A canoe from the Indian Old Town Canoe Company

[Benson Gray]

I agree. Dave DeVivo had a Rushton at the Assembly with a similar nickel plated name plate for comparison and we felt that this one looked the same.

Benson

 

[Benson Gray]

The restoration has begun. It has more broken ribs to be replaced than originally estimated but this is not unusual.

Benson

 

[MGC]

Canoecam

The restoration has begun. It has more broken ribs to be replaced than originally estimated but this is not unusual.

Benson

If that is where I think it is I was hoping to get a look at it on the canoecam but for some it's pointed at the finishing room door....I suppose we are supposed to be watching rib production..
Should become a very nice boat when it's done..

 

[Fitz]

Sweet!!!!!

 

[Michael Grace]

Initial successes in the plating of chromium occurred in the mid-1800s, but may have been either lost or ignored given that some important plating literature from the late-1800s makes no mention of it. Nickel plating was widely used at the time this canoe was made (circa 1901). Commercially viable chrome plating wasn't developed until the mid-1920s.

Sweet!!!!!

Yes... historic, and it's going to be a beauty!

 

[Andre Cloutier]

Benson, on rereading this thread, I wondered if this canoe would be attributable to Old Town Canoe Co if it had no tag? Lots of features are of course common to the period, but are there any that stand out as OT?

 

[walt]

I also echo Andre's query about defining features of this OT. I also took particular notice of the stem relief immediately under the inwales that the planking lies flush under...I have only ever seen this on a few older Chestnuts and assumed it was just a particular builder's very cool bit of whimsy, but now wonder if it was not a more common feature on earlier boats that I was not aware of.

 

[Benson Gray]

I wondered if this canoe would be attributable to Old Town Canoe Co if it had no tag? Lots of features are of course common to the period, but are there any that stand out as OT?

I don't know of any definitive collection of features that would identify this as an Indian Old Town without a tag. It is not reasonable to make broad generalizations based on a sample size of one. The stem cut that Walt mentioned, heart shaped decks, wide planking, rails that run past the stem, limited number of cant ribs, and other features may be unusual but are certainly not unique. This is one reason why it is good to have it taken all apart and documented. Hopefully the webcam at http://www.wooden-canoes.com/nw68go/web/ will be moved next week so we can all learn more as the restoration progresses.

Benson

 

[Etienne-Henri]

Those close up pictures are very interesting, thank you for sharing.
This canoe does look very sweet.
Etienne-Henri

 

[Etienne-Henri]

This shop cam is fantastic. And an invaluable source of knowledge.
EH

 

[Benson Gray]

The restoration of this canoe continues as shown at https://www.wooden-canoes.com/canoe-cam/ if anyone is curious.

Benson

 

[Benson Gray]

This canoe is now able to be used again as shown below, 117 years after it left the factory. Many thanks to Rollin, Elisa, and everyone at the Northwoods Canoe Company for making this possible.

Benson

 

[pklonowski]

Wow... Just wow...

 

[Etienne-Henri]

Fantastic ... Very very nice.
From your (beautiful) pictures, the satin finish of the hull looks very convincing.

 

[Benson Gray]

Yes, I prefer old canoes with a satin finish. Thanks,

Benson

 

[MGC]

Benson...this is a great canoe for you to own.
It is nicely restored.
I hope that it will stay in your family for as long as there is someone with an interest in old canoes and especially, old Old Town canoes.

 

[Benson Gray]

I wondered if this canoe would be attributable to Old Town Canoe Co if it had no tag?

I need to ammend my earlier response. This canoe has a slight pounded flare at the bottom end of the stem bands. I recently noticed that the 1906 Old Town shown at http://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?threads/12416/ has a similar characteristic. Both of these are shown below with the arrow on the Indian Old Town canoe's image. Please let me know if anyone finds this on any other canoes. Thanks,

Benson