Two Small Old Town Dinghy's

[Bob Grant]

I recently came across two Old Town Dinghy's, one with serial number 114233 with a paper decal on the bow deck, and the other(appears to be newer than the first one) with serial number 7-6-700002 and a metal Old Town tag screwed to the bow deck. There seems to be some controversy from those that I have spoken too concerning whether the second boat was actually made by Old Town. They are both canvas covered mahogany and cedar and very well made.

Any info on when these two boats were built, and thoughts about the maker of the second would be a great help.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Bob

 

[Benson Gray]

The Old Town with serial number 114233 is a ten foot long, AA (or top) grade, dinghy model with red western cedar planking, open mahogany gunwales, mahogany decks, mahogany seats, a keel, outside stems, a floor rack, and a roped outside gunwale. It was built between July, 1934 and July, 1935. The original exterior paint color was white. 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. 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.

The one with number 7-6-700002 was probably built by the Island Falls Canoe Company as shown at http://www.islandfallscanoe.com/inventory/category/1087 although this serial number doesn't match their usual dinghy numbering sequences which start with 762xxx or 786xxx.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your dinghies. Good luck with the restoration,

Benson