General Information

Serial #

1642

Part Number

1

Total Parts

3

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

basswood hull; rock elm ribs; mahognay deck, deck caps, and cockpit coaming; walnut (?) thwart blocks; copper fastenings and mast tubes; brass builders plates & selected fittings

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

443.0 cm

Width

75.0 cm

Height

27.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Marine Transportation

Category

Vessels

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Ontario Canoe

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

City

Peterborough

Context

Country

North America

State/Province

Unknown

Period

This canoe presumably used c. 1890s+.

Canada

The Ontario Canoe Co. was established in Peterborough, Ont. in 1883; the factory was destroyed by fire some nine years later and a new firm, the Peterborough Canoe Co. was born. During it's nine year existence, the Ontario Canoe Co. produced a wide range of canoe styles and types, including this rib-and-batten construction, decked sailing model. (ref. 1)

Function

To provide personal transportation over surface of water.

Technical

The protection of the deck made this canoe more easily handled under sail, while maintaining the lightness and versatility of a more traditional Canadian open canoe. It is built in the rib-and-batten style of construction: it's hull is formed with wide boards shaped around ribs. The wide boards run end to end and the flush seams are covered, on the inside, with battens. This style is among the earliest and most common used in commercial wooden canoe construction. It was generally less labour intensive, and therefore less expensive, than other all-wood construction techniques. All the major canoe builders in the Trent River basin produced this type of canoe. (ref. 1)

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

"ONTARIO/ CANOE COMPANY/ PETERBOROUGH CAN." stamped into each of 4 brass makers plates fixed to canoe. "1642" stamped into floor.

Missing

Canoe is complete; however, thwarts, masts, rigging, sails and related equipment are missing.

Finish

Original finish removed; was clear varnish.

Decoration

N/A