What was the name of the first mousetrap?
The trap that is credited as the first patented lethal mousetrap was a set of spring-loaded, cast-iron jaws dubbed "Royal No. 1". It was patented on November 4, 1879, by James M. Keep of New York.
Where are mousetraps usually set?
Mousetraps are usually set somewhere indoors where there is a suspected infestation of rodents. The trap that is credited as the first patented lethal mousetrap was a set of spring-loaded, cast-iron jaws dubbed "Royal No. 1".
How popular is The Mousetrap in the UK?
This mousetrap has captured a 60 percent share of the British mousetrap market alone, and an estimated equal share of the international market.
Who invented the Little Nipper mouse trap?
While Pennsylvanian John Mast patented a similar mouse trap in 1899, Atkinsons Little Nipper continues to capture 60% of the British, as well as the international, mousetrap market share. Since 1913, when Atkinson sold his patent to his manufacturer, the Procter Brothers, for £2,000.
How old is the Victor mouse trap?
Over 100 Years Of The first Victor® spring-based mouse trap was invented in 1898, revolutionizing the rodent control market. The story tells us John Mast designed the traps to capture mice coming to his property from a nearby popcorn factory.
Who invented the mouse trap?
Hiram MaximMousetrap / InventorSir Hiram Stevens Maxim was an American-British inventor best known as the creator of the first automatic machine gun, the Maxim gun. Maxim held patents on numerous mechanical devices such as hair-curling irons, a mousetrap, and steam pumps. Maxim laid claim to inventing the lightbulb. Wikipedia
Where was the mousetrap invented?
IllinoisThe classic spring-loaded mousetrap patented by Illinois native, William C Hooker. Shortly after Keeps innovation, in 1894, Illinois native, William C. Hooker first patented the more familiar spring-loaded device, recognized today as the classic mousetrap.
Who invented the mousetrap in 1899?
James Henry AtkinsonJames Henry Atkinson, an ironmonger from Leeds (born 1849) invented the design that we are most familiar with today. He filed applications for patents on several different inventions, but the one he is most famous for is his mousetrap (Patenet reference: GB 13277 of 1899).
Can mouse traps break fingers?
As a result, a mouse trap might not break your finger, but it'll hurt. Rat traps, though, which are about 4 times larger and stronger than mouse traps and usually have serrated edges, could break your finger. If they don't break your finger, you could still have severe bruising or pinched nerves.
When were snap traps invented?
John Mast heeded Ralph Waldo Emerson's advice to, “Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door” and in 1899 built the more familiar snap trap which received its patent in 1903. Simple and effective, Mast's trap is the best-selling mousetrap of all time.
Do mice feel pain when trapped?
Once trapped by the glue board, mice will struggle for hours until they eventually die of starvation. Sometimes their flailing causes their heads to get caught as well, leading to slow and painful suffocation.
When was the Victor mouse trap invented?
Originally patented by William C. Hooker in 1894, and modified by John Mast and others, this kind of trap is still turned out, by the tens of millions, in the same factory in Lititz, Pennsylvania, now under the brand name Victor.
Who invented the spring loaded mouse trap?
William C. HookerThe spring-loaded mousetrap was first patented by William C. Hooker of Abingdon, Illinois, who received US patent 528671 for his design in 1894. A British inventor, James Henry Atkinson, patented a similar trap called the "Little Nipper" in 1898, including variations that had a weight-activated treadle as the trip.
When was the snap mouse trap invented?
Snap Trap 1897 James Henry Atkinson was the British inventor who in 1897 invented the prototype classic snapping mousetrap called the “Little Nipper”. He sold his mousetrap patent in 1913 to Procter Bros Ltd UK, who still make the same trap today.
When were snap traps invented?
John Mast heeded Ralph Waldo Emerson's advice to, “Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door” and in 1899 built the more familiar snap trap which received its patent in 1903. Simple and effective, Mast's trap is the best-selling mousetrap of all time.
Who invented the little nipper?
James Henry AtkinsonJames Henry Atkinson (1849–1942) was a British ironmonger from Leeds, Yorkshire who is best known for his 1899 patent of the Little Nipper mousetrap.
When was the first mousetrap invented?
The trap that is credited as the first patented lethal mousetrap was a set of spring-loaded, cast-iron jaws dubbed "Royal No. 1". It was patented on 4 November 1879 by James M. Keep of New York, US patent 221,320.
When was the mousetrap first used?
Reference to a mousetrap is made as early as 1602 in Shakespeare's Hamlet (Hamlet; act 3 sc.2), where it is the name given to the 'play-within-a-play' by Hamlet himself: "'tis a knavish piece of work", he calls it. There is a reference in the 1800s by Alexandre Dumas, père in his novel The Three Musketeers.
Why are glue traps not effective?
Glue traps are used primarily for rodent control indoors. Glue traps are not effective outdoors due to environmental conditions ( e.g., moisture, dust), which quickly render the adhesive ineffective. Glue strip or glue tray devices trap the mouse in the sticky glue.
What is the mousetrap in Tom and Jerry?
Mousetraps are a staple of slapstick comedy and animated cartoons. Episodes of the cartoon Tom and Jerry usually have plots based on Tom attempting to trap Jerry with different (and sometimes ridiculous) methods of trapping the mouse with a device realized as Rube Goldberg machine, often being outsmarted by the latter and injuring himself in the process with the traps.
What is an animal trap?
Animal trap used to catch and kill mice. For other uses, see Mousetrap (disambiguation). A spring mousetrap by Victor. Triggering a mousetrap. A mousetrap is a specialized type of animal trap designed primarily to catch and, usually, kill mice.
How does an electric mousetrap work?
An electric mousetrap delivers a lethal dose of electricity when the rodent completes the circuit by contacting two electrodes located either at the entrance or between the entrance and the bait. The electrodes are housed in an insulated or plastic box to prevent accidental injury to humans and pets.
What is the purpose of a mousetrap?
A mousetrap (Spanish: ratonera) figures prominently in the second chapter of the 1554 Spanish novel Lazarillo de Tormes, in which the hero Lazarillo steals cheese from a mousetrap to alleviate his hunger.
Snap Traps
Unlike many other inventions that have come and gone, what is believed to be the world’s first mousetrap is still one of the most widely-used traps today. Meet : The Little Nipper. While you may not recognize its name, you’ll surely recognize its classic flat, wooden, spring-loaded design.
Live-Capture Mousetraps
According to David C. Drummond from the UK Ministry o f Agriculture, the creation of the first live mousetrap is believed to have taken place as early as 1930, when Rupert Merkl of New York patented his “Rodent Trap.” . Though this trap was initially made of a wooden box, Merkl later filed a patent for a new design made of metal.
Glue Mousetraps
The next big event in the history of mousetraps was the invention of the glue trap. While some believe the JT Eaton Company patented the design for the first modern glue trap in 1980, Drummond suggests that many different versions of the glue trap were being sold in the U.S. for decades prior to the JT Eaton Company’s design.
A Better Mousetrap Alternative
While each of these types of mousetraps come with their own advantag es, they each come with their own cons, too. Glue traps, while inexpensive, are considered to be inhumane by some because they can leave the rodent to suffocate or suffer a long, uncomfortable death f rom starvation.
Who invented the mouse trap?
Probably the first patented mousetrap, it involved a wire caging device that captured mice alive. Patented in 1870 by South Carolinian, K. Bachman, numerous variations of this type of humane live capture traps existed at the time.
How many mousetraps were invented?
Along with the Kness device and the Little Nipper, these inventions comprise a list of about twenty mousetraps that proved commercially successful, out of the more than 4,400 mousetrap issued.
How to keep rodents out of your house?
You can exclude and make your home unattractive to rodents, by: 1 Regularly cleaning and sanitizing all food prep and dining areas. 2 Securely storing all open dried goods in glass, metal or hard plastic containers. 3 Storing open food containers in the fridge and discarding all leftover food in closed trash receptacles. 4 Regularly cleaning and sanitizing outdoor trash receptacles. 5 Removing debris and clutter from the interior and exterior of your home, and trimming branches away from your home.
How to make your home unattractive to rodents?
You can exclude and make your home unattractive to rodents, by: Regularly cleaning and sanitizing all food prep and dining areas. Securely storing all open dried goods in glass, metal or hard plastic containers. Storing open food containers in the fridge and discarding all leftover food in closed trash receptacles.
Where is the little nipper made?
The UK company has been making the Pest Stop Little Nipper in its Yorkshire, then its South Wales factories. Procter Brothers headquarters even houses a mousetrap museum featuring 150 exhibits.
Do rats reduce rodent populations?
Also, rodents, especially rats, tend to be wary of new things in their environments, so reducing rodent populations can take a long time, if not skillfully attended to.
Who invented the spring loaded mousetrap?
The classic spring-loaded mousetrap patented by Illinois native, William C Hooker. Shortly after Keeps innovation, in 1894, Illinois native, William C. Hooker first patented the more familiar spring-loaded device, recognized today as the classic mousetrap. Improving on Hookers design, in 1898, British inventor, ...
How long has The Mousetrap been running?
In 2011 (by which time The Mousetrap had been running for almost 59 years) this long-lost document was found by a Cotswold furniture maker who was renovating a bureau purchased by a client from the Christie estate. By the time of Christie's death in 1976 the play made more than £3 million.
Where was Mousetrap presented?
The play has also been presented internationally, in 2013 in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, by the British Theatre Playhouse.
What is the setting of the play The Mousetrap?
Setting. A guest house, Monkswell Manor, wintertime "in the present day". Official site. The Mousetrap is a murder mystery play by Agatha Christie. The Mousetrap opened in London's West End in 1952 and ran continuously until 16 March 2020, when the stage performances had to be discontinued due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
What is Mousetrap Theatre Projects?
In 1997, at the initiative of producer Stephen Waley-Cohen, the theatrical education charity Mousetrap Theatre Projects was launched, helping young people experience London's theatre.
How long did Christie run The Mousetrap?
Christie herself did not expect The Mousetrap to run for such a long time. In her autobiography, she reports a conversation that she had with Peter Saunders: "Fourteen months I am going to give it", says Saunders. To which Christie replies, "It won't run that long. Eight months perhaps. Yes, I think eight months.".
What is the mousetrap in Hamlet?
In Shakespeare's play Hamlet, "The Mousetrap" is Hamlet's answer to Claudius's inquiry about the name of the play whose prologue and first scene the court has just observed (III, ii).
Why was the play called the mousetrap?
In Shakespeare's play Hamlet, "The Mousetrap" is Hamlet's answer to Claudius's inquiry about the name of the play whose prologue and first scene the court has just observed (III, ii). The play is actually The Murder of Gonzago, but Hamlet answers metaphorically, since "the play's the thing" in which he intends to "catch the conscience of the king." Three Blind Mice or its tune is heard a few times during the play.
Overview
Types
The trap that is credited as the first patented lethal mousetrap was a set of spring-loaded, cast-iron jaws dubbed "Royal No. 1". It was patented on 4 November 1879 by James M. Keep of New York, US patent 221,320. From the patent description, it is clear that this is not the first mousetrap of this type, but the patent is for this simplified, easy-to-manufacture design. It is the industrial …
Similar devices
Similar ranges of traps are sized for to trap other animal species; for example, rat traps are larger than mousetraps, and squirrel traps are larger still. A squirrel trap is a metal box-shaped device that is designed to catch squirrels and other similarly sized animals. The device works by drawing the animals in with bait that is placed inside. Upon touch, it forces both sides closed, thereby trapping, but not killing, the animal, which can then be released or killed at the trapper's discretion.
History
A historical reference is found in Alciatis Emblemata from 1534. The conventional mousetrap with a spring-loaded snap mechanism resting on a block of wood first appeared in 1884, and to this day is still considered to be one of the most inexpensive and effective mousetraps.
In general culture
Reference to a mousetrap is made as early as 1602 in Shakespeare's Hamlet (Hamlet; act 3 sc.2), where it is the name given to the 'play-within-a-play' by Hamlet himself: "'tis a knavish piece of work", he calls it. There is a reference in the 1800s by Alexandre Dumas, père in his novel The Three Musketeers. Chapter ten is titled "A Mousetrap of the Seventeenth Century". In this case, rather than referring to a literal mouse trap, the author describes a police or guard tactic that involves l…
See also
• Animal trapping
• Mousetrap car
• Pest control
• Rat trap
• Rodenticide
External links
• Mousetrap Monday - videos of rodent traps being tested.
• best rat poison
Overview
The Mousetrap is a murder mystery play by Agatha Christie. The Mousetrap opened in London's West End in 1952 and ran continuously until 16 March 2020, when the stage performances had to be temporarily discontinued during the COVID-19 pandemic. It then re-opened on 17 May 2021. The longest-running West End show, it has by far the longest initial run of any play in history, with it…
History
The play began life as a short radio play written as a birthday present for Queen Mary, the consort of King George V. It was broadcast on 30 May 1947 under the name Three Blind Mice starring Barry Morse. The story drew from the real-life case of Dennis O'Neill, who died after he and his brother Terence suffered extreme abuse while in the foster care of a Shropshire farmer and his wife in 1945.
Theatrical performances
As a stage play, The Mousetrap had its world premiere at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham, on 6 October 1952. It was originally directed by Peter Cotes, elder brother of John and Roy Boulting, the film directors. Its pre-West End tour then took it to the New Theatre Oxford, the Manchester Opera House, the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool, the Theatre Royal, Newcastle, the Grand Theatre Leeds and t…
Characters
• Mollie Ralston – Proprietor of Monkswell Manor, and wife of Giles.
• Giles Ralston – Husband of Mollie who runs Monkswell Manor with his wife.
• Christopher Wren – The first guest to arrive at the hotel, Wren is a hyperactive young man who acts in a very peculiar manner. He admits he is running away from something, but refuses to say what. Wren claims to have been named after the architect of the same name by his parents.
Twist ending and tradition of secrecy
The murderer's identity is divulged near the end of the play, in a twist ending that is unusual for playing with the very basis of the traditional whodunnit formula, where the cliché is that the detective solves the crime and exposes the remaining plot secrets. By tradition, at the end of each performance, audiences are asked not to reveal the identity of the killer to anyone outside the theatre, to ensure that the end of the play is not spoilt for future audiences.
Plot
The play is set in the Great Hall of Monkswell Manor, Berkshire, in what Christie described as "the present".
Act I opens with the murder of a woman named Maureen Lyon, played out in sound only. The action then moves to Monkswell Manor, recently converted to a guesthouse and run by a young couple, Mollie and Giles Ralston. While waiting for the guests to arrive, Mollie listens to a radio r…
Critical reception
The play made little stir in the review pages of the British press when it opened. The Manchester Guardian commented that it was "a middling piece" with "less in it than meets the eye ... Coincidence is stretched unreasonably." The critic commented that the characters were "built entirely of clichés". The reviewer in The Times was more favourably disposed to the characters, calling them "nicely assorted, individually labelled and readily identified", and found the plot "elab…
Publication history
The play was published as a paperback by Samuel French Ltd as French's Acting Edition No. 153 in 1954 and is still in print. It was first published in hardback in The Mousetrap and Other Plays by G. P. Putnam's Sons in 1978 (ISBN 0-396-07631-9).