Need info on Old Town

[George F.]

Hello;
I have an 18' Old Town Canvas canoe my father purchased 15+ years ago. Serial number 40,567. It is in need of some repair (outwales, end of stem, ends on inwales, a front seat, refinish work and new canvas). I would love to find out the history (bill of sale, date of mfg, materials, name of model, etc) of the canoe if possible. I am a wood worker and canoe lover and am trying to decide whether to refurbish the old beauty or sell it. I have never refurbished a canvas canoe. Any idea of value would be helpful also.
Thanks!

 

[Benson Gray]

The Old Town canoe with serial number 40567 is a 17 foot long, CS (Common Sense or middle) grade, HW (Heavy Water) model with red western cedar planking, closed spruce gunwales, birch decks, birch thwarts, birch seats, a keel, and sponsons. It was built between November, 1915 and March, 1916. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It was shipped on May 5th, 1916 to Paradox, New York.

Your location makes me wonder if you really have Old Town canoe with serial number 140567. This is an 18 foot long Guide model with red western cedar planking, open spruce gunwales, half ribs, and a keel. It was built between August and October, 1944. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It was shipped on January 30th, 1945 to Midland(?), Michigan. Please check the numbers again and post some pictures.

Scans of these build records can be found by following the links at the attached thumbnail images below. These scans and several hundred thousand more 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/ot_records/ if you want more details. I hope that you will join or renew your membership to the WCHA so that services like this can continue. See http://www.wcha.org/about-the-wcha/ to learn more about the WCHA and http://store.wcha.org/WCHA-New-Membership.html to join.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description don't match the canoe. The specifications at http://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/specific.gif and valuation ideas at http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?57 may also help. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions. Good luck with the restoration,

Benson