Lakefield canoe lazy back question

[Cliff Ober]

One very old "lazy back" or back rest that I have was repainted many years ago in a not so elegant orange color. The paint was pretty deteriorated, so I decided to strip it and refinish the back. When I got the paint off, I found evidence of an original stencil showing in the weathering or patina of the wood. The stencil is "L.C.B.&.M.Co." or Lakefield Canoe & Boat Manufacturing Co., the name when my canoe was built. There's a picture below (if I can insert it correctly).

I've corresponded with a curator at the Canadian canoe museum in Peterborough about this; he's checked 7 similar lazy backs in their collection and found none with evidence of a stenciled label. Has anyone out there ever seen one of these backs stenciled before?

I'd like to restore the original appearance, and it would be nice to know what the color (of the stenciled label) was. I assume the back was originally varnished over the stencil and both were stripped when the back was painted later, so my plan is to do the same - paint the identical stencil and then varnish over it.

My thanks in advance for any light that can be shed on this!

Cliff Ober

 

[Dan Miller]

I found evidence of an original stencil showing in the weathering or patina of the wood. The stencil is "L.C.B.&.M.Co." or Lakefield Canoe & Boat Manufacturing Co., the name when my canoe was built.

Those initials are for "Lakefield Canoe Building & Mfg. Co.," which is the name of the company between 1904 and 1919. Nice piece.

 

[Cliff Ober]

Those initials are for "Lakefield Canoe Building & Mfg. Co.," which is the name of the company between 1904 and 1919. Nice piece.

Thanks Dan; I knew that but was half asleep last night when I was writing the message and obviously not paying attention to what I was doing...

I wonder if this particular back might have come with the canoe when my great-grandfather bought it. That name for the company only lasted about 15 years before reorganization and a new name came into use.

I've been able to create a stencil that matches the original size and appearance; all I need is to figure out what color to use for it.

Thanks for the help!

Cliff Ober


p.s. - just for the sake of curiosity, why cranky?

 

[bluedcanoed]

Very interesting! Could you share photos of the "whole thing" with us?

Bob (5 miles from Lakefield, ON.)

 

[Andre Cloutier]

just for the sake of curiosity, why cranky?
Probably because he's too young for crotchety or curmudgeonly.

Great, there go my guideboat lines. Ah well, it was worth it....

 

[Cliff Ober]

Very interesting! Could you share photos of the "whole thing" with us?

Bob (5 miles from Lakefield, ON.)

Here you go Bob:

https://picasaweb.google.com/cdober/AlmaSCanoe?authuser=0&feat=directlink


Cliff