Can anyone tell me when they went from flat link chain to wire type chains.

I think about the time they went from OC to ATCo. Which would be about 1925. I'm sure some one will correct me if I'm wrong.

Trying to figure out proper chains. I have several 1.5 Newhouse cast pans with the later chain style, is that correct or should the later chains only be on rivet pans? Thanks much.

Jim, My thoughts on your question;
Oneida Community started making wire chains in the early 1890s. Used mostly on Hawley Norton and Victor.
The Newhouse line predominantly came with flat link chain. Even the later ones with rivet pans.
It is highly likely that there were some special orders filled with wire chains on Newhouse traps.

Thanks Dale .I have several with wire chains and thought they changed over.

Jim

I have a last model #1 Newhouse and it has the original type flat link chain.

Boy that is odd. I have quite a few of these with the wire type chain, and the swivels sure don’t appear to have been opened.

It was my told to me one time that the 81 1/2 is the same chain set up as the 1.5

Yes, that is correct, the #81 1/2 Newhouse is a #1 1/2 with webbed jaws. But, there are 3 different pans on the # 81 1/2, the cast patent date pans will have a cast swivel and the riveted pan will have a sheet metal swivel.

Nice!

To get to the original question, (Can anyone tell me when they went from flat link chain to wire type chains.) they never really did. I assume that "they" would be Oneida Community, on the Newhouse trap. Oneida Community made a lot of different brands of traps, Newhouse being the first and highest quality. The flat link or "cut link" chain was conceived in 1877 and eventually replaced the cast figure 8 chain. The 1884 Oneida Community catalog shows Newhouse traps with wire chains. Although these are just drawings, the trap illustrations were not changed, just the wire chains on the traps. The Oneida Community patented a wire chain in 1889 and a machine for making wire chain in 1892. And, the machine for making the wire chain ring in 1893. These lower quality wire chains were mostly used on brands other than Newhouse. However, I do have several Newhouse traps with wire chains that I believe are correct. Trap chains are one thing that get changed a lot by trappers and Newhouse traps were sold without chains and the trapper would attach his own chain. These traps were still equipped with a swivel for adding the chain.

Thanks Snakecollector that makes me feel better about them.

take note of the original oneida wire chain style....there's a lot of wire chain that doesnt look like that