 or #5 range. I want to pull that tape out of the way for a better look at the red oval. There's enough there that we should be able to see if its Registered or Reg'd. If its the former I may just go and make an offer.

 

[Tnic]

Interestingly, while I was going over the Pete there was another canoe on the ground (with a lay away tag) that I had to move. Looks oldish and in dire need of repair, but there was a decal on the bow that had the word's "Big Chief".

Looks to be about a 17 footer with very little free board.

I just looked over the Rushton info in the Mgfrs index and it says none were known to have been built.

I'm taking the day off from cabin building tomorrow and will swing by for better pics of both.

 

[Roger Young]

Tnic:
From your photo, it kind of looks to me that it could be "Registered", but can't be entirely certain without looking closer. I would suggest a closer look BEFORE you pull the tape away, just in case removing the tape further damages the decal. Assuming that the decal is original to the canoe, and that it says "Registered", then I would think you likely are looking at something built anywhere between 1921-1937. If that seems to feel right, you could narrow your catalogue research to see whether measurements/illustrations can place it more exactly within the PCC product range. Dan Miller has a handy table of PCC measurements and build years on his website; take it and a measuring tape along with you: http://dragonflycanoe.com/wood-canoe-identification-guide/peterborough-canoe-company/. Good luck.

 

[Tnic]

Thanks Roger. I will be very careful with the tape. I'm still grumbling about them putting it right on the label. I did measure it at just under 18' from the tops of the ends so I figure stem to stem she's right at 18' at the longest points.

I'll also measure the beam and height to get a better idea of the model.

Have already scoped Dan's awesome work and will keep it as my main reference.

 

[Tnic]

I swung by the shop and got a couple more pics of the decal. I was able to ever so carefully peel the tape off for an unobstructed view.

 

[Roger Young]

Certainly looks like the earlier "Registered" version of the PCC decal, and obviously not "Reg'd". Now to try to pin down a size that relates to a catalogue model.

 

[Tnic]

Certainly looks like the earlier "Registered" version of the PCC decal, and obviously not "Reg'd". Now to try to pin down a size that relates to a catalogue model.

Oh yeah. Forgot to mention i measured the beam too.

Looks like 18 ' long with a 33" or 34" beam. Its 34" to the outsides of the outwales.

Of course I can't find any 18 footers with that narrow of a beam so I obviously measured the wrong spot.