Looking for info on Old Town Serial # 169371

[htumblin]

I was just given a 16' Old Town cedar canoe, looks almost brand new, so want to find out about when it was built and model

 

[Benson Gray]

Welcome and congratulations, the Old Town canoe with serial number 169371 is a 15 foot long fifty pound model with a keel. It was built between October and December, 1959. The original exterior paint color was bright red. It shipped on April 30th, 1960 to Everett, Massachusetts. A scan of this build record can be found 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/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/shop to donate or 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

 

[htumblin]

Thanks!

 

[MGC]

Benson,
Is a Cuprinol notation common? Was it added to the filler, used on the canvas or was the hull treated with it?
Mike

 

[Benson Gray]

Is a Cuprinol notation common?

This is not unusual for that era. The filler formulas at the link below do not mention it so my guess it that this was being used to treat the wood.

Benson

Thread 'Canvas Fillers'

Oct 16, 2012

Canvas Fillers

Canvas filler formulas have been guarded for decades by wood canvas canoe builders all over the world. The formulas below have been published or made available in a legal manner and not “stolen” or otherwise “borrowed” without permission. If you have another proven formula that is not listed here, please send it in!
One note about filler formulas. The materials that were used in the early 1900′s may not be the same as materials with the same names today. In addition, canvas is certainly different today than it was in 1900, so some of these formulas may not...

• Dan Miller
• Replies: 1
• Forum: Build and Restore

 

[John Sand]

I've used Cuprinol as wood preservative, the old formula was great.

 

[MGC]

I've used Cuprinol as wood preservative, the old formula was great.

Before we were conditioned to buy treated lumber, treating our own with Cuprinol was the norm. I used many dozens of gallons on everything from fence posts to wood steps. When I put the walkway in around the Clarkson canoe house, I painted Cuprinol on every piece of wood before I shoveled in the gravel. It lasted over 25 years.....
What struck me as odd was seeing the reference on a build card. I never used it on a canoe.

 

[Benson Gray]

What struck me as odd was seeing the reference on a build card. I never used it on a canoe.

The link below has another example. This appears to have been a short experiment.

Benson

Post in thread 'Old Town 169380 - 13'

Oct 11, 2024

The Old Town canoe with serial number 169380 is a 13 foot long fifty pound model with a keel. It was built between October, 1959 and March, 1960. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It shipped on May 5th, 1960 to Southold, Long Island, New York. A scan showing this build record can be found below.

This scan and several hundred thousand others were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others as you probably know well. A description of the project to preserve these records is available at...

• Benson Gray