Durand Manufacturing Company of Rochester was in business in the late 1800s and early 1900s (I have scans of
a catalog dated 1902). They built launches, St. Lawrence River skiffs and canoes. They were noted for a foot-powered
propulsion device that was installed in their launches.
The 1902 catalog indicates the canoes were built by a Canadian builder with 20 years experience.
I have seen only one example of a Durand canoe, which is pictured here. It has one piece decks and half-round ribs. The
strip planking has is grooved and splined with thin brass stock (George Ruggles, also of Rochester, used a similar
technique). Note that the thwart blocks are missing from this canoe. |
