Old Town 17' OTCA canoe serial number search

DMc

New Member
We purchased the canoe in 1956 and believe it was shipped to Youngstown, Ohio in 1952. It has been repainted and the seats have been recaned, but otherwise the canoe is in original, well cared for condition and is still being used. It was loaned to the Illinois Department of Tourism in the 1980s and was featured in a television ad advertising outdoor recreation in the state of Illinois. The canoe is now in Omaha and we would like to sell it. Any information you can offer would be greatly appreciated. The serial number is: 103232 17
 

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The information about the Old Town Canoe with serial number 103232 is available at http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?4695 so you may have another number if yours was a new canoe in the 1950s. The decal on the bow deck does not appear to be original. The messages at http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?57 may help if you want to sell it and the classifieds here at http://wcha.org/pp-classifieds/ are often the fastest way to find a good new home for a canoe like this. Good luck and feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

Benson
 
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Benson,

I misread the number and the correct number is 153232. You are correct the decal is a replacement. I will go to the classified ads but can you tell me does a canoe of 1952 vintage have some worth to Old Town Canoe collectors? Also do you know of any person who deals in buying and selling these older Old Town canoes, perhaps a restorer?

Thanks for your help and any more information you provide would be appreciated. The canoe is now located in Omaha, Nebraska, not a location with a lot of lakes.

Doug McEwen
 
The Old Town canoe with serial number 153232 is a 17 foot long, AA (or top) grade, Otca model with red western cedar planking, open mahogany gunwales, a keel, and a floor rack. It was built between October, 1949 and July, 1950. The original exterior paint color was bright red. It shipped on June 10th, 1952 to Youngstown, Ohio. 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 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 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 renew.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. An Old Town canoe like this will have some value to a collector although older canoes are usually considered more desirable. The list of restorers at http://www.wcha.org/buildsupply/ includes many who buy and sell canoes like this. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions,

Benson
 

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