Miniature Model Wooden Canoe, American Circa 1950’s

While this model canoe might have been used as a salesman sample, whereby merchants, carried it from town to town to encourage sales, it was more than likely used as a demonstration model or a display piece in showrooms by the retailer with limited space to showcase a plethora of examples. It was a way for the merchant to advertise and market his product and take orders from prospective customers to the manufacturer. The model has a flat bottom and replicates the contour, shape and detail of the actual canoe with the interior ribbing and a couple of benches in place. It is fairly large, 27″ long x 4 5/8″ wide x 1 1/2″ high, so it is within that range of 6 to 1 scale used by both models and salesman samples.
The boat is light weight, probably a pine body with balsa wood “add-ons” (ribbing, bow/stern cover supports, and benches) with a natural wood color interior and green painted exterior. Because of it’s light weight and material, it could easily float and be demonstrated in water.
The canoe is in good condition to the surfaces, albeit a 3 1/2″ stress hairline exsts to one side (see image).