Old Town Guide 18

[Roger Larsen]

Hi, I have what appears to be a guide model 18 footer that looks like it has serial number 66803 or 66303. It's hard to tell because it is hanging in the loft of an old log cabin and hard to get a good look at. Can someone tell me any details about this cool looking canoe? Thanks

 

[Benson Gray]

The Old Town with serial number 66803 is a 17 foot long Charles River model so that probably isn't your canoe. The one with number 66303 is an 18 foot long, GS (Guide's Special) grade, Guide's Special model with red Western cedar planking, closed spruce gunwales, ash decks, ash trim, a keel and five extra CS (Common Sense grade) middle thwarts (which were probably not installed). It was built in June, 1921. The original color was dark green. It shipped on June 29th, 1921 to East Hampton, Conn.

Scans showing both of these build records can be found by following the links at the thumbnail images attached below. These scans and several hundred thousand others 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/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/wcha/ to learn more about the WCHA and http://www.wcha.org/join.php to renew.

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

Benson

 

[Roger Larsen]

Thanks for the info Benson. The second description is close but the canoe has open gunwales so I will do some work on the serial number to see if I can get a better read. Did all the canoes in that serial range have closed gunwales? I know the first two numbers are 66 and the last is 3. 66*03. The 0 second from last looks smaller than the other numbers, is that possible? It has the same shaped decks as my 20 ft guide made in 1964. Thanks again, Roger.

 

[Benson Gray]

Did all the canoes in that serial range have closed gunwales? I know the first two numbers are 66 and the last is 3. 66*03.

No, open gunwales were first introduced in the 1906 Old Town catalog. I checked all of the 66x03 numbers and didn't find another 18 foot canoe. There is one at 166003 with open gunwales as shown below if that looks like a match. This one may have the new style decks like the one shown at http://dragonflycanoe.com/id/images/otca_deck2.jpg as opposed to the image at http://dragonflycanoe.com/id/images/oldtown_deck1.jpg which shows the older style.

Benson