Morris ? I think?

[Greg Hare]

I picked up two canoes today,the one is a 1920 OT in rough shape.The other I believe is a Morris.Its 16' splayed stem,keel with screws on each rib.I couldn't find a plate anywhere on it.Looked on the stem and inwales.Are there other places it would possibly be?
Thanks for any help. Greg

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Yep, looks like a Morris. The stem in the photo looks like a replacement, though. A Morris stem should be fit better to the ribs than this is. That would be the likely explanation for the lack of a tag.

 

[Greg Hare]

Thanks for the help.I got the fiberglass off,glad it was old and not on very well. Now for all that red paint inside.

 

[Kathryn Klos]

Thanks for the information on this canoe. It would have had a serial number plate on the bow stem, as the deck-style doesn't show up on BN Morris canoes until about 1913 and the "special ends" (increased recurve in the stems, or "torpedo") date to about 1916 or later. So, I'd place your find in the 1916-1920 date-range.

And I'll mention again that the topic of our assembly next year is the Morris canoe. Hope to see 300 of them on the green!

Kathy

 

[Greg Hare]

Kathy,
Thanks for the information. I still have the 20' Morris,but haven't restored it yet.

Greg

 

[Kathryn Klos]

I hope you'll be able to attend the assembly next July, Greg. Would be nice to see that 20 footer, no matter its stage of restoration.

I hope folks understand that we can learn from these canoes, no matter their stage of repair. It would be helpful to compare planking-patterns over the years, for instance.