Unsure of Manufacturer

[DELJR]

Hello,

I purchased this canoe today with the intention of doing a full restoration, but I am unsure on what it is. It does not have a serial number anywhere that I can see. I removed the canvas and the number 35043 Is written at both ends on the planking with 16P written under it.

Any info is appreciated.

Thank you,
David

 

[Benson Gray]

The Old Town canoe with serial number 35043 is an ordinary 17 foot long HW model in CS grade that shipped to New York City in 1915 so that isn't a good match. The Kennebec Canoe company doen't appear to have ever used this serial number. My guess is that your canoe was made by one of the Detroit area builders based on your location. Good luck with the research and restoration,

Benson

 

[Todd F]

Dave, I agree with Benson but that looks like a nice canoe. Look forward to seeing what you make of it. Good find!

 

[DELJR]

Thank you for the info!

 

[Dan Miller]

It is highly likely it was built by the Racine Boat Manufacturing Company of Muskegon, Michigan.

Racine Boat Mfg. Co. | Wooden Canoe Museum

woodencanoemuseum.org

 

[DELJR]

Thanks Dan. I added some more photos for reference.

I’ve been looking at different photos online trying to find a canoe that has similar characteristics. What are the features on this canoe that indicate it‘s a Racine? Do you have any idea how old it is? I’ll start researching the Racine boats.

Thank you again!

 

[DELJR]

Dan, I just read a thread from 2013 where you mention heart shaped decks under the long decks is a characteristic of Racine Boat Mfg Co. I noticed the heart shaped decks earlier today when looking for a serial number. Also, the bow seat sits on cleats that are screwed to the ribs, another characteristic I read. Mystery solved!

Thanks again,
Dave

 

[Worth Gretter]

Dave, I want to use seats on risers (or cleats) in my restoration project, instead of hanging them from the gunwales. Can you post a pic or 2 showing them in your boat?
Thanks, Worth

 

[DELJR]

Hi Worth,

I removed the cleats today to make stripping the interior easier, but I will mock them up in place tomorrow and take a couple of photos. The cleats are pretty crude and I thought they may have been added at a later date but the fasteners used matched the rest of the hardware.
Dave

 

[Worth Gretter]

OK, thanks for doing that!

 

[DELJR]

Here you go. Hope these help.

 

[MGC]

From different builders in the style of Rushton. Each block is held in place by screws from the outside of the hull. All of the ones I have worked on were held on with steel flat heads. As you can see on your canoe, the screw holes have a tendency to get a bit buggered up. The pieces are always made of a softwood, usually spruce.

 

[Worth Gretter]

Dave and Mike, I was mainly interested in how many ribs the risers "bridged" over, and how far down from the inwales.
You have definitely answered my questions.
My thanks to you both!

 

[JClearwater]

David,

Good luck with your new canoe. It will be a beauty when finished.
I couldn't help but notice the flintlock rifle above the window in your shop. I may be high jacking the thread but can you tell us about it? Is it an old rifle or one that you built?

Jim

 

[DELJR]

Hi Jim,

From what I know the rifle has been handed down through the generations of my family and it is old. It was restored a long time ago by my great grandfather and at the time he had it made so it cannot be fired. Im not a gun aficionado so I don’t know anything about the gunsmith except that he was located in Lancaster PA and it was most likely built in the late 18th or early 19th century. Thanks for the inquiry!

Dave

 

[Worth Gretter]

Dave, nowadays you wouldn't need to make it inoperable. Not 1 person in a thousand could load and discharge a flintlock!

 

[Todd F]

Nice heirloom. Picked up an 1840's British trade musket and Pattern 1853 Enfield in a vacation spot several years ago. Will be passed on to my sons along with the US Navy ships bells they were both baptized in.

 

[MGC]

I'm dying of curiosity to learn what was done to make it inert? In and of itself it was probably close to being that without any modifications. I'm guessing that the breach was plugged? It would be fun to get it going again.
I happen to have a good bit of FFF squirrelled away for exactly that purpose. It is actually pretty amazing to find out how accurate some of these old handmade arms are.

 

[Andre Cloutier]

Mike i had a hold of a 69cal Pottsdam years ago converted to cap, that swallowed a lot of powder, hope your 'good bit' is a mound lol

 

[MGC]

69 would be quite a thumper. Just sighted another 50... can't even imagine.