Does anyone know when these started appearing? I have them on several traps but found one on a 1911 pat date pan with the pre "made in USA" spring stamps which to me means a 1911 - 1913 trap. Trying to find out if they were around that early or if maybe someone retrofitted it later on down the line. Seems pretty early to me but I've searched all my references and can't find squat about them...

The closest that I can tell is that the anti pan breaker came out before 1910, possibly several years earlier. The 1910 Oneida Community catalog has an illustration of the #48 Newhouse, with the device, this is the first catalog with the #48 listed, so it is a new illustration. The illustrations for the #4 and #14 are earlier drawings and do not show the anti pan breaker. I have a small pan #4 with off set jaws and teeth "Deer trap" with an anti pan break that looks to be original. I believe that the large pan #4's started around 1906-"07, so this trap would predate that. Here is also a page from the 1913 catalog #51 of the #4, the photos of the #14 and #48 also show the device. Note, that in 1913 the #4 does not have a 1911 patent date on the pan. The Sept. 26, 1911 patent is for the dimple in the spring eye, this was not used on all sizes right away and thus the patent did not apply to that size trap until such time. There for, not all 1911 patent date model traps started in 1911, some did not start for several years. That is why the 1911 patent date #6 Newhouse is so rare, the springs on the #6 did not have the dimples on the spring eye until the end of the Oneida Community model production, likely in the early 1920's. Dean
1910 catalog

1913 - catalog No 51

Great info Dean, thanks. I have a reprint of the 1893 catalog and didn't see any in it but I don't have the later catalogs. The pat date pan does have the dimple springs and they are stamped with the Oneida Community NY stamps ( no "made in USA") so that would still place it in the 1911 - 1913/14 timeframe?
Here's the other half - the trap is a 44 or at least is set up as a 44 in all regards except for the pan. The pat date pan has a blank space in front of the existing 4 where is clearly looks like the other 4 should be stamped but it isn't there. It looks exactly like my other 44 that is properly stamped, just missing the first 4. Trying to figure out what to call it - a modified 4 or an incomplete stamped 44? If it is a 44 then I would think it must be an early one based on the spring stamps. I have a couple dozen 4's and none of them have this pan stamp configuration with the gap between No. and the 4. I'll get a couple of photos together and post them.

Thanks again for the input.

The 1913 O.C. catalog, No 44, illustration for the #4 Newhouse has the #44 style chain set up attached to the base. There are at least 3, 1913 catalogs, No 44, No 44-B and No 51. The No 44-B catalog, #4 illustration shows the chain on the spring. They did not call it a #44 at that time but it is what would become the #44. This chain set up was used on #4 Newhouse even before 1913. There is a small pan #4 model, with the Kenwood style Wolf trap swivel and heavy chain off the base also. Dean

1913 Oneida Community, catalog No 44 (catalog No 44, not #44 trap)



Small pan #4 with early base chain. Notice the anti pan breaker.

More good info -that's a nice one. Here is what I have, what are your thoughts? I guess I can hijack my own thread..

Here it is next to my other 44:

Excellent info and trap pics!

I got a NH #4 with the anti-break on it. I'll have to see if I can figure out when it was made.

Thanks

Deerhunter, I think you just need to stamp another 4 on that one.......

Glad to see you've come out of hiding Dale, was wondering where you went off to. Liking that base link & swivel...