Canoes: A Natural History in North America

Neuzil, Mark; Sims, Norman

An illustration depicting several of the beautiful color designs available in 1926 for Old Town canoes.

Old Town Designs

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

Several of the beautiful color designs available in 1926 for Old Town canoes.

Shipments of Old Town canoes arrived wrapped in straw and burlap at Shenk & Tittle, a sporting goods store in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Old Town Canoe Shipment

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

Shipments of Old Town canoes arrived wrapped in straw and burlap at Shenk & Tittle, a sporting goods store in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Dozens of newly finished canoes were stored on the roof of The Old Town Canoe Company factory.

Newly Finished Old Town Canoes

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

Dozens of newly finished canoes were stored on the roof of The Old Town Canoe Company factory.

George A. Gray Hardware Store

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

The George A. Gray hardware store of Old Town, Maine, in 1906. George Gray stands at the far left.

The labels of Abiel Bickmore’s salve and powder that cured sores on work horses. The Bickmore powder, backed in 1884 by Herbert and George Gray, gave the Gray family national distribution experience that they used in marketing canoes.

Abiel Bickmore's Salve & Powder

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

The labels of Abiel Bickmore’s salve and powder that cured sores on work horses. The Bickmore powder, backed in 1884 by Herbert and George Gray, gave the Gray family national distribution experience that they used in marketing canoes.

Old Town Canoe Factory

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

The Old Town Canoe factory. Note the wrapped canoes awaiting shipment near the railroad.

An illustrated view of the Old Town factory appeared in the company catalogs.

Illustrated Old Town Canoe Factory

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

An illustrated view of the Old Town factory appeared in the company catalogs.

A black-and-white photograph of employees at the Old Town Canoe Company constructing canoes.

Finishing Work at Old Town

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

Finishing work was done by hand on canoes built at the Old Town factory during the 1920s and 30s.

A photograph of excess dirt being removed by vacuum from newly constructed Old Town canoes.

Old Town Construction

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

Prior to varnishing, Old Town employees used a vacuum system to remove dirt and debris that was left over from sanding, ca. 1922.

Benson Gray

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

Benson Gray, a historian with the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association, is a member of the Gray family, founders of the Old Town Canoe Company.

Carleton Canoe Catalog

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

When this Carleton Canoe catalog cover was published in 1924, Carleton canoes were built in the Old Town factory.

The Old Town Canoe Company celebrated the end of the First World War in 1919 with a military-themed catalog cover.

End of World War I

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

The Old Town Canoe Company celebrated the end of the First World War in 1919 with a military-themed catalog cover.

A before-and-after restoration of a 1927 Carleton canoe, which was built in the Old Town Canoe Company factory. Using the Old Town “build record,” the canoe was restored to the same colors and condition as the original. Restoration by Tom Seavey.

Carleton Canoe Restoration - Before

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

A before-and-after restoration of a 1927 Carleton canoe, which was built in the Old Town Canoe Company factory. Using the Old Town “build record,” the canoe was restored to the same colors and condition as the original. Restoration by Tom Seavey.