serial number request 71160 17

[Douglas Ingram]

A friend and colleague is working on an old canoe, it looks like an Old Town.

We don't get too many Old Town wood canoes around here.

Mahogany trim, OT stem profile, long decks, floor boards, old sailing canoe with a mast step and partner built into the bow seat, and classic diamond head bolts.

Any information would be appreciated.

 

[Benson Gray]

The Old Town canoe with serial number 71160 is a 17 foot long, AA (or top) grade, Otca model with red Western cedar planking, open mahogany gunwales, mahogany decks, mahogany thwarts, mahogany seats, a keel, a floor rack, and mast seat. It was built between April and May, 1922. The original exterior paint was blue with a vermillion stripe. It shipped on June 7th, 1922 to Winnipeg, Canada. A scan showing 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 as you probably know well. 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 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 renew.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. Please post some pictures if the original design is still showing. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions,

Benson

 

[Douglas Ingram]

Thanks Benson! I'm sure that this is the canoe. It came from our local cottage area. Shipped to Winnipeg makes perfect sense.

Extra thanks for being so quick, being a Saturday and all!

 

[Douglas Ingram]

BTW, Eaton's was a major department store here, and across Canada.

 

[Douglas Ingram]

Now I'm also curious. What sort of blue did OT use?

 

[Benson Gray]

What sort of blue did OT use?

Old Town used a huge variety of paint suppliers over the years so my usual advice is to just pick a shade that you like. Some paint archeology under the rails and the keel may give you some ideas. The information at http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?7345 may help. Good luck,

Benson

 

[Douglas Ingram]

Thanks for that!

Actually, I had already found that thread while being distracted away from weekend home chores...