These Amazing Photo’s From The Past In Laconia New Hampshire Could Be Worth Gold, Okay Maybe Just Sepia.
Own a pre war Sportsman 25 from New Hampshire? Here is your boat.
If your boat was owned in Laconia, or Lake Winnipesaukee, these images may be a gold mine for you, and for us a a fun peek into what it was like to be a transport guy back in the day. This is a series of photos found on ebay by Bob Kays and features Tefft Boat Hauling. These appear to have been part of a photo album. And of course would be a major treasure for one of the boat owners today. WOW.
Close up
I did look up Tefft to see if they are still in business, but doesnt appear so sadly. But wow!
Love the trailers as well. Note the TAFFT on the trailer, and that cool street light
Looks like Mr Tefft, got some surplus Army Trucks
Many of these images feel familiar form the film we featured years ago with WECATCHEM
GERTBOB, I love the names from up in New Hampshire. Clever Mashups.
A Wider look, note the cool sign on top of the truck
Another cool sign.
Wonderful Lettering
Working still on the train from?
Says it all
Hats
Look at the cool DODGE BOATS SIGN
Harold Tefft? I think. And looks like he loved Red Trucks
Looks like this was a favorite place for them to take photos Like the ones in color. Dang!.
Fascinating Images. No suspension on trailers with minimum, if any, tie down to trailer suggests to me that these boats were being transported from a local rail head rather than all the way from Algonac or Newport News. Super cool.
The neatly made signs & bright red trucks, tell me Mr. Tefft was justly proud of his business & understood attracting customers.
Those trailers bring to mind the one under the ’59 CC 23′ cruiser, that my parents had from ’70 thru ’73.
Great photos. Looks like Mr. Tefft was the man if you were ready to get a boat wet. He moved and launched some really cool watercraft. Moving those boats on cradles from rail cars to his truck took some real skill. Thank you Bob and Matt for sharing.
Heading to Port Huron for a “Boat the Blue” committee meeting. We are getting ready for the bid party!
I would love it if someone could tell us what landmarks are still standing.
Cliff: All those pictures are from the village of Lakeport-part of Laconia NH. They are all being launched at The Chris Craft dealers private ramp Irwin Marine. They are still there , the Methodist Church, The marina, most of the storefronts and stores are gone, the area is going very upscale.
Interesting! I know someone who purchased a pre-war 25SP that spent it’s previous life in NH, don’t I. Could it be?
Love this pic, and since we are still counting down to Dora.
Did someone say FLORIDA ?? My truck is pointing South and getting loaded. Mother Nature still fighting me.
Who stands on the sides of an underway 25 Sportsman? Guy deserves a stern reprimand!
Love these…thanks.
Post war Troy!
I love me a Pre War though! Oh hell ya
Oh hell ya…………….me to!!
Those pics are cool as hell.
This is the trailer that was under my boat when I purchased it. Like a dumb ass I gave it away.
Try one more time.
I would bet that those were the original bunks from the factory.
Great pics! They really capture the feel of those days. I looked them over, and didn’t find the 1932 C-C 21′ Runabout I got from the Laconia/Winnipesaukee area two years ago. The hull card says it was going to Portland, Me., so likely it went to the Frost Boat Co.. From there, the trail grows pretty cold. I’ll keep digging……
What great pics. From the looks of his trucks, Tefft was in business for awhile. Earlier pictures show his Model A truck. progression to mid 30s Ford (definitely more power) to a mid 40s Dodge. He them progressed to a mid 50s Dodge, A mid 50s GMC and some early 60s Internationals. From the looks of the snow plow hook ups on those Internationals, and the GMC. Tefft had another hustle besides moving boats. Thanks for sharing.
Lakeport and Laconia are at the foot of Paugus Bay on the lake which appears to be where they are launching. That is also where Irwin Marine, the original Chris Craft dealer on the lake from the early 1900s , is still located but I don’t believe they are currently a Chris Craft dealer. They were the ones that started the Miss Winnipesaukee boat rides.
I’m betting everyone has a uncle who might have posed for this part of the picture. Maybe it’s Mr. H.Tefft?
Those home made trailers must have been for transport from storage areas/barns to launch sites because you wouldn’t want to travel too far with solid mounted axles and those low speed farm implement wheels/tires. That’s what my grandfather used to move his Chris Craft triple from his storage shed to Sebago Lake and tie up in Albert G. Frost Marina also called Frost Harbor. One fall, we pulled the boat out and traveling back home, the trailer tongue parted company from the pintle hitch while I was riding in the triple as we were ascending a short hill. The tow vehicle was my grandfathers garage truck, a 4×4 ’47 Dodge 6 cylinder Power Wagon Crash Truck Navy surplus from Brunswick Naval Air Station. Luckily, it slowly rolled back into a muddy ditch and stuck in the mud. The Dodge easily pulled it out and got us home about 5 miles away after traveling 30 miles at about 30 miles an hour. Frost Harbor used enclosed pole barns with tin sides that reached down to about 6 inches above the ground for storage. Boats were blocked up low enough that the props actually were into the sand about 2 or 3 inches. They would pile up snow against the base of the walls and snow melt would keep the sandy soil moist and the wood boat hulls fairly swelled up. I can still smell the varnish in the storage sheds in late winter, early spring.
Floyd…was that you on the bike?
Very cool memories, Floyd – thanks for sharing!
Love the aft cabin on the 38’ Commuter!
Haven’t seen that before!
These are great photos! Thank you for sharing.