Old Town Canoe at Libby Camps Maine - #29896 (perhaps with a leading letter (T?) or number (7?).

[Deirdre Jo]

This lovely Old Town Canoe (#29896) hangs from the vaulted ceiling at Libby Camps Fishing and Hunting Lodge (which I highly recommend for any anglers or hunters...amazing experience). It was a gift from the original owner to his wife. Likely in the time indicated by the plot of SNs to dates...around 1915. Would it be possible to get a scanned copy of the original bill of sale?

You all were so wonderful providing same for my father's Old Town Canoe...which looks like the younger verson (1944) of this one. Many thanks for your help.

 

[Benson Gray]

My guess is that it may be the Old Town canoe with serial number 129896. This is a 13 foot long, AA (or top) grade, fifty pound model with open mahogany gunwales, mahogany decks, mahogany thwarts, a keel, and a floor rack. It was built between April and June, 1940. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It shipped on June, 12th, 1942 to Winchendon, Massachusetts. The back side shows that it was damaged in shipment and came back for repairs on June 26th, 1942. It was fixed and shipped to A. Libby in Ashland, Maine on July 9th, 1942. Scans showing both sides of this build record can be found below.

These scans and several hundred thousand more were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others as you probably know well. A description of the project to preserve these records is available at http://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/records/ if you want more details. I hope that you will donate, join or renew your membership to the WCHA so that services like this can continue. See http://www.wcha.org/about-wcha to learn more about the WCHA and https://www.woodencanoe.org/pricing-plans/join to donate or join.

It is also possible that this could be another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match the canoe. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

Benson

 

[Deirdre Jo]

Benson,
Thank you once again for your help. After reading more about the history of Libby Camps, I realize I was considerably off on the dates. It was the 3rd generation of Libby family owners, Allie Libby, who gifted it to his wife Elsie sometime int he 1940s. I will send this on to Matt Libby, the grandson of the Allie and Elsie, the 5th generation owner of Libby Camps.

I will make a donation to help continue your good work. Many thanks! Deirdre.