Old Town Wood Canoe build date?

[Rick Hoolko]

I aquired a 16ft Old Town wood and canvas canoe a few years ago and I am trying to determine the year that it was manufactured. I was told by the person who was restoring it that it was built in 1916. The serial # on the center wood strip near the bow is 166882. Is there anyone who can tell me the actual build date? I have attached a couple of photos.

Thanks,

Rick Hoolko

 

[Benson Gray]

It is my sad duty to inform you that "the person who was restoring it" is not correct. The build record for the Old Town canoe with serial number 166882 shows a 16 foot long CS grade, Otca model with a keel. It was built between December, 1957 and March 1958. The original exterior paint color was bright red. It shipped on March 24th, 1958 to Al Tahoe, California. A scan of 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/catalogs/old-town/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.html to join or renew.

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

Benson

 

[Rick Hoolko]

Benson,

Thank you for the quick reply and the background information. The little bit of original paint that is left is indeed bright red. I appreciate the search effort and I'm glad to finally know what the actual model is and it's history.

Rick