1904 Robertson canoe available

[courtmac]

I have a 1904 Robertson canoe that needs renovation. It is available for a new home.

The wood hull is in good shape. I have covered it with canvas and applied three coats of epoxy. It needs new gunwales and a keel. I have the old gunwales and keel that could be used as patterns. I have the seats/thwarts.

I have photos, including some historical information and the original order tracking slip from Robertson's shop in Auburndale, Mass.

 

[Benson Gray]

You have a nice Robertson but that Old Town build record does not go with this canoe. How long is it and can you provide any pictures of the serial numbers from each end? An Old Town canoe from that era would have had a different shaped deck and stems. Both sides of that Old Town build record are shown below. The links below show what the stems and decks of two confirmed Old Town Charles River model canoes from that era look like.

This forum is not intended for selling things. The classifieds at https://www.woodencanoe.org/classifieds are a better place and the page at https://www.woodencanoe.org/ad-instructions has the instructions. Good luck with the sale,

Benson

Thread 'A 15 foot long Old Town Charles River model in AA grade with sponsons from 1906'

Aug 19, 2014

The pictures below show a 15 foot long Old Town Charles River model in AA grade with sponsons from 1906. It originally shipped to Abercrombie & Fitch Company. The page at http://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/models.html estimates that less than 700 examples of this model and length were built between 1906 and 1911.

Benson

• Benson Gray
• Replies: 9
• Forum: Canoe Photo Index

Thread 'An Old Town Charles River model in AA grade with double mahogany gunwales from 1907'

Aug 1, 2014

The pictures below show an Old Town Charles River model in AA grade with double mahogany gunwales from 1907 and fancy turned drops on the seats. It appears to have been modified after it left the factory for a canopy as shown by the four metal mounting points in the gunwales.

Benson

• Benson Gray
• Replies: 14
• Forum: Canoe Photo Index

 

[courtmac]

Jim Terry's daughter gave us the canoe and a copy of the build record; she thought they went together. How did you get the build record with Jim's info on the back?

I'll check for serial numbers; would they be covered by the canvas and epoxy? I believe it is 16' long - will check.

Courtney

 

[Benson Gray]

I scanned most of the original Old Town build records as project for the WCHA. The page at http://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/records/ has more details about that effort. The company usually wrote the date, name, and address on the back of an old build record when someone sent a letter to ask for a copy. The serial numbers should be on the inside stems which are not likely to have been covered with canvas or epoxy. The link below may help if you aren't sure where to look. That Old Town build record is for an 18 foot long canoe. Let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks,

Benson

Thread 'How do I find a serial number on an old wooden canoe or boat?'

Oct 2, 2005

Many old wooden canoes and boats have a serial number on both inside stems and a decal or tag with the manufacturer's logo on the bow deck. The number is usually stamped on the top of the lower part of the stems. The inside stems are the long curved pieces of wood that form the ends of the canoe. You want to look on the part that extends out from under the decks on the bottom of the floor inside the hull. The serial numbers are stamped in each end of the canoe so check both if a single digit is not clear. These numbers in the stern of boats are occasionally on the edge of the center...

• Benson Gray
• Replies: 2
• Forum: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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[courtmac]

The canoe is 15' long. I couldn’t find any serial numbers anywhere.

 

[Benson Gray]

Some Robertsons had the serial numbers on the top of the interior ribs along the center line over as shown below.

Benson

 

[courtmac]

No luck. Here is a photo of the interior construction FYI.

 

[Benson Gray]

Very strange, I wonder what prompted Jim Terry to request that serial number record? Thanks,

Benson

 

[courtmac]

He had several boats, so he may have owned the Old Town too.