Build Record Request

[LinkBoatCo]

Requesting the build record for Serial# 4135, a 16 ft. sponson O.T.
Serial number was a little hard to read because of the age of the canoe.

 

[Benson Gray]

You may want to check the suggestions at http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?t=791 to verify if you have missed some digits in this number. The Old Town canoe with serial number 4135 is a 17 foot long, CS grade, HW (Heavy Water) model with no keel, ash decks, ash trim, closed spruce gunwales, and sponsons. It was built between December, 1905 and May, 1906. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It shipped on May 26th, 1906 to New York City.

This scan and several hundred thousand others were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others as you probably know well. A description of the project to preserve these records is available at http://www.wcha.org/ot_records/ if you want more details. 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/wcha/ to learn more about the WCHA and http://www.wcha.org/join.php to join.

It is likely that you have another number or manufacturer since this length doesn't match your canoe. Old Town canoes of this vintage often had an unusual name plate decal on the bow deck so please attach a picture if this is present on yours. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

Benson

 

[LinkBoatCo]

Thank you for responding so quickly.
I measured the length again and it really is 17 ft. long.
One little detail I left out; there is a small brass Abercrombie & Fitch medallion on the bow deck, so that verifies why it was shipped to the New York outfitter. It appears that the build record does match up with this canoe.

 

[Benson Gray]

Congratulations, this is an unusually old canoe. Do the outside rails extend past the stems as shown in the pictures below?

Benson

 

[LinkBoatCo]

Benson,
One more minor detail.
The canoe is not too seaworthy right now. It needs a little restoration work.
See attached photo.
I plan to be at the Assembly in July and will be looking for an interested buyer who is able to restore it. I live about an hour away from Franklin Pierce University.