mistaken identity

[HeliJim]

I have canvas covered canoe that was my Fathers and my Grandfathers before that. It has always been thought that it was a Chestnut. I recently found numbers stamped into the stem. 1447 8162. Is it safe to say this is a Peterborough?

 

[davelanthier]

Model 1447 should be a 14' Peterborough Muscrat.

 

[HeliJim]

Do the last four digits hold any significance? Is there anyway to find out more history on this specific boat? Where it was made, when?

 

[Kathryn Klos]

Looks like it dates from 1941, using the table at www.dragonflycanoe.com/id/. Records for specific serial numbers don't exist for most of the old canoe companies. You're lucky in that your canoe is easily identifiable and the serial number points to a specific model and year. Someone else may have information to add though.

Kathy

 

[davelanthier]

I have a few factory Peterborough brochures that suggest the 1447 Trapper model was sold from 1941 to 1952. Maybe someone else has more information to fill in any gaps.