16' Langford canoe-Can anyone estimate the age of this canoe? I have not been able to find the serial number.

[Darlyne]

I have this canoe that was traded to me for an old debt. I was told it was quite old and valuable. I am just looking to find out how old it is and what the approximate value is. I can't seem to locate the serial number...

 

[Benson Gray]

The information at the first link below and similar canoes at https://www.woodencanoe.org/classifieds should help you value this one. Langford is still in business as shown at the second link below so they may be able to help you date it. Good luck,

Benson

Thread 'How much is my old wooden canoe worth?'

Nov 14, 2004

How much is my old canoe worth?

One of the most common questions that gets sent to the WCHA webmasters is "how much is my old canoe worth?" Tim Hewitt's responses over the years have included the following comments:

Any wooden or wood/canvas canoe in usable condition is worth $1000 - $1500. A canoe that is documentable will go on the high end, one that is particularly rare will bring more, up to $3000 for a wood canvas canoe, and as high as $5000 for an all-wood canoe. These high end canoes must be in showroom condition and you must have evidence or documentation of their age and...

• Benson Gray
• Replies: 5
• Forum: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• 

Langford Canoe Limited

langfordcanoe.com

 

[Murat V]

Based on your decal, your canoe dates roughly between 1967 and 1976. Older but not that old. The earliest Langfords were built from 1945 onward.

Before 1967, the decals on the Langford canoes were rectangular and would have read "Langford Marine on Lake of Bays". In '67 Ken Langford sold the marina but kept the canoe building business and the decal changed to the one you have. Unfortunately, he died in 1968 and the business was taken over over in 1969 in Ken Treadwell. It was sold to a group of corporate owners in 1976 who changed the logo again to a circular design with a beaver.

If there is a serial number, it might be faintly stamped or burned onto on of the stems. Might be hard to see under years of varnish. Typically in this era, they were six digits.

Seems to be in decent shape. You could try contacting the current owners of Langford Canoe Co (who have no connection to the original Langford family) and perhaps they might give you an estimate.