I would appreciate any help in identifying a canoe I am restoring with the serial number 8299 1015. The canoe was bought by my father to restore at least 55 years ago and it was repaired and re-canvassed at least once prior to that. So my guess is at a minimum it’s 65 years old.
Help Identifying Canoe from Serial Number 8299 1015
- Thread starter Paul B
- Start date
Can you provide any pictures of the serial numbers from each end along with some pictures and the extreme dimensions in a straight line? Some Canadian builders had four digit model numbers like this but none appear to have used 1015. The 15 foot long Peterborough Minetta from 1956 was model number 1815 for example. Thanks,
Benson
Benson
Thank you for your reply Benson. Unfortunately the canoe is at my cottage so I don’t have immediate access to measure it…but will next week. I’ve attached the pictures I readily have and can provide more when I’m back at the cottage. Google AI seemed to think it could be an Old Town and from an Old Town graph of serial numbers 8299 suggested 1924, but who knows!
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Murat V
LOVES Wooden Canoes
AI has been making plenty of obvious mistakes with canoe identification lately. Your serial number style (4 digits space 4 digits) and the canoe's construction features are consistent with a Peterborough Minetta. The last four digits are the model number 1815 not 1015. This serial number system for Peterborough first appeared circa 1940 and the Minetta with model number 1815 first appears in the 1951 catalogue. Peterborough ceased production circa 1961 putting your boat sometime in that 1951-1961 timeframe.
The pictures below show a similar canoe which still had the remains of a decal on the deck.
Benson
Benson
Peterborough used the 1446 model designation from 1941 to 1956.
Murat V
LOVES Wooden Canoes
Doesn't the 1446 code Shorty also appear in catalogues after 1956? It looks like the 14' Trapper Muskrat (1447) and the 15' Trapper Bunny (1448) appeared in the 1955 catalogue but were dropped by the 1956 issue. The 12' Shorty is listed with its model code in both the '57 and '58 issues and in a 1960 pricelist
1957:
1958:
1960 Pricelist
It even made it to the '61 catalogue but no mention of the model code in this one:
Although noticed something else. Wondering if those slat seats could be a clue to the age of the OP's boat? Although seats could be always be customized and swapped out, it seems up the Shorty came standard with caned seats up until the '57 catalogue. But the issues after this explicitly say slat seats.
Wondering if this could be a clue that this canoe is one of their later versions?
1957:
1958:
1960 Pricelist
It even made it to the '61 catalogue but no mention of the model code in this one:
Although noticed something else. Wondering if those slat seats could be a clue to the age of the OP's boat? Although seats could be always be customized and swapped out, it seems up the Shorty came standard with caned seats up until the '57 catalogue. But the issues after this explicitly say slat seats.
Wondering if this could be a clue that this canoe is one of their later versions?
Yeah, clearly I need to update my website (which, in fact I will be rebuilding from the ground up this winter). And yes, the slat seats can be a clue, assuming the catalog descriptions match actual construction details.
Are you able to help with this one? There are no numbers stamped presumably because the stems are replaced (as I assume the decks are). Overall length is 16 feet, width (assuming replaced gunnels) is around 35 inches but given it’s tied and no thwarts/seats that’s approximate and probably an upper bound. Mid height ~13.5inches. A Peterborough Champlain perhaps?
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ALCEDO ATTHIS
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why do you post here ? it's better to create your post (sorry'm french)
the meramec are a few same maybe someone notice that for ...
woodencanoemuseum.org
the meramec are a few same maybe someone notice that for ...
Decks | Wooden Canoe Museum
Murat V
LOVES Wooden Canoes
Looking forward to seeing the updated version, Dan! Hope it is not too much trouble to rebuild. Your site is already one of the most important and frequently referenced out there.
Murat V
LOVES Wooden Canoes
Going to be tough to I.D. this one if the decks & stems were replaced and no seats/thwarts. Wondering about rib width. From at least 1950, the catalogues mentions the Champlain came with narrow 1-1/2" pleasure style ribs. Yours look much wider.
