Gil Cramer
The wooden canoe Shop, Inc.
Does anybody have any definitive info which would help determine the age of this Morris canoe? The canoe is 15' long and appears to be a model "A" except with an 11" depth. The canoe has a medallion on the front deck indicating that it was sold by The Folsom Arms Company in New York City. It never had a keel, and was clenched with copper cut tacks(not canoe tacks). The interior has been stripped of varnish and there is no indication of it ever having a brass tag. I've checked all of the usual and unusual places that Morris placed a tag, and no evidence could be found anywhere. The stem is relative plumb without much recurve, which is usually indicative of a build date around 1900. The garboard planks are 5" wide and the shear planks in the quarters are almost 6" wide with the other planking 3 3/4". All of the planking looks to be Atlantic White cedar with the garboards flat grain and the remainder vertical grain. The center thwart is the same shape that I've seen in other 15' Morris canoes. The seats look like Morriis seats, but might have been replaced years ago. Thanks for any help.
