More...
Hello again--
First, I've attached the image containing the backrest that originally went with your canoe--- does it still exist? Nice to have original accessories. Image courtesy "The Complete Old Town Canoe Company Catalog Collection 1901-1993" edited by Benson Gray and Daniel Miller and available through
www.dragonflycanoe.com.
Re your Morris: Any information is greatly appreciated, because each Morris canoe added to the database says something and adds to what we know--- information that may shed light on the company itself and/or the canoes specifically. This information helps us understand many things: helps those bringing a canoe back to life to restore it accurately, if they choose to do so; sheds light on business practices in general and canoe-businesses and B.N. Morris Company business in particular; sheds light on the times in which these canoes were used and enjoyed, and the folks who paddled them.... and probably more.
While any Morris-- with or without a serial number-- can be plugged into the database, the more information we get, the greater the chance we'll discover something. You've doped out your canoe's model and type, and this helps a lot.
We like to know the following, if possible (this info is for ALL who may have or know of a Morris):
Length of canoe.
Model-- or measurements so we can, perhaps, figure it out. Most Morrises are model A, so it's interesting to find any of the others.
Serial number-- including location of serial number (on stem or inwale or elsewhere) and type of serial number plate (oval or rectangle with rounded corners, or anything else). A Morris in the 13-thousand series most-likely has a rectangular plate on the stem).
Deck style-- see the section of Forums titled "canoe photo index" for examples of known short-deck types. A short-decked Morris in the 13-thousand series most likely has the concave curved deck.
Wood species. Bert Morris liked mahogany trim-- for decks and seat frames. But other wood species are seen on both B.N. Morris canoes (birdseye maple for example) and on the "second grade" Veazie model.
Color of the canoe's interior--- if the canoe has been refinished, we may not know if the original stain was "light" or "dark". Interior stain-color is something we've only recently begun looking at, as a result of the database. It seems most Morris canoes were originally stained a dark mahogany to match the mahogany trim... but some are lighter. At first, it seemed the canoes with lighter interiors had high serial numbers, as though this was a change that happened late in Morris production. But we've recently had a couple of canoes dating to the first decade of the 20th Century which have light interiors.
Cant rib count. Cant ribs are those "half ribs" waaaaay up under the decks at each end, which are canted into the stem. The splayed stem of the Morris "bites into" the first full rib... and above that will either be two pairs of cants or three pairs--- early Morris canoes have two pairs. The change to three pairs appears to have happened in about 1905, or with canoes in the three thousand series.
Pictures-- profile of canoe. Morris canoe profile changed over time... and in the later years of production "special ends" were offered as an option--- this was a "torpedo" look. A 13-thousand series canoe could have the traditional ends, which had less recurve-- or the torpedoed "special ends". We hope to learn when changes in the profile happened, which would help date those canoes where the serial number plate is missing.
Picture-- the stem. Morris canoes have a very unusual stem.
Picture-- serial number plate. If no plate, picture of bow stem clearly showing presence or absence of four holes that would indicate presence or absence of rectangular s/n plate... and picture of inwale on the left side, at the bow-end, just above the first full rib-- showing presence or absence of two holes which would have held the oval s/n plate.
Picture-- decks. With long-decked canoes, indicate length of each deck.
Picture-- interior shot, showing seats and thwarts. On an 18 footer, the center thwart is attached with wing-nuts so it could be removed easily and it often went missing for that reason.... so, having a middle thwart "is a gift".
Pictures or descriptions of anything unusual or which seem "extra"... a decal, flag sockets, fancy outwales, half-ribs or a floor rack, oar locks, spotlights... any accessories, such as back rests or paddles.
History-- where it was paddled, and by whom.
Thanks for any info-- from anyone reading this. We appreciate greatly getting any scraps of information, even if it isn't your canoe. Members have emailed us about canoes seen in museums or in a neighbor's garage... and it all helps, even if it's just a verbal description-- a deck style with a serial number is a big help.
Kathy
kathrynklos@gmail.com
or
dkallery@att.net