I am needing some help with info on a trap I was recently given. I am an avid trapper for the last 15 years but I’m not a historian. I know nothing about this trap other than what is stamped on the pan?? It says it is a Newhouse Oneida #4. Has a pat date but can’t read it?? Looks like it has the original chain and swivel as well?? Would like to know what time period this is from?? I was told that this trap had never been used and the reason for the coloring is that it was sprayed with silver paint some 20/30 years ago. Any and all help appreciated

I would say your trap was made sometime from 1911 to 1925.. If the jaw post (the part the jaws are pinned to) looks two piece like this one, Your trap was made sometime during world war one or maybe a little after..
One of the nicest traps i own was painted silver but it took some elbow grease to make it that way...

DiggerDale, I have the same trap but with no patent date and the one piece jaw post. Can you give me an estimate on the date?

Oh Boy!!! You're asking a guy that can't even remember to take his memory pill...
I'll guess yours was made somewhere in the mid 1890s to 1911 period...

Thanks, Dale. I have a hard time remembering where I placed my sets. I feel you pain.

What’s the value on one of these??

I believe Dale's dates are close. The patent date on the pan is Sept. 26, 1911. This patent is for the dimple or crimp as Oneida Community reffed to it, in the top spring eye. This feature was not used on all sizes of all of Oneida Community traps at the same time. I don't believe that the #4 Newhouse got the dimples and there for patent date until about 1914. And, Animal Trap Company, when they bought out Oneida Community in 1925, continued to use Oneida Community stamped pans into the 1930's before using Animal Trap Company stamped pans. However, Animal Trap Company discontinued stamping the springs of their Newhouse traps, making it easier to spot an ATC produced O.C. stamped pan trap. So, Railroad82's trap if it has marked springs would have been made 1914-1925 and if the springs are not maked, then 1925- early1930's.

Posco's trap, If it is a large pan #4 with no patent date, 1906-1914. I don't believe that the large pan was used on the #4 Newhouse before 1906. If it is a small pan, it would have been made before 1906 but there are several different small pans and you would need more information about the trap to determine how much earlier.