There seems to be some difference of opinion in regards to the authenticity of traps with brass components. Some have the opinion that Newhouse made small traps with brass jaws. Can anyone shed light on these traps and components?

I have found no documentation that Oneida Community or Animal Trap Company made any Newhouse or any other brand of traps with brass parts. However, I have heard that brass was used to make patterns for casting trap jaws. In casting metal, there is shrinkage involved as the hot molten metal cools and this has to be accounted for in the pattern. Brass shrinks less and has a smoother finish, it is also softer and easier to make adjustments. These brass pattern jaws were not meant to be put into traps and most would have been melted down to be reused to make new patterns when not needed any longer. It does appear that some of these brass pattern jaws were put into traps and have survived. That being said, there are also modern brass jaws that have been made as a novelty or to deceive the unsuspecting collector.

It didn’t make sense to me that brass jaws on smaller Newhouse traps would be sold to or released to the public especially since brass based on todays market, is over 80 times more expensive than iron. Since there’s no way to know how some jaws came to market it seems possible that they were taken from the factory without the company’s knowledge or possibly during the transition from Oneida Community to ATC.
I read on a previous thread that an individual had a collection on a display that had all brass jawed Newhouse traps and were brought to the annual convention until he passed. The story was the jaws were first cast in bronze to show imperfections prior to casting in iron. That doesn’t seem likely either. I came to the conclusion that they were patterns, since that was the only scenario that made sense.
There’s currently a number one trap for sale on the NATCA group on Facebook and the seller insists it’s a real factory issued trap and he said other longtime collectors confirmed it’s real. Those individuals names aren’t known.
I just wanted to know for my own piece of mind since the seller insisted I’m wrong.

Brass was used to make jaw patterns for sand casting molds and for pattern proofs which tested their fit/operation after casting:

Pattern--a blueprint of the desired part or preliminary model was taken to pattern makers who built a master pattern from wood or metals. The use of metals in forming patterns (mostly brass) increased considerably after 1910. Metal patterns, especially brass, were most suitable when large quantities of castings were required with little chance of needing alterations. Metal patterns hold their shape better than wood, are not affected by moisture, and ensure a cleaner withdrawal from the sand mold.
Pattern proof--after the pattern mold was formed, it was often tested with brass first to ensure fit and proper movement on the trap...before an extensive pour with malleable iron.

I have several brass patterns and pattern proofs that came from OC Ltd and ATC with provenance. Some have been drilled, installed on trap, then removed. Some were poured, inspected, never installed. All were ID marked with tags.

Like Dean said, I have not found any documentation that OC or ATC ever made a trap with brass parts for mass production. However, I believe that there are some brass pattern proof jaws out there that survived the testing process and remain on original traps. Beware the new reproductions.

You will notice that in the above trap picture and the one currently for sale on ebay site an extensive amount of wear on the iron part of the trap. That wear and patina on both these traps is not consistent thru out including the brass. Therefore on both these traps it is my opinion that the brass jaws are newer and aged to look older than they are.

Enjoyed this discussion. Thanks guys.

Great information! Thanks to everyone that posted!

Thanks for the input - good info on another buyer beware category. I looked at one set a while back that looked to me to be newly cast and didn't have any casting marks like Dean's has - I passed on them.
Dan, if you get a chance to post any photos, would like seeing a couple of actual pattern proofs.

Dh51,

I never post pics on social media for my own reasons.

Detailed pics of numerous patterns & pattern proofs for a variety of sizes/models are included in my chapter on Foundries & Casting.

Thanks

There is one on Ebay now. Asking a good amount for it

I contacted the Woodstream company and asked if they ever used brass jaws on ATC traps and they replied that they never used brass jaws on any traps for sale to the public.

Back in the late 70s I visited with Dick Gerstell and he gave me a tour of the Woodstream plant and trap collection. He had a No. 50 Newhouse bear trap with factory brass jaws that his daughter had found in an antique shop in Maine. It was a legit factory trap according to Dick. He said that the Oneida Community definitely experimented with brass jaws on some of their traps, but had no idea how many may have been made, only that they were very rare.