First open gunwale canoes?

[Benson Gray]

There has been some discussion in the past here about who introduced the concept of open gunwale canoes but I don't recall that any firm conclusions were ever reached. Page 12 of the circa 1906 Old Town catalog introduces the Ideal model with open gunwales. Page 187 of the Cannon & Co.'s Directory of Bangor and Brewer from 1907 has a "colored insert" with an advertisement for Gerrish saying that they are "Manufacturers of Canvas Canoes Canvas Boats with the new open gunwale." Page 13 of the circa 1907 Morris catalog has a diagram and description of an open gunwale. Page 13 of the 1908 Carleton catalog has pictures and a description of their 'new' open gunwale canoe. Does anyone know of any other mentions of open gunwales from this period or earlier?

Benson

 

[1905Gerrish]

Possible to share those advertisements and pages Benson?

 

[Benson Gray]

Possible to share those advertisements and pages Benson?

Sure, the Morris diagram is available at http://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?attachments/22575/ but the picture and description a few pages later might be more useful as shown below.

Benson

 

[1905Gerrish]

Thanks Benson, funny that the Gerrish ad still shows a closed gunwale.

 

[1905Gerrish]

In the July 1, 1905 article of the Bangor Daily Commercial, the phrase " The Gerrish canoes have an innovation in the way of a split rail " is used and details the function of an open gunwale canoe. A PDF is attached and can be read on the middle bottom right hand column. I tend to believe that the flat double caps were this first style followed by the later rounded style caps.

Zack