Serial Number question

[jevelde@att.net]

An Old Town 18' Otca, serial number 53514, in our family for over 80 years, is being sold at auction tomorrow, Jan. 13, 2013. I was hoping to find out more info about where it was initially shipped, and any other info that the serial number could tell me. My Dad said that by his best estimate, it was built in 1917, but I'd like more info if it's available. Thank you.

 

[Benson Gray]

The Old Town canoe with serial number 53514 is an 18 foot long, AA (or top) grade, Otca model with western red cedar planking, open mahogany gunwales, twenty inch mahogany decks, mahogany thwarts, mahogany seats, a keel, a foor rack, and a brass painter ring. It was built between March and April, 1919. The original exterior paint color was silver gray. It shipped on April 22nd, 1919 to Endicott, New York. A scan of this build record can be found by following the link behind the thumbnail image attached below.

This scan and several hundred thousand others 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. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions. Good luck with the auction,

Benson