Old Town copper stem bands

[davelanthier]

I'm still trying to date this 16' Old Town guide canoe. Serial #'s have been removed. It is well built, has copper stem bands the same shape and size as brass ones, red cedar planks ? and machine caned seats. I thought it was circa 1960 but once the interior paint was removed a dark patina varnish was found which suggests it might be older. Can anyone help? Thanks.

 

[Fitz]

Fwiw

Dave:

I have a 1940 Guide. It has a copper stem bands, but it also has been recanvassed at least once. Not sure if they are the originals or not.

Good Luck

 

[Benson Gray]

Hand caned seats were replaced with the press caned alternative as a result of the introduction of minimum wage in the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. Patina often tells more about how the canoe was used and stored than the actual age. I have a 1936 canoe with virtually no patina to the wood and varnish. Good luck guessing the age of yours,

Benson

 

[Giiwedin]

For a period of time in the mid 1960s Old Town used aluminum stem bands. I have a 1966 Guide with outside stems and aluminum bands.