Michael Danker
Amateur Restorer
I have been away from the site for several years. I could not pass up picking up this canoe the SN# 6151-17. Will try to get better look in the morning.
Found Another
- Thread starter Michael Danker
- Start date
Welcome back, it may take more than a serial number to identify this canoe. The Old Town build record for this number shows a 16 foot long canoe. There are no Carleton or Kennebec records for this number. The information at http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?791 may help you discover if there are any missing or hidden digits. Can you verify the exact overall length between the extreme ends of the canoe and attach some pictures, especially ones showing the decks and all of the serial numbers on the inside stems from each end? Thanks,
Benson
Benson
H.E. Pennypacker
LOVES Wooden Canoes
Pics will help. Given where you are and the 4-digit serial number (if correct), this could be from one of the Charles River-area makers or from B.N. Morris.
OP
OP
Michael Danker
Amateur Restorer
Will try to get the numbers to "pop" up a little bit. The numbers look like old town. the first digit might be an "8". I am thinking of using linseed oil on the numbers and wait a week to see if this makes them better readable. The canoe does have numbers on both ends.
The Old Town canoe with serial number 8151 is a 17 foot long, AA (or top) grade, Charles River model with red western cedar planking, open mahogany gunwales, mahogany decks, mahogany thwarts, mahogany seats, and half ribs. It was built between December, 1907 and June, 1908. The original exterior paint color was dark green. The shipping date and destination were not reproduced well enough to read. A scan of this build record can be found by following the link at the thumbnail image attached below.
This scan 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/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/about-the-wcha/ to learn more about the WCHA and http://store.wcha.org/WCHA-New-Membership.html to join.
It is possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. Please attach some pictures. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.
Benson
This scan 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/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/about-the-wcha/ to learn more about the WCHA and http://store.wcha.org/WCHA-New-Membership.html to join.
It is possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. Please attach some pictures. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.
Benson
Attachments
Greg Nolan
enthusiast
I don't believe that any Morris serial numbers contain a dash followed by the boat length.
OP
OP
Michael Danker
Amateur Restorer
BiNGO! That's the one! She has the half rib and the decks match pictures that I can find! Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!!!
H.E. Pennypacker
LOVES Wooden Canoes
No, they don't. And neither do the Old Towns or Robertsons that I'm looking at right now... Since the serial number wasn't written in quotation marks, there was no reason to assume a "-17" was actually stamped. The meaning could have been that the serial number was simply 4 digits, and the "-17" was simply to indicate length. Maybe Michael could post a photo of the serial number. It would be interesting to see what it looks like on a 1907/1908.
MGC
Scrapmaker
Within the general date range but should represent..........
Attachments
Three more from this era are attached below. There is no known build record for number 2731 but numbers 2727 and 2737 were both started in 1904 and shipped in 1906. Number 5143 was started in August of 1906 and shipped in July of 1907. Number 5835 was started in December of 1906 and shipped in March of 1907. I agree that it would be interesting to see pictures of another from that time period.
Benson
Attachments
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