Serial Search 6465 17

[Scott Wohlgemuth]

Hi,
Looking for information on an Old Town 6465 17. It was purchased by my wife's Grandfather many years ago. It's possible another number is present but not visible could be 65652 its worn but the swivel on both ends of the canoe. I think I was told it was purchased in 1921. Would have been built for a sporting goods store in Scranton, PA

Thanks,
Scott

 

[Benson Gray]

Welcome and congratulations, the Old Town canoe with serial number 6465 is a 17 foot long, AA (or top) grade, Charles River model with red Western cedar planking, a keel, mahogany decks, mahogany thwarts, mahogany seats, open mahogany inside gunwales, mahogany outside rails, and half ribs. It was built between March and May, 1907. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It shipped on May 11th, 1907 to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A scan of this build record can be found below.

This scan and several hundred thousand more 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 donate, join or renew your membership to the WCHA so that services like this can continue. See https://www.woodencanoe.org/about to learn more about the WCHA and https://www.woodencanoe.org/shop to donate or join.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. Canoes with a family connection are always extra special. Please attach some pictures, especially if the nameplate is still showing. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

Benson

 

[Scott Wohlgemuth]

Thank you so much, It would be wonderful if it was that old but I think I missed a number. Could you also check 64659? I had my daughter with much younger eyes look at it and she thinks she can make out one more digit. I see from the graph of serial numbers that 64xxx would put it at 1921, and that makes more sense. I think it was purchased at the long defunct "Harry Reinhart" sporting good store in Scranton. Both seat backs I have have little metal tags with that sporting good stores nameplate.

Thanks again for doing this!

 

[Benson Gray]

The Old Town canoe with serial number 64659 is a 17 foot long, AA (or top) grade, Otca model with red Western cedar planking, open mahogany gunwales, twenty inch mahogany decks, mahogany thwarts, mahogany seats, half ribs, a keel, outside stems, and a floor rack. It was built between January and May, 1921. The original exterior paint color was blue with an orange border stripe and a half inch gold stripe with turned down ends and scroll filling. This may have been similar to the image shown at http://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/designs/design11.gif (with the colors changed) which was known as design number 11. It shipped on May 25th, 1921 to Scranton, Pennsylvania. A scan of this build record can be found below.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. If the number is actually 64660 then that is a similar canoe which shipped to Reinhart in Scranton as shown below. Please attach some pictures. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

Benson

 

[Scott Wohlgemuth]

That must be it! Thank you! I joined as a family membership to support your efforts. Purchased new by my wife's Grandfather.