Old Town 16' Serial # 108909

[gsgreene]

Hello,
Can somebody help me with information on this canoe. I recently bought this from a person in Deerfield, IL (North Chicago). He told me that he had recently purchased it from another in Ann Arbor, MI and he mentioned that the previous owner had documentation showing the original build sheet. I am wondering if the bilge keels were original to this canoe and any other information. I hope that I have the last number correct as it was very faint to read on the stem. Thanks so much.

 

[Benson Gray]

The Old Town canoe with serial number 108909 is a 16 foot long, CS (Common Sense or middle) grade, Otca model with western red cedar planking, open oak gunwales, oak decks, oak thwarts, oak seats, half ribs, a keel, and outside stems. It was built between January and April, 1931. The original exterior paint color was turkey red. It shipped on April 9th, 1931 to Ann Arbor, Michigan. A scan showing this build record can be found by following the link at the attached thumbnail image below.

This scan and several hundred thousand others 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.

You may have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. There are no bilge keels mentioned on this build record so those may have been added after it left the factory. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions,

Benson