Molitor Period Pictures

[Paul Scheuer]

Question; Might anyone have a picture of a B.N. Morris Molitor showing the whatever identification and decoration might have been used at Belle Isle in Molitor's livery ? I don't expect color, but it wouldn't hurt.

 

[Benson Gray]

You can search this site for Belle Isle and find many pictures that might contain Molitor livery canoes from Morris like the ones at http://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?threads/5921/ but I don't know of any that were identified as such. Let us know if you find one. Good luck,

Benson

 

[Paul Scheuer]

Thanks Benson. I'll dig in in the morning.

 

[dmd421]

Hi Paul check this link we posted on a Molitor. http://forums.wcha.org/index.php?threads/michigan-chapter.15944/ It is now on display at the Belle Isle Dossin Museum, in the CJ Molitor exhibit.

 

[Paul Scheuer]

Thanks All. What I was interested in was whether or not the Molitor canoes had any identification as to the livery during the heyday of Belle Isle. I haven't seen anything in the pictures that I've seen so far. The Detroit Historical site has a searchable photo album that is interesting.

 

[Benson Gray]

C. J. Molitor got 33 Molitor models from Old Town in 1921 which were shipped to him under order number 578 as described in Debbie's link above. These were painted a broad variety of different colors. He was running a livery so his customers probably liked to be able to pick out a color that they preferred rather than having them all look the same. However, he frequently ordered canoes with a three foot long bow deck and a two foot long stern deck so that will probably be a better distinguishing characteristic. Search here for Molitor and you can find lots of information about his canoes, including the one at https://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?threads/12325/ which was built for C. J. Molitor in 1921 under order number 578 but ended up in Maine instead. Please keep us posted as you find more information.

Benson

 

[Paul Scheuer]

Thanks Benson:

I did see one checkered boat in the Detroit album.

Mine has 24 inch aft deck and 36 inch fwd. Pic is as received. I have the book-matched mahog aft deck I'm close to being ready to canvas.

I have never found any numbers. The first traceable owner was in northern Ohio.

 

[Benson Gray]

Your message at https://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?threads/15881/#post-80226 indicates that your canoe has a wide cedar Morris style stem with nail holes where the serial number tag was originally located. Therefore it is probably a Morris which may have shipped to C. J. Molitor or another Morris dealer. Several people have talked about recreating the checkered design as mentioned at https://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?threads/old-town-hull-identifcation.16122/page-2#post-81660 so go for it.

Benson

 

[Paul Scheuer]

Thanks Benson:

I did see one boat painted in a checkered pattern in the Detroit album. Apparently the notion of monograming everything from airplanes to underware hadn't caught on in the 20's.
My forward deck is 36 inches, aft is 24. Picture is as-received. I do have the book-matched mahog aft deck and batten. I'm close to being ready to canvas. I've not found any numbers. The first identified owner was in northern Ohio.
The stems are wide Morris style. The gunnels are open. At one time I saw holes for a tag on the fwd stem. I didn't record the dimension. I could check.