Carleton canoe for sale in PA

[patrick corry]

A Facebook user who saw one of my canoes for sale offered this canoe to me. I don't have a real interest, but I'm willing to facilitate for someone here if there's interest. The seller cannot find a serial number on the inside stems. He's asking $300. It's got the usual well-done repairs to the stems!

 

[MGC]

Maybe Benson can illuminate.
If my memory serves, Carleton and Old Town models were relatively interchangeable by the time the mid-20's arrived. I had a Carleton sponson canoe that Benson told me was probably an Old Town with Carleton badging.

 

[Benson Gray]

The seller cannot find a serial number on the inside stems.

It appears that some varnish remover will be required to find the serial numbers (or a very careful inspection). The diamond headed bolts indicate that it was probably made after the early 1920s. Carleton and Old Town canoes were being made in the same factory at that point. It was not unusual to have the badging swapped or other changes in the rush to fill an order.

Benson

 

[Michael Grace]

The canoe above has typical Carleton features from this era that Old Town retained in these models, including the curved carry handles and the heart-shaped decks (in addition to its Carleton badge). It looks like it was built as a CS-grade Carleton (in the Old Town factory) and sold as a Carleton.

I have a canoe from 1922 that was sold as a Carleton Indian Princess but it was built as an Old Town Molitor. It is badged as a Carleton but has none of the typical Carleton features and all the features of the early Old Town Molitor. Interestingly it even has the original Old Town serial number, overstamped with a Carleton serial number (Carleton serial numbers for a given year were much lower than Old Town serial numbers for the same year; both serial numbers in this canoe correspond to the same year, 1922).

 

[chris pearson]

The canoe above has typical Carleton features from this era that Old Town retained in these models, including the curved carry handles and the heart-shaped decks (in addition to its Carleton badge). It looks like it was built as a CS-grade Carleton (in the Old Town factory) and sold as a Carleton.

I have a canoe from 1922 that was sold as a Carleton Indian Princess but it was built as an Old Town Molitor. It is badged as a Carleton but has none of the typical Carleton features and all the features of the early Old Town Molitor. Interestingly it even has the original Old Town serial number, overstamped with a Carleton serial number (Carleton serial numbers for a given year were much lower than Old Town serial numbers for the same year; both serial numbers in this canoe correspond to the same year, 1922).

Let’s see it Michael!!

 

[Benson Gray]

Let’s see it Michael!!

He posted a few pictures at the message linked below and a following one.

Benson

Post in thread 'Carleton Indian Princess'

May 25, 2017

Here's a wrinkle - Not too long ago we picked up a 1922 Indian Princess (click on the attached thumbnail below). It was apparently built originally as an Old Town Molitor, and for then pulled out to become a Carleton Indian Princess. It has mahogany trim as described on the catalog page, but it's build is nothing like a typical Carleton. The curvature of the stems is Molitor-like, the outside stems are "chubby" (i.e., oval in cross section), and it has 36" bow and 24" stern decks. It also has oval mahogany outwales, and the sweep of the sheer is distinct.
Michael

• Michael Grace

• 

 

[Michael Grace]

A few more. Need to get some photos of the completed project. It was in very good condition when I got it. In the final photo below, one deck panel has been removed at each end for access under the decks while cleaning and re-varnishing. A few unusual do-dads were added onto it back when, as you can see. There's a story behind the name that includes some long-ago illegal behavior on and around the water, and a chauffeured ride to the Graybar Hotel.