Help me ID this B.N. Morris part?

[scooterboy]

Hi,

Newbie here. Just wondering if anyone could tell me what the heck this is, and if it has any historical significance. Pictures:

At first I thought it might be a jig for building canoes, but the decal suggests to me that it was actually a canoe production part - perhaps a seat support?

I picked it up at an estate sale in NH and when I saw the decal something told me to buy it. Is it worth anything?

Thanks for any info!

 

[Kathryn Klos]

Looks like it's part of a sailing rig. Someone familiar with rigging may recognize it-- the decal is the same as I've seen on the lee board frame and is from about 1912-1920. Of course it's worth something-- it's a canoe-part with a decal and is saying, "look at meeee, I am a cool thing from the BN Morris factory, with an intact decal." What anything is "worth" depends on what someone is willing to pay, and sometimes that's figured out in an on-line auction, such as eBay. Somebody else here may have better answers for you... and somebody may be looking for that very thing! Thanks for showing it!

Kathy

 

[Benson Gray]

I suspect that you have a leeboard bracket like the one shown in the catalog page from 1917 at http://forums.wcha.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12874&d=1286226440 that Kathy mentioned and attached to a previous message. The historical significance is probably limited but someone will probably be willing to give you a few bucks just for the decal. It would be worth more if you can get the rest of the rig to go with it. The information at http://canoesailingmagazine.com/index.php/Issue-6/A-1921-Kennebec-Sail-Rig.html shows a similar Kennebec sail rig and the one at http://dragonflycanoe.com/otacc/ details the Old Town versions of this equipment.

Benson

 

[scooterboy]

Wow - you guys sure know your stuff! It's definitely a leeboard bracket, as you suspected. It looks exactly like the one in the catalog. The old guy I bought it from thought it was some sort of car roof rack to transport canoes, but I knew it wasn't that.

Well, if anyone needs one of these puppies, make me an offer - it's officially for sale!

Thanks again.

 

[Greg Nolan]

Check your private messages.

 

[scooterboy]

I meant to come back here a few weeks ago. That bracket has been sold.

Thanks again to all for their help!