OT Molitor 17' SN#:176196

[Tony]

Hi, could you please provide info. on this Old Town Molitor canoe -
SN# 176196? Any additional information would be great too. I know it was made in the mid 60's, but how long was the "canvas version" made? Also, is there any info. on the amount of Molitors made in that time frame? Thank you.

 

[Benson Gray]

The Old Town canoe with serial number 176196 is a 17 foot long Molitor model with a keel, and outside stems. It was built between May and July, 1966. The original exterior color was Yale blue and it shipped to Virginia, Minnesota on August 1st, 1966. A scan showing this build record is attached below.

This scan 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 donate, 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 join.

It is also possible that you could have another number or manufacturer if this description doesn't match your canoe. The canvas version of the Molitor is still available from https://www.islandfallscanoe.com/old-town-canoes.aspx today. The information at http://www.wcha.org/catalogs/old-town/models.html estimates that about 221 Molitors were built between 1922 and 1969 which works out to about five per year. The actual annual total is likely to be much higher since most of the Molitors were made at the beginning or end of that time period. A total of 92 Molitor models were started between March and May of 1921 for example. See https://www.wcha.org/forums/index.php?threads/17138/ for more background about the Molitor model. Feel free to reply here if you have any other questions. Thanks,

Benson Gray