Old Town Serial #22892

[PeterboroughAuctions]

Hello, I'm looking for more information about this lovely old wooden canoe that came out of a barn here in New Hampshire. It has the Old Town plaque, and is just over 15' long and 38 1/2" wide.
Much appreciated,
Nick

 

[Benson Gray]

Welcome, the Old Town build record for serial number 22892 shows an 18 foot long canoe so that isn't a good match. The records for numbers 122892, 22392, and 122392 don't show a 15 foot long canoe either. Can you provide some pictures of the serial numbers from each end and the Old Town nameplate on the bow deck? The information at the link below may help if the numbers are hard to read. Thanks,

Benson

Thread 'How do I find a serial number on an old wooden canoe or boat?'

Oct 2, 2005

Many old wooden canoes and boats have a serial number on both inside stems and a decal or tag with the manufacturer's logo on the bow deck. The number is usually stamped on the top of the lower part of the stems. The inside stems are the long curved pieces of wood that form the ends of the canoe. You want to look on the part that extends out from under the decks on the bottom of the floor inside the hull. The serial numbers are stamped in each end of the canoe so check both if a single digit is not clear. These numbers in the stern of boats are occasionally on the edge of the center...

• Benson Gray
• Replies: 2
• Forum: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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[PeterboroughAuctions]

Thank you for the prompt reply! Please see photos of serial numbers and name plate attached.
Kindest regards,
Nick

 

[Benson Gray]

I'm not sure what you have but it clearly isn't an Old Town. That style of name plate wasn't used until 1979 as shown at https://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/covers/large-79.gif on the catalog cover and their serial number 22892 was issued in 1912. The font is different from the Old Town style as shown in the confirmed example below. There are no records of Carleton and Kennebec ever using this serial number. Can you supply any pictures of the decks, seats, and thwarts? Sorry,

Benson

 

[PeterboroughAuctions]

Interesting! The current owner bought it as an 'Old Town' about 40 years ago from an auction--I'm guessing someone slapped the badge on it to sweeten the price?
I have attached additional photos, and thank you again for your prompt and informative responses. This is an impressive community that I'm very glad to have consulted.
All the best,
Nick

 

[Benson Gray]

My guess would be a Canadian builder since it is unusually wide. Good luck,

Benson

 

[PeterboroughAuctions]

Thank you.

 

[ALCEDO ATTHIS]

sorry for my post here , Benson you think it's canadian for the wide , what do you think about the half ribs ? canadian also ?
it's to collect news for mine ...was it more usual in canada these half ribs ?
Dom

 

[Benson Gray]

Benson you think it's Canadian for the wide , what do you think about the half ribs ?

No, half ribs are commonly found on canoes from many different builders. The estimates at https://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/records/ indicate that about 60% of the Old Town canoes shipped with no options but around 10% of the ones with options had half ribs as shown at https://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/records/options.jpg for example. That fancy serial number font is often found on canoes from the Charles River area but they usually had four digit serial numbers or less. The square ended half ribs, heart shaped decks, extra width, and a five digit serial number all seem most likely to be from a Canadian builder since the number doesn't match any of the known build records from Old Town, Carleton, or Kennebec. This is just a guess. Let me know if it doesn't answer your question.

Benson

 

[Worth Gretter]

Benson and Dom, I assume "wide" is in reference to the hull width. But what about the ribs? They are wide, and not tapered to the ends at all, and have only a faint bevel.

 

[ALCEDO ATTHIS]

ok Benson for my question and yes for the hull width for Worth Gretter , '(my english is not perfect , and too new words for me)
and yess the ribs are not the same , just asking canadian or american for that ... thank you