Old Town 3423 - 15 serial number search

[edward.blessing]

Hello, I recently acquired an Old Town 15' canoe, serial number 3423. The boat needs to be recanvassed (none currently present), with some woodworking involved as well, although most of the wood is in good condition, i.e. none of the ribs are broken but a few spots of planking require work. The brass keels are present, and the original gunwales, although these are all detached and some of the latter cracked. I believe this boat is worth saving - the person from whom I acquired it believed so and he's an old hand with wooden boats, just too old to work on them any more. I'm not sure I have the time to do so, and may be looking to pass it on.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Benson Gray]

There is no build record for the Old Town canoe with number 3423. Can you post some pictures of the numbers and surrounding areas from both ends to help determine if there is a hidden digit? Some of the tips described at http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?791 may also help.

Benson

 

[edward.blessing]

All apologies, I missed another digit hidden under grime. The serial number is 33423.

Thanks!

 

[Benson Gray]

The Old Town canoe with serial number 33423 is a 15 foot long, CS (common sense or middle) grade, fifty pound model with red western cedar planking open spruce gunwales, maple decks, maple thwarts, maple seats, and a keel. It was built between August, 1914 and May, 1915. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It shipped on May 19th, 1915 to Groton, Mass. A scan of 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 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 doesn't match your canoe. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

Benson

 

[edward.blessing]

Benson, that matches my canoe to a t, thanks so much!