#14 Newhouse Square Pan Over Round

Nice hard to find #14 Newhouse square pan over round, this trap shows lots of new, doubt it was ever used.

Beautiful trap Kevin.

Pretty trap, clean.

Very cool

Neat trap Kevin. I believe I have its brother.

Thanks Greg, I consider myself lucky to have gotten it. I was told by a couple of other older collectors that there was another collector or trapper that had a dozen of them a few years back and they all were like ours. Did you hear that too ? Bruce and I were at the National in Ohio two years ago and Bruce and another collector were just talking and a guy came walking up to them and asked if they were interested in buying some traps, they were willing to give them a look, 2 of the trap's were #14 Newhouse square pan over round and the guy had been using them Beaver trapping just that spring. Hearing stories like that keeps the collecting fever alive.

I hadn't heard there was a dozen floating around. Wow! One time I saw one that the square pan was taken off, and it showed the round pan with the two rivet holes in the pan. If you would could you show us some of your Sargent traps. Thanks. Greg

Was that one that you saw with the square pan taken off have the arched stamped property of U.S. pan on it? I'll get some Sargent pictures up in a little while. Trying to get organized to go to the Missouri Trappers Convention, Bruce is probably all packed and waiting at the door for me.

Yes it did have property of U. S. on the pan.

That would be cool too.

There is a nice one of these on eBay right now--well over $2000 thus far

Very Nice Trap

The one on Ebay has lite patina and looks to be in nice condition as well.
It would even be nicer if it was hanging on my wall.

It CAN be hanging on your wall, you just got to keep bidding, BUT REMEMBER, trap collecting is not a hobby, it's a disease and a very addicting one at that!

Wow-- sold for almost $3k!

That was a really nice trap. I kinda lost track of time and missed the auctions end. I was thinking of going $2800 but I may have chickened out in the last minute anyway. That's a heck of a lot of $$$$. Clutch trap went really high as well. I'd like to own these traps but on the other hand it's nice to see that much interest in collector traps and the prices going up in general.

I wasn't willing to get that close to $3k. Not saying it wasn't worth it... It was a great example. It just wasn't worth it to me I guess. I think they book for about $1k-- but this was a real nice one. If I paid that much, it may be hard to find someone else looking to pay that much. That's how I see it anyway.

I bought a 4 clutch a year ago-- I guess I got a bit of a deal. Neither one of these come up for sale very often.

I didn't see the clutch trap on Ebay, what did it bring??
Thanks Mushrat

The clutch trap went for $2560. Pretty good shape but not as nice as the 14.

Did the traps come with certificates of authenticity?

Not to my knowledge- but the clutch was sold by a member on here who seems to be very knowledgeable and reputable. Of note, It had a trappers mark on it.

From what I could see in the photos, I do not think that the clutches are original. Original clutches were stamped out like a cookie cutter and the left and right side are identical. In the photos it looks to me like they are slightly different shapes. If you take them out and lay one on top of the other they should line up perfectly.

I've been looking at the 3 pictures that show the clutches and they look the same to me. What am I missing? I almost bid 2K on this trap. Pat

Pat, This is the photo that shows the best. I can not say 100% just from the photos but look at the symmetry of the clutches. The points look like they have different angles and farther down they look to be different widths, the one on the left looks wider. Other than that, they look good. The patina matches the trap well and they are the right shape.

Did Newhouse have one than one size of Clutch,were some narrow and other wider?I mean the clutch spread.

Nice trap Dean.

Here is a photo of my center clutch Newhouse. Hope I'm not getting off subject. Many of you have probably seen it before.

That's a beauty Greg. Waiting for it to make its return trip here. As for that #4 Clutch Trap that was on e-bay, it was right and the clutches were original. I looked it over for him at Sidney two or three years ago before he bought it.

Great center clutch Greg! How are the fastened to the jaw-- weld or bolt? Were they typically bedded under water?

I guess it's my turn to put my two cents worth in on the 4 Clutch trap, because I'm the one that just sold it on eBay. As Bruce said earlier, he was with me when I purchased it at Sidney 3 years ago, we both looked it over, along with several other seasoned collectors and we all agreed that the clutches looked original and the clutch jaw posts were original and the patina of all the parts matched. I gave the width of the clutches from side to side and from the top of the spring eye to the top of the clutches in my listing description, also the potential buyer wanted to know if the clutches were made from spring steel, so he had one request to check for spring steel, I did it and it passed the test, also the clutch stock and spring stock were both the same thickness and the clutches were BOTH just a shade shy of 7/16" wide. Spring steel test was to determine if the clutches were made from the same stock as what the springs were made from, because all the originals were made from spring steel stock. Now I don't claim to know everything there is to know about collector traps, like some others do, but when the eventual buyer tells me that he owns 8 other Newhouse clutch traps and pays over $2,500.00 for this one, it pretty well confirms to him and me, that it is all original.

Skorittnig 1977, The clutches are neither bolted or welded into the jaws. They fit tightly into a casting. They are also sometimes referred to as knock out clutches because they could be removed by hitting them or pounding on them to knock the clutches out of the castings.

OK, you say one guy now has 9 Newhouse clutch traps. Wow.
So I was wondering how many different types of NH clutch traps there are. In my trap Collectors guide it lists a
#3 and #4 clutch (1887)
#23 & #24 clutch (1889-1908)
#23 & #24 clutch "OC marked pans" (listed as little higher price)
It looks like there are two types of #4 clutch models (end clutches and center clutches). There was no mention of the type of clutches in the guide (that I seen). Are they the same value? Also, what is the difference in the #24 and the #24 with OC marked pans? I'm afraid to ask about the 3 and 23.

I 'll put my 2 cents in.I know that Cooper clutch traps that have caught animals are usually have bent clutches.Would it be fare to say that a Otter or Beaver, Wolf or what ever could bend one or both Newhouse Clutches? We know what tractors do to our Coyote traps.Bruce

Now there is a idea I never thought of, but I would think if the clutches(Newhouse) were made from the spring steel, I don't believe an Otter or Beaver could bend them, but with the Cooper clutches, I don't know, were they made with spring steel or regular steel, I believe they were made with regular steel, that's why you find some of them bent. Again, just my thoughts.

Trapper 48, that is one beautiful trap, thanks for showing.

Pat tc, I believe the center clutch Newhouse was not put in the last guide. There is a photo on pg. 202 in Dick Gerstell's book showing one. This trap according to Dick was made in the 1880's or a little earlier. As far as the rarity of any of the clutch traps it is the rarest of the Newhouse clutch traps. I only know of four or five. When I bought mine about 18 years ago I paid two or three times the amount that an end clutch brings now, and I was pleased just to get it. I haven't seen any that have sold since then. This trap has a 4 on the pan. As far as the end clutch Newhouse's I have seen the 4's are stamped with a No 4 and a No 24. I own a 3. I also own a number 3 that had been stamped 23, however. the two had been covered up with with punch marks and the pan was put on a 3 trap.

trapper48 I think your right about cooper clutches.