Hello, I'm trying to identify this logo on a late 1930s canoe from the Muskoka area in Ontario, Canada. Visible text seems to end in 'AM'. Some have said it may be a Peterborough or Chestnut but this logo doesn't match anything I can see online for those two brands. Any help would be much appreciated!
Murat V
LOVES Wooden Canoes
Not a Chestnut or Peterborough. That is the decal for W.F. "Mack" Cunningham, a small scale builder out of Bala, ON. Here's a slightly better preserved decal:
The Muskoka Lakes Museum in Port Carling had a restored Cunningham canoe on display a while back. I took a picture of their info board which has more details about his operation:
The Muskoka Lakes Museum in Port Carling had a restored Cunningham canoe on display a while back. I took a picture of their info board which has more details about his operation:
Murat V
LOVES Wooden Canoes
Would be great if you could post more photos and details about your boat. Apparently Cunningham used custom forms to make 14' and 16' hulls that would've been slightly wider than Peterborough / Chestnuts.
He also stamped all his seat backs and paddles with the initials WC. You can see this in the accompanying paddle below:
Apparently he preferred to just tack extra canvas to make seats so the seat frames were not drilled for caning holes.
Does your canoe happen to have the original seats still in them or have they been replaced?
He also stamped all his seat backs and paddles with the initials WC. You can see this in the accompanying paddle below:
Apparently he preferred to just tack extra canvas to make seats so the seat frames were not drilled for caning holes.
Does your canoe happen to have the original seats still in them or have they been replaced?
Murat, thank you so much for your quick reply! the logo certainly matches the Cunningham one. The info board is great as well as I don't see much about Mack Cunningham online. I dont have more pictures or details at the moment, it's a family friend's boat but will check for some of these additional details next time I see it.
Cheers
Cheers
Murat V
LOVES Wooden Canoes
Hi Jan. Have you had a chance to visit your friend's boat at all? Would be great to get additional pictures. I just visited the boat house in Bala where Cunningham built his canoes before the shop was sold by his widow. The current owner still has some left over seats and other canoe parts still in storage in the loft. He was only aware of two other Cunningham canoe owners so it would be great if you get the chance to document your friends canoe and share some details.
