Old Town Serial Number

[dgmorris1918]

I enherited what I beleive to be is an Old Town canoe. The serial number is difficult to read but it appears to be 10037 16. Does anyone have any information that could shed light on the type of canoe? Thanks

 

[Kathryn Klos]

Old Town 10037 is a 16 foot CS (common sense, or middle) grade Charles River model canoe that was finished November of 1908 to February of 1909. It has closed spruce gunwales and spruce decks, thwarts, and seat frames, and was fitted with a keel. Original color was dark green. It was shipped to Old Forge, NY, on February 16, 1909.

The scan of this record is attached below-- click on it to get a larger image. 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 and anyone else reading this will join or renew membership in 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 renew.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. Post pictures if you are unsure. Other builders used the same serial number format as Old Town. Your canoe should have the traditional Old Town short deck, closed gunwales, the wood trim species should be spruce-- as specified on the build record-- and the original destination should seem reasonable... although canoes can be rebuilt over a hundred years and sent to live just about anywhere! Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions. Sounds like an interesting canoe.

Kathy

 

[dgmorris1918]

Kathyrn, thanks for the information! It is very helpful and appreciated. All the best.