Kennebec Serial No. Request 22566 18

[William Fridley]

I would like to see if I could get the build sheet on this canoe. The serial number is hard to make out but I am pretty sure its correct, the 18 is easy to see. It looks like the serial no. is stamped on both ends, I just cleaned off the one end to see the number. Looking at other Kennebec Canoes I am pretty sure its a Kennebec. Thanks for your help.

 

[Benson Gray]

Welcome and congratulations, the Kennebec canoe with serial number 22566 as shown on pages 146 and 147 of volume four in the Kennebec ledgers. This was assigned to an 18 foot long Kennebec model type A. It was planked by Mansell on September 2nd, 1933. He applied the canvas covering on September 16th, 1933 and the first filler coat on September 23rd, 1933. The second filler coat was applied by F. M. T. on September 24th, 1933. It was railed by Grant on March 3rd, 1934. The "F 22" (Function number 22 or the keel?) was completed by Thib. on March 24th, 1934. The "F 24" (Function number 24 or the finish work) was completed on March 26th, 1934. The original color was red. It shipped to location "34-19" on April 13th, 1934. This location is probably an order number but we don't currently have enough information to identify it.

The scans of these build records can be found by following the links at the attached thumbnail images below. These original Kennebec records are reproduced through the courtesy of the Maine State Museum.



The microfilms and scans of these records were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) as you probably know well. A description of the project to preserve records like these is available at http://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/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-wcha to learn more about the WCHA and http://www.wcha.org/store/membership to join.

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

Benson

 

[William Fridley]

I would like to thank you for the time and effort involved in being able to supply this information. I feel very lucky that I have a piece of history and its origin can be traced. This canoe was given to me by a gentleman who just wanted someone who would appreciate it. He purchased the canoe used in 1960 for $30 when he was a teenager, he took good care of it. This canoe needs very little work, new canvas, strip and finish the woodwork, and a few small repairs on the wood. I am looking forward to restoring it and will post pictures as I go. Thanks again