Inherited Canoe: purported to be an Old Town

[AHeet]

I was recently given what I'm told is an Old Town canoe as a "winter project" to clean up and assess whether it can be restored. It's a wood and canvas canoe with sponsons and has "89279" stamped into the stern but has no other documentation. Is there an online index of production data where I could learn more about it?
I couldn't find a manufacturers plaque or logo anywhere on the boat, but found that it is using diamond headed bolts to hold the seats in place which seemed to suggest an Old Town as well.

 

[Benson Gray]

Welcome and congratulations, the Old Town canoe with serial number 89279 is a 17 foot long, CS (Common Sense or middle) grade, HW model with red Western cedar planking, open spruce gunwales, ash decks, ash thwarts, ash seats, a keel, outside stems, and sponsons. It was built between January and August, 1926. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It shipped on June 3rd, 1927 to Falls Mills, Virginia. A scan of this build record can be found below.

This scan and several hundred thousand more 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/catalogs/old-town/records/ if you want more details. I hope that you will donate, join, or renew your membership to the WCHA so that services like this can continue. See https://www.woodencanoe.org/about to learn more about the WCHA and https://www.woodencanoe.org/join to donate or join.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match the canoe. The 1920 catalog page at https://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/specific.gif may help you learn more about how it was built. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

Benson

 

[AHeet]

Thank you so much!

 

[Worth Gretter]

Maybe you can get it restored in time for its 100th birthday!
Be sure to post pictures of your progress....

 

[Todd F]

I agree with Worth, pics would be nice

 

[JClearwater]

Yah, what they said. Without pictures it never happened! Post a few pictures of the canoe as it is now and and we can help you assess what work needs to be done and how to get started. I might also suggest buying through the WCHA store the book "The Wood and Canvas Canoe: A complete Guide," by Jerry Stelmok and Rollin Thurlow. Most of your questions will be answered in there. Also if your summer vacation plans are not set yet you should consider coming to the WCHA Assembly next July. It's not exactly around the corner from Indiana but is definitely worth the trip.
Good luck and have fun with your project.
Jim

 

[JClearwater]

I should have added - you mentioned that you inherited the canoe. Canoes with a family connection and history are always nice and make it all the more special. Collect the family history on it, photos, stories etc. before they are lost.
JCC