Bill Thurlow
Enthusiastic about Wooden Canoes
Need help identifying this canoe for a friend, appears to have a 3 digit serial#, Old Town said it isn't one of theirs.
Canoe Identification Help
- Thread starter Bill Thurlow
- Start date
I see the potential for five digits in this serial number. My first guess is 60115. The suggestions at the link below may help you find the rest of the digits. How long is it? Some varnish remover will probably help. Can you provide more pictures of the serial numbers and surrounding areas from both ends? It appears to have had some significant repairs so it isn't easy to know what is original. The rails seem unusually wide so it may have an open gunwale under those new rail caps. Good luck,
Benson
forums.wcha.org
Benson
How do I find a serial number on an old wooden canoe or boat?
Many old wooden canoes and boats have a serial number on both inside stems and a decal or tag with the manufacturer's logo on the bow deck. The number is usually stamped on the top of the lower part of the stems. The inside stems are the long curved pieces of wood that form the ends of the...
Bill Thurlow
Enthusiastic about Wooden Canoes
Benson
I will be picking up this canoe this week and will try to uncover more of the serial #.
Bill
I will be picking up this canoe this week and will try to uncover more of the serial #.
Bill
Bill Thurlow
Enthusiastic about Wooden Canoes
The Old Town canoe with serial number 69118 is a 17 foot long, CS grade, Charles River model with Western red cedar planking, closed spruce gunwales, 16 inch ash decks, ash thwarts, and ash seats. It was built between January, 1922 and February, 1924. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It shipped on June 20th, 1925 to Bucksport, Maine. The note on the back side of this record indicates that it may have moved to Ellsworth, Maine by September 9th, 1982 when there was a previous request for a copy of this information. Scans showing both sides of this build record can be found below.
These scans and several hundred thousand more 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/catalogs/old-town/records/ if you want more details. I hope that you will donate, join or renew your membership to the WCHA so that services like this can continue. See https://www.woodencanoe.org/about to learn more about the WCHA and https://www.woodencanoe.org/shop to donate or join.
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. Good luck with your restoration.
Benson
These scans and several hundred thousand more 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/catalogs/old-town/records/ if you want more details. I hope that you will donate, join or renew your membership to the WCHA so that services like this can continue. See https://www.woodencanoe.org/about to learn more about the WCHA and https://www.woodencanoe.org/shop to donate or join.
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. Good luck with your restoration.
Benson
Bill Thurlow
Enthusiastic about Wooden Canoes
Thanks Benson
Bill Thurlow
Enthusiastic about Wooden Canoes
Last night I was going thru paper the owner gave me and found all the info also. Notes on the build sheet said it had been reconditioned by Island Falls Canoe Co. in 1981. New canvas, 5 ribs, new keel and gunwales. The interesting thing is that the designed was changed from Charles River to Guide Model. I showed it to Rollin today he thought it was strange also. He checked it over for me, had a great.
Bill
Bill
