4 1/2 spring on that #3 Newhouse?

Is it me, or do the jaws look like single spring jaws? Only one split jaw post. Looks like a single spring from the factory.

You’ve got a good eye, I wonder!

So is that a No.3 pan on a 2 1/2 trap?

Nice! #3 factory substitute pan.

I knew Dean would solve it!

It's all about timing, just happened to walk up to the guys table in escanaba while he was setting stuff out.

How common is a small pan 2 1/2? What spring and chain should be on one? Thanks

If that’s factory original that’s a very nice trap to own bumpy. Can you read the spring stamping on that one?



You ask about which chain on a small pan otter trap? The first otter traps had slotted lips on the edge of the pan. Is that what you are asking about is one of those?

I think this is a small pan, they made this pan in ny and ont the Canadian ones having no NY mark on the pans, a couple chains variations went on these traps too usually flat link and wire wrapped rings.

This stamp is on the #3 trap spring.
This is what I thought might be a small pan 2 1/2? The pan measures 2 1/4. All the rest I have measure 2 1/2

Small pan, ny on the pan, straight older teeth I think I got one of those left here I’ve had several of that model and seen lots for sale.

Iam sure you realize the spring is wrong.



This one has thin nut on post and has a heavy ring on the chain looks like maybe this trap has a different tooth to it than yours.

I figured that was the wrong spring on that trap, I decided to leave it the way I found it , when I sell it somebody can change it if they choose.
I was wondering Mike if you could shed a little light on the different jaws, I guess maybe the different eras , some jaws have a little hook and the same tooth configuration has a little nub ? And thanks for the all the pictures

You don't happen to have a extra copy of that Canadian book for sale do you?

The Dec. 16, '02 patent date is for the hook on the end of the jaws, it started with the older strait teeth and continued a short time later with the bullet teeth. Here is a #2 1/2 with a patent date pan, strait teeth and one of each jaws, one with a strait end and one with the hook.

The small pan #2 1/2 is 2 1/4", the same as the early lip edged pan.

Dean, you are a wealth of knowledge, thanks for sharing!

Could the bullet tooth model have had the nubs?

What are you calling nubs?

Being that the hooked jaw ends were added before the bullet teeth, I would not expect to see the strait jaw ends on the bullet toothed jaw, they should be the hooked ends. Never say never though.

The hooked jaw ends were patented in 1902, however, I don't believe that they were used on Newhouse traps until 1908 to 1910. The hooked jaw ends were first used on Victor traps and not used on Newhouse until later. And, hooked jaw ends were only used on single spring Newhouse because jaw posts were bolted, no jaw ends on double spring until the riveted pan Newhouse.

That's what I've been wondering, here's a rough 4 pan 3 1/2 ?

Not all sizes changed fechers at the same time, just like different brands of traps didn't change at the same time. Your trap being a #3 1/2, compared to the #2 1/.

Gotcha, thanks for the fun education, very interesting

One thing I look for when trying to determine the age of a Newhouse trap and whether it’s correct is the nut on the bottom of the posts. The older traps usually have a thinner nut. The chains are a big tell too. You can date when a trap was made fairly accurately by the manufacture of the chain.

Isn't that also true with the spring eyes?

Depends which size of trap you’re talking about. The 21/2 was first brought out in 1882. All the springs are the same in length. The early traps all have flat springs that is no dimples on the spring eyes. The later traps had one side or both dimpled to get the loose jaw to lay flatter supposedly. From what I seen if you just crank the spring towards the dog side of the trap it usually does a good job of letting the loose jaw flop down all the way.