Another Old Town

[pklonowski]

A friend of mine works in a kayak store; the store owner bought a restored Old Town, had it shipped by truck to the store, where it has sat in the warehouse, still wrapped for the truck trip, for over two years. Serial number may be 12721 18, though access & light to the stem isn't the greatest. If that's the SN, what's the boat? Just curious -- my 1946 Otca has a 6-digit SN, so this could be quite a bit older. Unless we missed a digit.

Looks like floor boards were added over the ribs, they don't look as old as the rest of the interior, but could be either replaced or added features. Can't tell what shape it's in without taking off the wrapping, and decided not to do that without the boss' approval...

Many thanks in advance!

 

[Al Sienkiewicz]

Paul: My guess is you're missing a digit. The Old Town canoe with serial number 12721 is a 17 foot long, AA grade, HW model with spruce gunwales, mahogany decks and rails, sponsons and a keel. It was built between November 1909 and June 1910. The original exterior paint color was dark green. Reference is made on the card that a floor rack, double paddle and 1 pair of 7' oars with oarlocks were included" in the special crate. It shipped on June 30th, 1910 to Hamburg, Germany. A scan of this build record can be found by following the link at the attached thumbnail image below.

This scan was created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others as you probably know well. I hope that you will join or renew your membership to the WCHA so that services like this can continue. See http://www.wcha.org/ to learn more about the WCHA and http://www.wcha.org/join.php to join or renew.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

I'll check the 12721x series to see if anything is close. - Al

- Al

 

[Al Sienkiewicz]

Paul: We have two possibilities. 127214 is an 18 foot long, CS grade, HW model with spruce gunwales, a floor rack, sponsons and a keel. It was built between March 1939 and May 1939. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It shipped on July 10th, 1939 to Northville, NY. 127219 is an 18 foot long, CS grade Guide model, dark green with spruce gunwales and a keel. It was built between March 1939 and June 1939. It shipped on July 8, 1939 to Camden, Maine. It looks like the first one could be it. Scans of these build records can be found by following the link at the attached thumbnail image below.

This scan was created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others as you probably know well. I hope that you will join or renew your membership to the WCHA so that services like this can continue. See http://www.wcha.org/ to learn more about the WCHA and http://www.wcha.org/join.php to join or renew.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

 

[pklonowski]

There were no sponsons on the boat, but since it's been re-worked, it could be either. Many thanks!