Peterborough Trapper Shorty

[jam010148]

I just purchased the Peterborough Trapper Shorty listed on the site as model 1446 serial number 9798 but it appears that the number may be different. It looks like either model 1048 or 1448 or 1446 (see attached pic) and serial number 9697. Can you please provide information on this canoe?
thanks again for your dedicated and great work!
joe

 

[Benson Gray]

Congratulations, there are no known records available for Peterborough, unfortunately. These numbers were stamped by hand so mistakes are known to have happened. The site at https://woodencanoemuseum.org/builder-history/peterborough-canoe-company lists the Peterborough model numbers as you probably know. Good luck,

Benson

 

[jam010148]

thanks Benson - So, 1446 -- Trapper Shorty built between 1941 and 1956...12X30X12
With a serial number of 9697, might be able to narrow down the date if I knew how many Trapper Shorty canoes per year.
Appreciate the help.
thanks again & have a great weekend
joe

 

[Benson Gray]

might be able to narrow down the date if I knew how many Trapper Shorty canoes per year.

Do you know if each model was numbered individually or were all models assigned numbers from the same pool? Do you know when they began using serial numbers and what number they started with? The estimates at http://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/models.html indicate that Old Town produced about 24 and 41 canoes per year which were 11 and 13 feet long respectively.

Benson

 

[jam010148]

If Old Town produced so low of numbers of 11 and 13ft canoes, I doubt that Peterborough serial number 9697 is any help in identifying the year. So, between 1941 and 1956 is good enough.
thanks Benson
joe