Chestnut Gems

[KAT]

My friend Christine picked these up on Kijiji last summer. Not exactly canoe related but still, a little piece of Chestnut history.

 

[MackyM]

Very nice!!!

 

[SWEETWATER]

really sweet!! what else did chestnut make that was not directly related to canoeing?

 

[Dan Miller]

really sweet!! what else did chestnut make that was not directly related to canoeing?

Skis (1913 catalog)

Dog Toboggans (1925 catalog)

Walter Dean made hockey sticks...

 

[Andre Cloutier]

Dean made wicked airboat too, but cant find my image of it. casualty of moving, along with many other small things... Original is at the Canoe Museum.
You can replace those decals courtesy of Roger as well, i have a couple and they are neat.
http://www.ivyleashirtco.com/products/original/index.html

 

[Easternrivers]

Those shoes are awesome....I have two pairs.
1 is not so good shape with the labels, and the other has Chestnut branded into the toe stretcher and down one side..these I bought way back when new. My old friends!

 

[garyh]

Very nice. I recently had a friend give me a pair of vintage Faber's, also canoe makers, found in his newly purchased home. Anyone got ideas on how to clean/ rebrighten babiche? In good shape otherwise but very dirty around where feet go. Warm water and mild soap?
Happy new year
Gary

 

[Andy Hutyera]

The babiche should be varnished. If it is just surface dirt I would try a scrub brush with soap and cold water. After cleaning as well as possible and thoroughly drying recoating with varnish should make them serviceable. If the babiche itself has discolored, I'm not sure what to suggest. I would be inclined to let well enough alone and varnish over it. The discoloration would just be part of their history.

 

[Andy Hutyera]

I'm curious about those neat Chestnut snowshoes. The photos only show head on views. How much are the toes upturned? Nice find!

 

[KAT]

Andy

The toes don't turn up much at all, less than an inch. She has another old pair that are likely not Chestnut snowshoes with a much sharper upturn.

 

[Andy Hutyera]

Interesting. Thanks for the photos! That upturn is pretty slight. Even so, I'll bet they work just fine. The shoes are naturally tail heavy so the front of the shoe swings upward as you walk.