Serial Number Search

[Rolf Ethun]

I have two Old Towns that I would like archival information on:

1. Serial # 150536 18

2. Serial # 35472 16 (it has DOWNEY stamped on the bow stem and a center rib)

I would appreciate whatever information you can provide about these two canoes. Rolf Ethun

 

[Al Sienkiewicz]

Rolf: The Old Town canoe with serial number 150536 is an 18 foot long, AA grade, Guide model with a keel and a floor rack. It was built between March and June 1948. The original exterior paint color was design #37 as shown below. It shipped on June 28, 1948 to Minocqua, Wisconsin. A scan of this build record can be found by following the link at the attached thumbnail images below.

The scan for Old Town canoe with serial number 35472 is very light, probably the result of light or poor stamping. The canoe comes back to a 17' foot long, AA grade, Charles River model with a keel, outside stems and a floor rack. It was built between 1914 and March 1916. The original exterior paint color was auto gray. It shipped in 1916. Check the number again I noticed you have the length at 16 feet while this record comes back to a 17 footer. A scan of this build record can be found by following the link at the attached thumbnail images below.

These scans 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/wcha/ to learn more about the WCHA and http://www.wcha.org/join.php 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.

- Al

 

[Dave Osborn]

Interesting that Rolf's AA grade came with "Maine Cedar"........I assume it to be white cedar, versus the typical "WC" (Western Cedar) that you see on most build records....

 

[thompsonboatboy]

Boasacki's in Minocqua, WI is still in business. They have a boat livery, fuel, docks, restaurant, candy shop. They had a fire destroy their entire facility in the 1970's, so they probably do not have any files/records.

Interesting that Boasacki's sold Old Town canoes. Just down the street was the Thompson Boat Mart run by Roy and Grant Thompson. They sold Thompson canoes and boats along with Chris-Craft boats and Evinrude outboard motors.

An antique and classic boat show is held at Boasacki's each July.

Andreas