Old Towne 16' serial number 2834

[Mel]

Hello,
I recently was given a wooden canoe by a family member - Old Towne 16' serial number 2834 which has been in the family since initial purchase. I know it's history from about the mid 1950s. I would like to get the build record if I can. It's over 100 years old I guess. It will take some work to get it into a usable condition. No interest in selling it, just looking for the build records or any other information. Thanks.

 

[Benson Gray]

The build record for Old Town serial number 2834 is not available, they skip from 2825 to 2835. Can you take some pictures of the numbers and surrounding area from each end and post them here to see if there may be any hidden digits? The tips at http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?791 may help. Many other builders used a similar numbering scheme. Some pictures of the decks, interior, and the rest of the canoe may also help identify it.

Benson

 

[MGC]

The build record for Old Town serial number 2834 is not available, they skip from 2825 to 2835.
Benson

Hi Benson,
Could you post 2825 and 2835? I am curious........

Mike

 

[Benson Gray]

Could you post 2825 and 2835?

Sure, the entire set is available at http://store.wcha.org/Old-Town-Build-Records-on-CD-ROM.html if you want more. A Charles River model with number 2825 went to Broad Ripple, Indiana on July 27th, 1906 and an inboard Power Canoe XX model with number 2835 went to Greenville, Maine on June 5th, 1906.

Benson

 

[MGC]

Sure, the entire set is available at http://store.wcha.org/Old-Town-Build-Records-on-CD-ROM.html if you want more. A Charles River model with number 2825 went to Broad Ripple, Indiana on July 27th, 1906 and an inboard Power Canoe XX model with number 2835 went to Greenville, Maine on June 5th, 1906.

Benson

Thanks Benson. I suppose I should break down and buy the CD at some point.
2835 is an interesting one.

 

[Benson Gray]

I suppose I should break down and buy the CD at some point.
2835 is an interesting one.

You could splurge and get some of the catalog collections as well. It all goes to a good cause. Then you could see how 2835 may have looked as shown below from the 1905 catalog. There are some more pictures at http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?3734 if anyone is curious.

Benson

 

[MGC]

Agree...
I nearly bought one of those that was on display on someones lawn on Route 1 many years ago. Sadly my wife was present and the voice of reason overwhelmed my determinination. I'm still not sure how I would have gotten it home as it had a very cool old (and heavy) gasoline engine installed in it.
It's on my long list of ones that got away, right up there with a few Rushtons, a Gerrish, an English and on and on....

 

[Mel]

I used the advise given in this thread and it now looks like there is another digit - most likely the serial number is 28349. Any info on that one? We think it was purchased in Laconia, NH. Will attach pictures later.

 

[Mel]

pictures of 28349

 

[Benson Gray]

The Old Town canoe with serial number 28349 is a 16 foot long, CS (Common Sense or middle) grade, Otca model with red western cedar planking, open spruce gunwales, birch decks, birch thwarts, birch seats, a keel, and sponsons. It was built between August, 1913 and July, 1914. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It was shipped on June 19th, 1915 to Laconia, New Hampshire. A scan of this build record can be found by following the link at the thumbnail image attached 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 don't match the canoe. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

Benson

 

[Mel]

Great! Thank-you very much.