Seeking information

[VFMA]

Hello to all,

What a great organization and gathering of minds!

I joined the WCHA because I purchased an Old Town wood and canvas canoe. I wanted to find out as much information on this craft as I could. While searching the site, I found that I could find out information about my boat through its serial number .

This is the number that is stamped inside 114629 15. All information will be appreciated!

Thanks in advance and I look forward to chatting with all of you and someday attending a get together with the local chapter.

Kind Regards,
Dave

 

[Benson Gray]

Welcome to the WCHA! The Old Town canoe with serial number 114629 is a 15 foot long, CS grade, fifty pound model with Western red cedar planking, open spruce gunwales, oak decks, oak trim, a keel, and a floor rack. It was built between October, 1934 and January, 1935. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It shipped on February 23rd, 1935 to Philadelphia, Penna. A scan of this build record can be found by following the link at the attached thumbnail image below.

This scan was 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'm glad that you have joined and hope that you will continue to contribute 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.

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

 

[VFMA]

Benson,
Thank you very much for the quick response. This description fits my craft perfectly! The person that I bought it off of felt that it was a 1950’s era boat.

I really look forward to beginning restoration and repairs on this (I’m going to make it a winter project). This boat is seaworthy the way she is as I have just returned from a 5-day canoe trip with it. However, there was a repair made some time ago on the right front quarter that consists of planking and rib repairs that I would like to look cosmetically better. I will be searching the WCHA forum archives for more information on this type of work.

As a curious thought, how do you go about looking and finding information on these boats? That is, where do you look up these serial numbers and find the build records?

Thanks again for your help.

Kind Regards,
Dave

 

[Benson Gray]

I have a copy of the Old Town and Carleton build records on my PC as a result of the Old Town Canoe Company Build Record Archive Project. You can buy a copy at http://merchandise.wcha.org/product_info.php?cPath=90_91&products_id=408 or read more about the project to create this archive at http://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/records/ if you are interested. Let me know if this doesn't answer your question. Thanks,

Benson