Old Town #140238 16

[Paul East]

Hello.I just received an Old Town canoe once owned by my grandfather. The last time I was in this boat I was 4 years old, today I am 55. I am starting a winter restoration project on this and would love to have as much information about it as possible. The serial number is 140238. It also has the removable floor slats and one seat back. Thanks you in advance. Paul E.

 

[Benson Gray]

The Old Town canoe with serial number 140238 is a 16 foot long, CS (common sense or middle) grade, Yankee model with red western cedar planking open spruce gunwales, light weight number ten canvas, ash decks, ash thwarts, ash seats, and a keel. It was built between June and August, 1944. The original exterior paint color was dark green with a lighter G. S. (Guide Special) green bottom. It shipped on August 29th, 1944 to Detroit, Michigan. A scan of this build record can be found by following the link at the attached thumbnail image below.



This scan and several hundred thousand more were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others. A description of the project to preserve these records is available at http://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/records/ if you want more details. I hope that you will join or renew your membership to the WCHA so that services like this can continue. See http://www.wcha.org/about-wcha to learn more about the WCHA and http://www.wcha.org/store/membership to join.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. The floor rack and back rest were not mentioned on this build record but those could have easily been added after it first left the factory. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions. Canoes with a family connection are always extra special.

Benson

 

[Paul East]

Thank you very much for the information.

 

[Paul East]

Do you have any information on the Light Green bottom? I just removed the old canvas cover and saw no evidence of a lighter green. Cant seem to find any pics on the internet to see what it might have looked like.

 

[Benson Gray]

Do you have any information on the Light Green bottom? I just removed the old canvas cover and saw no evidence of a lighter green.

A canoe canvas in normal use will typically last about twenty years so it is highly unlikely that you have original canvas on your canoe from 1944. The color charts at http://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?attachments/14988/ and http://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?attachments/14994/ may give you some ideas although G. S. green isn't specifically listed. I would encourage you to just pick some shades that you like. Two tone paint designs on a canoe as shown at http://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?threads/13057/#post-66450 are commonly divided in the water line area. Let us know what you decide and attach some pictures.

Benson