Old Town 158248 15

[jam010148]

Hi All,
I purchased this canoe on the WCHA site on June 19th. Had it on a solo Lake George island camp trip last week - 2.5 miles each way. It collected a bit of water but I intended to restore form the start so no big deal. It paddled great and is a very nice handling canoe well worth restoring. I do not know the exact year as it was posted as being in the 1950's. Can you please provide the build sheet. I also want to paint to the original color -- not that that matters either. It may end up green anyway Also, after the serial number on the stern end were the initials FWR -- any idea what this means -- past restorer initials???
thanks
joe

 

[Benson Gray]

Congratulations, the Old Town canoe with serial number 158248 is a 15 foot long, CS (Common Sense or middle) grade, fifty pound model with a keel. It was built between August and October, 1952. The original exterior paint color was dark green. It shipped on October 22nd, 1952 to Albany, New York. Some repairs were done in September and October, 1966 when it got a bit of new planking, Dacron covering, a sail rig, and G. S (Guide's Special) green paint. Scans showing both sides of this build record can be found by following the links at the attached thumbnail images below.



These scans 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/catalogs/old-town/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-wcha to learn more about the WCHA and http://www.wcha.org/store/membership to renew.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match the canoe. My guess is that the F. W. R. was added by Francis W. Rawle to help identify his canoe. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

Benson

 

[jam010148]

thanks Benson - I believe that this one will be a keeper. I restored and sold a 50 lb Old Town last year and fully regretted it. I need the lighter canoes these days.
thanks again for your timely and informative response!
have a great evening
joe