I just got an old wood and canvas canoe that I think may have belonged to my great grandfather or perhaps my great uncle. It has a Old Town decal and the serial number is 103959. It is 17 feet long. Can anyone help me out with the history or build record of this canoe. Thank you.
Old Town serial number search
- Thread starter Lou Houck
- Start date
The Old Town canoe with serial number 103959 is a 17 foot long, AA (or top) grade, Otca model with red western cedar planking, open mahogany gunwales, a keel, a floor rack, and a bang plate along the full length of the keel. It was built between December, 1929 and May, 1930. The original exterior paint was similar to the one shown at http://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/designs/design04.gif which was known as the design number four. It shipped on May 28th, 1930 to Scranton, Penna. A scan showing this build record can be found by following the link at the attached thumbnail image below.
This scan and several hundred thousand more were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others. 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/about-the-wcha/ to learn more about the WCHA and http://store.wcha.org/WCHA-New-Membership.html to join.
It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. Please attach some pictures, especially if the original design is still showing. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions,
Benson
This scan and several hundred thousand more were created with substantial grants from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) and others. 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/about-the-wcha/ to learn more about the WCHA and http://store.wcha.org/WCHA-New-Membership.html to join.
It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. Please attach some pictures, especially if the original design is still showing. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions,
Benson
Attachments
That's my boat. I'm in Scranton and that's where my family is from. Based on the date it was my great uncles canoe. It still has the deck plate. I don't think it's been in the water for 50 years. It's in great shape. Probably needs new canvas. It looks like it has a spot for a mast. Is that possible?
Thanks for all you help.
Thanks for all you help.
Yes, it is not unusual for a sailing rig to be added after a canoe leaves the factory. Canvas typically lasts about twenty years in normal use so it is likely to need replacement now. Good luck with the restoration and please attach some pictures. Thanks,
Benson
Thanks for your help. I will send photos of the canoe before and after I refinish it.
I have another serial number I need help with. I think it is also an old town and I think it was purchased in Scranton, Pa. The serial number is 83031-18. I think. This boat has been used for many years and the numbers are difficult to see. I added a photo of the number in case you are better able to make it out. J
Thanks for any help you can provide.
I have another serial number I need help with. I think it is also an old town and I think it was purchased in Scranton, Pa. The serial number is 83031-18. I think. This boat has been used for many years and the numbers are difficult to see. I added a photo of the number in case you are better able to make it out. J
Thanks for any help you can provide.
The Old Town with serial number 83031 is 16 feet long and several others in the 83x31 pattern didn't show an 18 foot long canoe either either. Can you also provide a picture of the numbers from the other end? Some of the tricks described at http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?791 may help. Thanks,
Benson
