Waters Balch & Co Paper Boats

Introduction

The first patent for paper boats were made in Troy NY by George Waters and His Father Elisha. The idea came about in 1860s when George Waters was in search of a mask for a masquerade he was to attend. Not finding a mask at a price he could afford, he set out to make one. His father Elisha was a paper box manufacturer in troy. He used paper pulp from his fathers box factory to mold a mask. Following this, George had the idea to layer paper over a shell and make a boat hull. The Waters used a Cedar canoe shell as a mold, and layers of manila paper were laid and held together with shellac. Once many layers were build up. the hull was removed from the mold and a minimal spruce frame was built inside. the paper was waterproofed with varnish. The boat weighed in at just over 30 lbs., making it 10 lbs. lighter than the lighter of cedar boats of the time. The boat was not only lighter but stronger as well.

Success of the Company

Large scale Production of paper racing boats began in 1867. The factory was located one mile north of Troy on the Hutson River The boats were refined to be as even lighter, with a 28' long 12" wide boat with a seat and outriggers weighing less than 22 lbs. Paper in the 1800s was made primarily using linen or cotton fiber, making it different than the wood fiber paper used today. The boats were easily repaired with a touchup of varnish or patches with paper. These boats were an early precursor to fiberglass boats. Rowing was a popular sport at the time, and after getting their boats in use by some top rowing crews they began winning races. "[paper boats] were pulled by the winners of fourteen matched races, in 1868, twenty-six match races during the season of 1869, (their second year in use,) and fifty in 1870" ..A History of Rowing in America.. Waters not only made boats for rowing, but also made canoes and boats for hunting and fishing. By 1871, the company had a four-hundred page catalog featuring their boats as well as articles on rowing and boating.

The End of Waters Balch & Co

The boat company was sucessful for 30 years even though faced with other paper boat manufactures and a downturn in the popularity of rowing in the later years. In 1901, the factory burnt down after George Waters started a fire with a blowtorch while preparing a boat for the Syracuse University crew team. Due to losses greater than insurance would cover, the factory was never rebuilt. George Waters died in 1902, and Elisha Waters died in 1904.

References

[1]"A History of Rowing in America" by Robert B. Johnson pgs. 249-256 https://books.google.com/books?id=RNI9AAAAYAAJ&ots=7_DMb_ZM78&dq=%22A+History+of+Rowing+in+America%22&pg=PA249&hl=en#v=onepage&q&f=false [2]http://alloveralbany.com/archive/2010/04/27/troys-paper-boats [3]https://www.duckworksmagazine.com/04/s/excerpts/maib/17/index.htm [4]https://hakaimagazine.com/features/paper-boats-troy/