Information Request based on Serial number

[Mabraszek]

My father in law has a beautiful canoe that he purchased 30 years ago at a garage sale in Watkins Glen, NY. He used it quite a bit, but took great care of it. We would like some more information about it, ie: year made, model, anything else that might be available. It appears to be an Old Town. The serial number is 31102.

Thank you for any information that you can provide.

 

[Benson Gray]

The Old Town canoe with serial number 31102 is a 16 foot long, AA (or top) grade, Ideal model with red western cedar planking, open mahogany gunwales, mahogany decks, half ribs, and a keel. It was built between February and April, 1914. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It shipped on April 11th, 1914 to Elmira, New York. A scan showing this build record is attached below.

This scan and several hundred thousand others were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others. 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/wcha/ to learn more about the WCHA and http://www.wcha.org/join.php to join.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

Benson