Would like build record info on what may be a 17' Old Town.

Rob Anderson

Curious about Wooden Canoes
A friend asked if I would help him identify a canoe with the serial #51399 17. I have not seen the canoe but he was told that it was an Old Town.If it is indeed an Old Town I am sure he would like to see the build record. Thanks in advance - Rob Anderson
 
The Old Town canoe with serial number 51399 is a 17 foot long, CS (common sense or standard) grade HW (heavy water) model with western red cedar planking, spruce gunwales, birch seats, decks and thwarts, and was equipped with a keel. It was built in 1918. The original exterior paint color was dark green . It was shipped to Thos. I. Buttrick in Malone, New York (may be another state- record is pretty indistinct) on May 4, 1918. A scan of this build record can be found by following the link behind the thumbnail image attached below.

51399 - 33063.jpg

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.

Greg Nolan
 
Greg- Thanks for the quick reply. It sounds as if this is the canoe. It now resides in Plattsburgh, NY an hour from Malone. Another mystery solved. Thanks- Rob
 
Dan - Thanks for the info. It appears Mr. Buttrick also published Post Cards in Malone. Records from the Morning Side Cemetary in Malone show he lived from 1857- 1929. I hope he enjoyed his canoe in the 11 years he had it. Thanks- Rob
 
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