Old_Paddler
Canoe nut
Can you give me the history of this canoe?
Old Town 123358 18 - picked it up today
- Thread starter Old_Paddler
- Start date
The Old Town canoe with serial number 123358 is an 18 foot long, GS (guide's special or low) grade, Guide model with open spruce gunwales, ash decks, ash thwarts, ash seats, and a keel. It was built between October, 1937 and January, 1938. The original exterior paint color was G. S. (guide's special green) and it shipped to Peekskill, New York on April 28th. 1938. There was a previous request for a copy of this information from Mount Kisco, New York on November 12th, 1979 as shown on the back side of the record. Scans showing both sides of this build record can be found by following the links at the attached thumbnail images below.
These scans and several hundred thousand more were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others as you probably know well. A description of the project to preserve these records is available at http://www.wcha.org/ot_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-the-wcha/ to learn more about the WCHA and http://store.wcha.org/WCHA-New-Membership.html to join.
It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.
Benson
These scans and several hundred thousand more were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others as you probably know well. A description of the project to preserve these records is available at http://www.wcha.org/ot_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-the-wcha/ to learn more about the WCHA and http://store.wcha.org/WCHA-New-Membership.html to join.
It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.
Benson
Attachments
OP
OP
Old_Paddler
Canoe nut
Thank you very much. She's in very nice shape for her age.
OP
OP
Old_Paddler
Canoe nut
Passed this canoe onto the North Brooklyn Boat Club - where she will be restored.
They have another 18' Guide that they restored already.
Could have resold her for a nice profit, but when she's done she will be used and enjoyed by many.
They have another 18' Guide that they restored already.
Could have resold her for a nice profit, but when she's done she will be used and enjoyed by many.
A good home for an old canoe is often better than a nice profit. Well done,
Benson
OP
OP
Old_Paddler
Canoe nut
A good home means more to me than a profit. Very few of us wood canoe nuts are in it for the money - and only a very few can make a decent living at it. Most of it are in it for the love of the wood canoe.
I had a 1976 18' OT Guide that I refused to sell to someone who was going to "wrap it up nicely in plastic" because she had to keep it outside at their summer place.
She was really angry - it was none of my business what she did with it after she bought it.
That's when I told her she didn't have enough money to buy it from me and to get off my property.
I sold it for much less to someone who would give it the care and respect it deserved. The smile on his face as we loaded the canoe on his vehicle was something I could relate to. When I picked up my bucket list canoe last Fall I was thrilled. She should be finished and on the water the end of July.
Hope to meet you at the Assembly. I will only be there on Thursday - and then will be paddling the Saranacs for a couple of days (in an Old Town Camper - wood boat not ready).
I had a 1976 18' OT Guide that I refused to sell to someone who was going to "wrap it up nicely in plastic" because she had to keep it outside at their summer place.
She was really angry - it was none of my business what she did with it after she bought it.
That's when I told her she didn't have enough money to buy it from me and to get off my property.
I sold it for much less to someone who would give it the care and respect it deserved. The smile on his face as we loaded the canoe on his vehicle was something I could relate to. When I picked up my bucket list canoe last Fall I was thrilled. She should be finished and on the water the end of July.
Hope to meet you at the Assembly. I will only be there on Thursday - and then will be paddling the Saranacs for a couple of days (in an Old Town Camper - wood boat not ready).
