New, old Indian Girl

[ticonderoga]

This past weekend my son and I picked up another Indian Girl to restore. Here are the details as I see them. 17 foot, #532, non Inc. logo, grade A style closed gunwales, shaped single thwart. The seat frames, inner and outer gunwales are cherry as well as the decks. The decks are 30" long. What is confusing to us is that the decks are a single piece of bent cherry and not the three pieces I have seen on other Rushtons and Morris canoes. Is this a special factory option? They look original to us. Also the bow seat is hung directly from the inner gunwale and not on cleats like our other IG. Was this another factory option? We want to get the details right before we take anything apart. Any idea on the age other than pre Inc 1906? Thanks for looking. Thanks Joe

 

[MGC]

At 30 inches the decks are unusual, but there are Rushton's, my Brown, and SLBc's that have substantial one piece cherry decks. Clearly there was local expertise to form some significant decks. Lucky you to have such a canoe. I don't what it is about these old girls that make them so appealing, but that canoe will almost certainly be a stunner!.

 

[Dan Miller]

Not an American Beauty. Cherry decks, up to 30" long, were a $6 option in 1904.

 

[ticonderoga]

Thanks for the feedback. After giving it a good once over it will only need some work on the decks and two backside rib repairs, not bad for a 120+ year old canoe! As far as the bow seat placement on the inner gunwales as opposed to cleats lower down, could this change have been made on later (after Inc.) boats in an effort to lower the center of gravity ie make it more stable? Just a thought. How many 30" single piece, long decks are there in the listing of the known Indian Girls, was this a common option?
Dan can you enter this one into your list. Thanks

 

[Michael Leone]

I just started restoration on a very similar Indian Girl, grade A 16' with all Mahogany rails decks and seat frames. 24" decks with combing, beautifully shaped single thwart, bow seat attached directly under the inwales. #769 with Folsom Arms co. tag on the bow deck. according to Dan Rushton only sold canoes through the Folsom Arms Co. in 1902 and 1903 so your #532 predates mine.
My #769 was acquired from the Granddaughter of the original owner. See images in my previous post.

 

[MGC]

I just started restoration on a very similar Indian Girl, grade A 16' with all Mahogany rails decks and seat frames. 24" decks with combing, beautifully shaped single thwart, bow seat attached directly under the inwales. #769 with Folsom Arms co. tag on the bow deck. according to Dan Rushton only sold canoes through the Folsom Arms Co. in 1902 and 1903 so your #532 predates mine.
My #769 was acquired from the Granddaughter of the original owner. See images in my previous post.

To tie the bits together, here is your related thread. https://forums.wcha.org/threads/rushton-serial-769.21481/
Michael, if you have other images of your canoe that you are willing to share, it would be nice to see those in a thread.