1932 Old Town made for Abercrombie and Fitch

[tjscheppat64]

Hello! Could I please get some help locating information on this 17 foot Old Town canoe? Serial Number: 110185.

And, every other rib has a threaded brass whole in it... curious about that.

Thank you!

 

[pklonowski]

I'm thinking the "threaded brass hole" is the head of the screws that hold the keel onto the hull... perhaps someone got a little too aggressive with the screwdriver?

 

[Benson Gray]

The build record for this canoe is available at the link below from a previous request. My guess is that the keel was removed and not replaced during the last recanvassing. This is similar to what Paul suggested. The cup washers may have been left behind. Pictures would help.

Benson

E

Thread 'Old Town history search'

Feb 23, 2009

Can someone do a check on O.T. #110185? Thanks.

• Eric H
• Replies: 2
• Forum: Serial Number Search

 

[tjscheppat64]

Thank you! I just purchased it this week. I have always wanted a real wood canvas canoe every since my days at a YMCA camp just outside of Ely, MN.

Here is a picture of the threaded brass holes I was referring to.

 

[tjscheppat64]

Also, why do you think the build record is so informal compared to others? I wonder what 110186, if it exists, looks like. Or maybe they lost 110185 and hastily replaced it.

 

[Benson Gray]

why do you think the build record is so informal compared to others?

The "threaded brass holes" are the cup washers left behind when the sponsons were removed. The "informal" build record is probably due to light colored ink date stamps which didn't show up on the black and white scan. The link below demonstrates another example of this issue. Let me know if this doesn't answer your questions.

Benson

Post in thread 'Old Town sponsons'

Mar 2, 2008

On the build record where the entry for sponsons would have a date when they were installed, it says "St. Louis" with no date. Any ideas what this might indicate?

The usual format was to rubber stamp the date when they were completed and then hand write in the last name of the person who did the work. The record at http://forums.wcha.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=3168&d=1184590772 shows that the sponsons were added on July 7th, 1943 by Mr. St. Louis and http://forums.wcha.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4144&d=1203040968 shows some that were done on October 31st...

• Benson Gray

 

[tjscheppat64]

My apologies for the ignorance but what would one do with all these sponsons?

 

[Benson Gray]

what would one do with all these sponsons?

Many people did not know how to swim well in the early 1900s so safety in a canoe was a big concern. Sponsons can help prevent a capsize and add additional boyancy if one occurrs. See https://forums.wcha.org/attachments/55241/ for a description from the 1927 Old Town catalog. Many restorers will omit them when replacing the canvas.

Benson

 

[ALCEDO ATTHIS]

Air chambers canvassed , fixed by nuts & bolts?

 

[Benson Gray]

Air chambers canvassed , fixed by nuts & bolts?

Each sponson is canvased separately and then they are attached with wood screws from inside the canoe. Let me know if this doesn't answer your question.

Benson

 

[ALCEDO ATTHIS]

OK it' clear , thank you