For The Sake Of Conversation...

After Robert Vance, who is the most knowledgeable person on Newhouse traps?

OH BOY!! THIS IS GOING TO BE A FUN TOPIC TO WATCH!

X2

It is a real struggle for me to refrain from posting on the question posted.

It was/is for me too Nancy, that's why I decided to just post the response I did.

newhousecattrapper probably gets my vote

Bruce is in the top level,,cascade is right with him,,if they don't know the answer there Probally is no answer

Im not sure who put Vance at the top, but I could place quite a few above him on scale of trap knowledge. Just buy a copy of his little blue book of trap values, that will say enough. I am not trying to pick a fight or upset anyone but the question was asked so this is my answer.
Mushrat

Greg and Bruce are both very knowledgeable about Newhouse traps. As for Mr. Vance, I will refrain from comment.

If your talking bear traps Paul Nohle of New York handles alot of them.
Tom Parr has a large collection, he may be helpfull.
Steve Langhert Of New York could help.He has a mega Collection.
The late Roger Mason of Maine was probably the go to guy on Newhouse.Roger claimed to have owned over 3000 bears traps in his life.

I am surprised that wissmiss did not come up with a civil and educational response. As for the collectors that have been listed, it would be interesting to hear about how they got their start and who did they learn the most from. Thanks, Tom

What sort of response did you want from me?? Let's try this one.

When it comes to trap knowledge in general and Newhouse trap knowledge in particular, there are any number of people in the trap collecting world that are far more knowledgeable than Robert Vance. Some of them have been listed above but there are quite a few more. I choose not to add to the list because I am afraid I will forget some one and they will be offended.

As for myself, I enjoy trapping collecting as a hobby but I am far from being an expert when it comes to all the fine details - such as original chain types and all the other details that people tend to nit pik over. I tend to stay out of the nit pik discussions unless I absolutely know for sure what I'm talking about.

I am fortunate to have a very good memory and an excellent set of reference materials. So, when some one describes a trap or
posts a picture, I am able to recognize what the trap is and respond accordingly. Some of the knowledge is automatic in my brain, otherwise I use my reference books. If you see a collector trap post about "what is this old trap" and I don't respond, it means I don't know the answer and I am waiting for some one more knowledgable to answer the question, rather than jump in with incorrect information.

And just for the record - I have made mistakes when posting trap information. Not many, but there have been a few in the 10+ years I've been on trapperman.

Thankyou wissmiss. That is what I was looking for, An honest opinion or statements of fact. Not something that leaves you wondering "Just what the heck did they mean by that remark?"

Ed Knoblock had his newhouse collection on display at Onieda Ny Museum.He has a great deal of knowledge on Newhouse Traps and History.Probably many others that are good on Newhouse traps.I have been at Eds house he has a nice collection.Bruce

Waymon Vest.

Bruce1- Thanks for your input. Three thousand bear traps is an incredible number of bear traps to handle in a lifetime. I think Richard Gerstell would have to be high on the list.

Wasn't Waymon Vest only a bear trap guy?

Waymon Vest knows a lot about any Newhouse. He is still around and lives in Texas.

There are many knowledgeable people that make it a study to know all they can about different traps and trap companies.Tom Parr is the President of NATCA (North American Trap Collectors Association)He also has an incredible museum in Galloway OH. John Hadix got me started in collecting and I am still always looking for old traps.Steve Langert is the guy I go to the most when it comes to pricing old traps. Bruce1 and I put on a collectors show every spring. If you guys want to learn about old traps and trap companies I would suggest a book The Steel Trap in North America. by Gestrel. Tom Parrs price guide is the closet thing I've found on prices with condition being the key factor. Its a cool hobby but can get a bit expensive.

It's not a hobby Bill, it's a disease.

It would be helpfull if someone with a good collection would put together a newhouse book from early 1800.s to the end just with photos not so much a price guide.Would be a good seller ! Many early collectors have went to the happy collection ground in the sky, what knowledge has been lost.

Back in the 1980s, Donnie Bush out of New York state published a book about Newhouse traps. It was not a printed hardbound book like Gersteels, but more a photocopied spiral bound manuscript. A bit crude, but had a lot of information in it. Nit sure where one would get a copy now.

Gerstell also has a lot of Newhouse info in his book.

I am a Newhouse collector and I have been gathering Newhouse traps and information for over 30 years. I also collect all of the other Oneida Community traps and trap advertising. I would like to put together a book just of information and facts, no price guide but at this point I don't have time yet. Maybe in a few years.

If anyone needs more information about an old trap that they may have, join the Facebook group I have posted in my sig line and post a pic. There are some knowledgeable members on there!!!

Many of the pioneers to trap collecting were into antique steel traps long before the trap collecting clubs were ever thought of. All of these old timers have since passed away and a wealth of knowledge went with them, other than the small miniscule amount of knowledge they gifted to the lucky ones that were close to them, and payed close attention to what they said.
I was fortunate enough, from the time I was four or five years old, to be associated with a gentleman who more than likely put more traps in peoples collections than any other,John Barbee.
John was a wealth of knowledge and his main love as many of us was Newhouse Traps, and the history that surrounded the Newhouse Trap and the Oneida Community. From a very young age I was always fascinated by the different styles, designs, and history of antique Traps, and with my father and John being best of friends and the two a very instrumental part in starting the Missouri Trappers Association back in the late 50s, I was blessed with having known John from the time I was Four years old until John passed away on Feb, 1st 2010. With us only living 70 miles apart, there were very few weekends that passed where John was either down here, or Dad and I was up there. John was like my second father. and I learned a tremendous wealth of knowledge from him.
The way one learns traps is to handle as well as scrutinize many many traps. It is something that is gained over many years of collecting, and one never stops learning, as there will always be something new and exciting surface that was never seen before.
I look back at Alfred Williams and Dick Gerstell and it is utterly amazing to even fathom what they accomplished when you take into consideration their books, as this was back in a time when if you needed information you wrote letters, made phone calls, or drove many miles and put in many long days in doing research. Now with the advancement of modern technology as well as the computer and internet, it has made it so very easy for all of us now to find out just about anything with the stroke of a few keys.
When one gets into the trap collecting guides, and there have been many published over the years from Frodelius & Bert, Donnie Bush, Vances books, and Toms guide, there is one common denominator that everyone must realize, and that is these books are exactly "GUIDES", not Bibles and prices will vary considerably, on any given day when selling from one collector to another, depending on how bad the buyer wants it, and how reluctant the seller is to get rid of it, and the condition of the item. But, in another sinister aspect, there are a few out there that have published articles, guides, and books, some of which plagiarized other peoples work, that are virtually a waist of the paper and print used to manufacture them.
We constantly learn something new about the field we collect in everyday, I know I do. When it gets to the point that an individual feels like they know everything there is to know and even when they feel as though they do not know the answer, and make something up and believe it to be fact, then you have a problem.
Greg (Cascade) and I have talked many times about writing an informative book on Newhouse which would include pictures,history, but no prices as prices are always fluctuating up and down.
as between the two of us, there is not much out there that one or the other of us do not have, but like Dean (Snakecollector) said, time is of the essence, so maybe sometime in the future.

Well said Bruce.I like going to trap conventions and talking to older collectors.You can also see alot of antique traps for sale.THe fellowship of collectors is great.Hope to see some of you at NTA Hamburg NY.Bruce McCormick

Before this thread is done, I would like to say that every time I talk with Mr. Vance he is very quick with answers to all my questions. He is not looking in a book for the answer, or beating around the bush. He answers any and every question faster than I can write it down. He is still very sharp mentally although he is bedridden. He is looking at and handling traps daily, as he has for 67 years of trap collecting. Mr. Vance told me that he did a lot of business with John Barbee [both selling and buying], and that he was quite knowledgeable.

Newhousecattrapper and Snaketrapper are two super nice guys that are awesome trap collectors. Have awesome collections and will help you if you need info. on traps. Super knowledgable collectors willing to share their knowledge is greatly appreciated!

I just bought the book by Donnie Bush. It is one of only six printed, second edition. Loaded with some really cool information.