Old Town Kayaks & Canoes: Main...

Rising up in Maine, you’re by no means removed from a water supply. Whether or not it’s on the rocky coasts, the speeding rivers, or the calm lakes, there may be all the time an out of doors exercise involving water available. I keep in mind my first journey with my mother and father the the Outdated City Canoe facility again once I was a child. We picked up three of their Otter Kayaks and would use them for a few years. In actual fact I’m fairly positive my mother and father nonetheless us them to today, practically 20 years later. Evidently, think about my pleasure once I heard again from Outdated City and so they wished to provide me a Facility tour and present me a number of the magic that goes into their watercraft.

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A Temporary Historical past of Outdated City Canoes 

Earlier than we get into the tour, we have to go over the lengthy an interesting historical past of Outdated City Canoes. Based in 1898 in Outdated City, Maine, the Outdated City Canoe Firm started as a modest enterprise when brothers George and Herbert Grey added canoe making to their current companies. Their first canvas-covered picket canoes, impressed by the birchbark vessels of the Penobscot folks, have been crafted in a shed behind their ironmongery shop. These early canoes rapidly gained reputation amongst native lumbermen and sporting guides, and by the early twentieth century, Outdated City’s merchandise have been being offered throughout the US and even internationally

In 1901, the corporate was integrated, and by 1916, it boasted the most important canoe manufacturing unit on this planet, using Japanese cedar sourced from the Penobscot River. Outdated City canoes have been so famend that they have been offered in main retailers like Macy’s and exported globally. In 1927, the corporate’s annual gross sales surpassed half 1,000,000 {dollars}, marking a big milestone in its development. 

Within the post-World Battle II period, a rising American center class, elevated leisure time, and increasing car possession led to a surge in outside recreation, together with tenting, fishing, and paddling. Nationwide parks and wilderness areas grew to become extra accessible, and the thought of reconnecting with nature gained cultural significance. Canoeing, as soon as a utilitarian exercise, developed into a preferred spare time activity. This societal shift significantly benefited Outdated City Canoe Firm, as demand for reasonably priced, sturdy, and leisure watercraft elevated. The corporate responded by increasing its product line and finally embracing new supplies like fiberglass to fulfill the expectations of a brand new technology of out of doors lovers, serving to Outdated City keep its market management and enhance gross sales throughout this era.

In 1974, Outdated City was acquired by Johnson Outside, a Wisconsin-based firm with a portfolio of out of doors manufacturers. Johnson was an avid outdoorsman, and after visiting the previous Outdated City Facility in Maine, he determined to purchase the corporate. This acquisition allowed Outdated City to develop its choices, together with the introduction of the Discovery collection in 1984, which grew to become a best-seller and helped the corporate regain its place because the world’s largest canoe producer.  Outdated City would as soon as once more see a surge of gross sales post-COVID when the world wished nothing to do with the indoors and lusted for the outside. This was just like the post-war growth seen within the late Forties. 

As we speak, Outdated City continues to function out of Outdated City, Maine, sustaining its dedication to high quality and innovation. The corporate employs a lot of locals, a lot of whom are a part of multi-generational households working within the canoe and kayak business

The Tour

My tour information for the morning was Ryan Lilly, a Advertising and marketing Director for Johnson Outside, an avid outdoorsman and Registered Maine Information who actually is aware of his method across the waters of the Pine Tree State. After a fast introduction and a rundown on the corporate’s historical past, Ryan started displaying me round Outdated City’s new entrance workplace, together with their Analysis and Growth space. It was tremendous attention-grabbing to stroll by means of these rooms and take a look at a number of the cool stuff they’re tinkering with round with however sadly, I can’t share something I noticed and was not allowed to take any pictures.

That is the Finish of Half One of many Manufacturing unit tour. If you wish to hold studying and see extra of the Manufacturing unit Tour (and belief me, you do)  simply click on HERE! I wish to thank Ryan and all the nice guys at Outdated City Canoe for making this go to occur!

Patrik Orcutt

Patrik is a contract photographer who has been fortunate sufficient to see plenty of the world and doc his travels along with his digicam. He has labored for the U.S. authorities as a Public Affairs Officer documenting Multi-Nationwide Particular Forces Coaching across the World. He’s at present engaged on turning into a Blackhawk Pilot for the Military whereas being an avid gear junky and outside fanatic.