Need build record for 16' Old Town Canoe

I would really like some information on my 16' Old Town cedar/canvas canoe. I paid big bucks to have it fully restored and was told to check out your website to get the information I needed. The serial number is 153381-16.

Also, how do I get a copy of the build record and the original receipt?

Thanks for your help -
Rich

Hello, Rich,

Old Town 153381 is a 16 foot CS ("common sense") grade Yankee model with red Western cedar planking and open spruce gunwales, built between September 1948 and December 1949. The build record doesn't specify wood species for the decks, seat frames, and thwarts, but CS means it wouldn't be mahogany but may be birch or ash or oak. The canoe was painted light Yale blue and shipped to Utica Electric and Boat Service, Utica, NY on January 16, 1950.

If this doesn't seem to match your boat, we can try again. The scan for this build record is attached below, and if you need a larger version feel free to email me at kathrynklos@gmail.com. We don't have any sales receipt information, but can look up the original cost of your canoe in the 1950 OT catalog. I'll get back to you with that information.

Scans of approximately 210,000 records were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others. Additional information about the project to preserve these records is available at http://www.wcha.org/ot_records/ if you want more details.

Please join WCHA or make a tax deductible contribution so that services like this can continue. See http://www.wcha.org/wcha/ to learn more about the WCHA, http://www.wcha.org/wcha_video.php to watch a 10 minute video about WCHA and our programs and http://www.wcha.org/join.php to join. If you are already a WCHA member, THANK YOU!

Kathy

Here's information on the Yankee model from the 1950 Old Town catalog. Note that the Yankee only came in the 16 foot size.

Image courtesy of The Historic Wood Canoe and Boat Catalog Collection, version 2, edited by Dan Miller and Benson Gray, published by Dragonfly Canoe Works and available at www.dragonflycanoe.com.

Kathy