'Bushrat' presents...
antique model canoes
antique model canoes
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welcome to my world
photos: upper left corner - several US and Canadian factory issue 'salesman samples', aka 'display canoes' from the early 1900's;
immediately above - 38" Inuit sealskin kayak, c.1910, collected from the Belcher Islands, Hudson Bay.
immediately above - 38" Inuit sealskin kayak, c.1910, collected from the Belcher Islands, Hudson Bay.
.Roger Young
the 'Bushrat'
Ontario, Canada
the 'Bushrat'
Ontario, Canada
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Hi, and welcome to my website. I'm the 'Bushrat'. I love canoes and kayaks, especially older, smaller models - both native-made and factory-issue 'salesman's samples'. I've been studying and collecting them for more than 20 years. In these pages I hope to share with you what I have learned, post some photos of items I have collected and, possibly, help you find something you might like for your own collection. Please feel free to ask questions.
I don't claim to know everything, nor to be an 'expert'. I'm really more of a student on a learning voyage. Over the years, I was fortunate to meet others who shared their experience as well as their treasures, and steered me toward helpful and very informative reference sources. In the process, I managed to gain some knowledge, and believe in passing this along. I hope to encourage others to join in and share my collecting passions. Part of my efforts have involved helping museums and collector clubs put on displays and do identifications.
Even more than the many wonderful things I have come to enjoy and care for, I have gained insight and very deep friendships. Each canoe has had not only history and a cultural lesson to teach, but also a memorable tale of how it came into my life. Even my dog has been responsible for bringing two of the finest pieces I have ever handled into my possession.
I sincerely hope you will find something of interest here. Always happy to meet new friends and chat a while. Please feel welcome to offer information which adds to my knowledge base or corrects any mistakes I may have made. And, while I am primarily a collector and acquirer, I do occasionally have to 'thin down' my collection to make room or to pay for something new. I am currently in the process of re-orienting my collection to emphasize early North American canoe manufacturers' display samples. A number of my Oceanic models, along with west coast dugouts, eastern woodlands bark canoes and Arctic kayaks are presently for sale. If you see something you like, please ask. My prices are always fair, and in keeping with the rarity and quality of the object. Your satisfaction is assured with return privileges; I stand behind what I sell and guarantee its authenticity.
Cheers,
Roger
above photo: rare 6' Rice Lake Canoe Co. board and batten 'salesman's sample' or display model, c. 1900, from Gore's Landing, ON, ; matching paddles are c. 1920.
along left side: top, two 'lokatoi' - coastal trade sailing canoe models, Papua/New Guinea, c. 1970; next, a Rice Lake Canoe Co. decal c. 1920; third, a quartet of canoe cups, c. 1930/40; bottom, an antique regatta megaphone, early 1900's, from the Detroit Boating Club, 30" in length.
PS: For those particularly interested in early North American canoe factory 'display samples' (often referred to as 'salesman's samples') of both small canoes and miniature paddles, I have written articles for 'Wooden Canoe' magazine, Feb. 2011, and 'Hunting & Fishing Collectibles' magazine, Mar./Apr. and May/June 2011 issues. Much historical factory production information and current market status is provided along with photos. Color photos can also be viewed at: http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?7202-Feb-2011-display-canoes-color-photos. This is the website of the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association, of which I am a member. Below, a photo of a unique 'salesman sample' model display recently arranged for the Canadian Decoy & Outdoor Collectibles Assoc. annual fall show, 30 Oct. 2011, in Niagara Falls, ON; I am a founding member and former Executive Director (1996-99). Rarely is such a large gathering of competing, antique factory samples seen together at one time. Typically, they would have hung separately in different retail or outfitter stores.
I don't claim to know everything, nor to be an 'expert'. I'm really more of a student on a learning voyage. Over the years, I was fortunate to meet others who shared their experience as well as their treasures, and steered me toward helpful and very informative reference sources. In the process, I managed to gain some knowledge, and believe in passing this along. I hope to encourage others to join in and share my collecting passions. Part of my efforts have involved helping museums and collector clubs put on displays and do identifications.
Even more than the many wonderful things I have come to enjoy and care for, I have gained insight and very deep friendships. Each canoe has had not only history and a cultural lesson to teach, but also a memorable tale of how it came into my life. Even my dog has been responsible for bringing two of the finest pieces I have ever handled into my possession.
I sincerely hope you will find something of interest here. Always happy to meet new friends and chat a while. Please feel welcome to offer information which adds to my knowledge base or corrects any mistakes I may have made. And, while I am primarily a collector and acquirer, I do occasionally have to 'thin down' my collection to make room or to pay for something new. I am currently in the process of re-orienting my collection to emphasize early North American canoe manufacturers' display samples. A number of my Oceanic models, along with west coast dugouts, eastern woodlands bark canoes and Arctic kayaks are presently for sale. If you see something you like, please ask. My prices are always fair, and in keeping with the rarity and quality of the object. Your satisfaction is assured with return privileges; I stand behind what I sell and guarantee its authenticity.
Cheers,
Roger
above photo: rare 6' Rice Lake Canoe Co. board and batten 'salesman's sample' or display model, c. 1900, from Gore's Landing, ON, ; matching paddles are c. 1920.
along left side: top, two 'lokatoi' - coastal trade sailing canoe models, Papua/New Guinea, c. 1970; next, a Rice Lake Canoe Co. decal c. 1920; third, a quartet of canoe cups, c. 1930/40; bottom, an antique regatta megaphone, early 1900's, from the Detroit Boating Club, 30" in length.
PS: For those particularly interested in early North American canoe factory 'display samples' (often referred to as 'salesman's samples') of both small canoes and miniature paddles, I have written articles for 'Wooden Canoe' magazine, Feb. 2011, and 'Hunting & Fishing Collectibles' magazine, Mar./Apr. and May/June 2011 issues. Much historical factory production information and current market status is provided along with photos. Color photos can also be viewed at: http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?7202-Feb-2011-display-canoes-color-photos. This is the website of the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association, of which I am a member. Below, a photo of a unique 'salesman sample' model display recently arranged for the Canadian Decoy & Outdoor Collectibles Assoc. annual fall show, 30 Oct. 2011, in Niagara Falls, ON; I am a founding member and former Executive Director (1996-99). Rarely is such a large gathering of competing, antique factory samples seen together at one time. Typically, they would have hung separately in different retail or outfitter stores.
