Serial number

The Old Town canoe with serial number 174312 is a 16 foot long Guide model with a keel, narrow two and 3/4 inch planking, and rub rails. It was built between October and December, 1964. The original exterior paint color was G. S. (Guide's Special) green. It shipped on February 17th, 1965 to New Ulm, Minnesota. A scan showing this build record can be found below.

This scan was 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. Your life membership to the WCHA is much appreciated.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match the canoe. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions.

Benson



174312.jpg
 
Last edited:
That’s it! Thanks for what you do Benson!!
I’m curious about the narrow planking.
Was it used because they had stock that wouldn’t yield the typical width, or some other reason?
 
There isn't anyone left to ask so we will probably never know all of the reasons why they experimented with narrow planking during the 1960s. My guess is that it had to do with the red cedar stock that was available and reasonably priced at that time. Another mystery,

Benson
 
Back
Top