Thanks everyone for the insight. I know many are victors and some old B&L. Sounds like a good summer to Robert to dig them out and see if I can make them into something more useful.

Best mod is to take the chain off the spring. Move it to the other end of the frame where there is no spring. Bigger traps you can drill a hole under the jaw ends in the frame. Put a rivet through it. Those #1's you use the bender B2b sells to make #9 wire into a "U" shape about an inch and a quarter long. weld it on the bottom of the frame so about half extends out past the end with no spring. Attach a swivel and your chain to it. The animal will be pulling its foot into the spring instead of away from it.

I even did the conversion to a zero long spring, it did not hold an otter but otherwise I have no problem using it for a deep water muskrat set, added a little more weight with an extra spring.

My take... the only #1 trap that could be "easily" modified into a #11 was the #1 Northwoods trap. That #11 Northwoods (and #2 and #3 dbls) were great for positioning the springs any way you wanted them. Decent jaws(wish the jaw tips were a bit longer), good base and the springs were stout...if you have a chance to get your hands on some... check them out.