LittleIronSides
New Member
Hi- I am the proud new owner of an Old Town canoe and was hoping to find out some more info on it, serial # is 87397 18
Old Town Hw
- Thread starter LittleIronSides
- Start date
Greg Nolan
enthusiast
Welcome to the WCHA.
The Old Town canoe with serial number 87397 is an 18 foot long, AA (top or premium) grade model with western red cedar planking, open mahogany gunwales, decks, thwarts, and seats, equipped with a floor rack. The canoe was built between March and August 1925. The original exterior paint was done in Old Town’s design 22, with the name “Vera” painted in 2 inch yellow letters. It was shipped to Lee, Massachusetts on August 8, 1925.
A scan of this build record can be found by following the link behind the thumbnail images attached below.
This scan and several hundred thousand others 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.
Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.
Greg
The Old Town canoe with serial number 87397 is an 18 foot long, AA (top or premium) grade model with western red cedar planking, open mahogany gunwales, decks, thwarts, and seats, equipped with a floor rack. The canoe was built between March and August 1925. The original exterior paint was done in Old Town’s design 22, with the name “Vera” painted in 2 inch yellow letters. It was shipped to Lee, Massachusetts on August 8, 1925.
A scan of this build record can be found by following the link behind the thumbnail images attached below.
This scan and several hundred thousand others 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.
Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.
Greg
Greg Nolan
enthusiast
I failed to add that the canoe is an HW (heavy water) model, as shown on the build record.
Greg
Greg
LittleIronSides
New Member
Thank you!
LittleIronSides
New Member
Hi Greg -
I was wondering if you know of any examples of the font Old Town used to write custom names like “Vera” on my canoe?
I’ve looked around a bit but couldn’t find much info on that topic.
I was wondering if you know of any examples of the font Old Town used to write custom names like “Vera” on my canoe?
I’ve looked around a bit but couldn’t find much info on that topic.
I'm not Greg but I may be able to help. There doesn't appear to have been any standard font that was used. It really depended on the whim of the painter that day. Some examples are shown below. Let me know if there is anything else that I can do to help. Let us know what you decide to do. Thanks,
Benson
Benson
LittleIronSides
New Member
Thanks Benson! That is good news - I can take creative liberties without feeling any guilt ! I’m thinking I’ll stick with the yellow lettering but was leaning toward more of a script style.
Some of the Charles River area builders were very creative as shown at http://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?attachments/10122/ for example. See http://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?threads/5524/ for a variety of ideas. Good luck,
Benson
Benson
