1998 Old Town Centennial Canoe Info Please

[letstalkauction]

Seems Like there is alot of info out there on vintage Old Towns, I need info on a 1998 16 ft. Old Town Centennial Canoe. I believe it is a Guide. Does anybody know how many were made and why it is so hard for me to get any info reguarding the Anniversary Centennial OT canoe? Is any one aware of an Anniversary Centennial canoe selling recently? or know of a way I can conclude a value on this canoe? Thanks in Advance.

Greg Tuttle

 

[Benson Gray]

Only the first 210,000 Old Town records were scanned so you will need to send your serial number and $3 to the factory to get a copy of the build record. The address and other details are listed at http://www.wcha.org/identify.html if you want more information.

I don't know how many of these were built but you may find that there is not a huge demand for them today. It was built on the 16 foot long Guide's form even though this model is relatively new as listed at http://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/models.html and first appeared in the 1954 catalog. More information like this can be found in the Old Town Canoe Company Catalog Collection CD available from http://merchandise.wcha.org/ and http://www.dragonflycanoe.com/cdrom.htm on the web.

I haven't ever seen one offered before on eBay, a live auction auction, here in the WCHA classifieds, or anywhere else. More information about how to value and sell a wooden canoe can be found at http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?t=57 although this is more focused on older canoes. A similar Orvis 150th anniversary canoe is now being offered as described at http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?t=1921 even though the first Old Town Canoe Company didn't actually organize and start making canoes until after 1900. An auction is probably the best way to put a real value on this canoe. Please add a listing for it in the classifieds at http://classifieds.wcha.org/ if you do decide to sell.

Feel free reply here if you have any other questions. A request like this was also made by another user at the end of a thread at http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?t=1899 related to the canoe with serial number 76109.

Benson

 

[Michael Grace]

As an aside from the topic at hand, the Orvis Old Town anniversary canoe is for the anniversary of Orvis (est. 1856), not Old Town.

 

[Benson Gray]

I understand that the Orvis Old Town anniversary canoe is to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Orvis but it just seems ironic that Orvis selected a manufacturer and product that clearly was not available in 1856. I also thought that it was strange that Old Town selected a 16 foot long Guide's model to celebrate their 100th anniversary in 1998 when this version of the Guide's model first appeared in their 1954 catalog. This is independent of the fact that they celebrated their centennial in 1998 when the organization was not actually named the Old Town Canoe Company until 1903. Then again, my sense of irony and humor is probably unusual too so I will hand the soap box to someone else now.

Benson

 

[Michael Grace]

Yes, Benson, I had no doubt that you recognized the meaning of "150th anniversary" here. And like you, I thought it odd that Orvis would choose such a symbol. But that's business. What more spectacular (to some people) way to promote an outfit like Orvis than with a wooden canoe? Guess they aren't such sticklers for model, length, etc. as we would be. Oh well... I guess that once again "Old Town" becomes synonymous with "old wooden canoe".

 

[Dan Lindberg]

My experience is most folks not "into" w/c canoes never even consider that multiple models/designs might have been made and "a canoe is a canoe".

Dan

 

[Benson Gray]

I agree Dan that this is really a minor nit to most people. I also agree with Michael's point that this is a great way to promote Orvis, Old Town, and wooden canoes in general. My intent was to show the humor in these situations and not to be critical.

I think that the person who started this thread is the auctioneer who is selling the canoe since he has also posted a classified advertisement at http://classifieds.wcha.org/index.cgi?search_and_display_db_button=on&db_id=566&query=retrieval with the same information that Gil mentioned. Now if someone will just post the final selling price here then we will all know what one of these is worth. I would go but it is quite a trip from Maine to Michigan.

Benson

 

[Dave Wermuth]

ANd

Mio is in Dave McDaniel's back yard. or maybe Front yard? But I'll guess he'll know the final selling price.

 

[David McDaniel]

My back yard

Hey Dave;
Yes this is in my back yard, and I have purchased from these folks before.
They are good people to deal with. But don't worry, i'm not intrested in
the cent Old Town.
later Dave