Newhouse No. 5 Bear Trap

Newhouse No.5 community bear trap circa 1865-1888. This Number 5 is an early, and rare trap, manufactured between 1865 and 1888, during the life of Sewell Newhouse, and possibly forged by Sewell himself. The trap shows large teeth, and an embossed pan, reading; "S. Newhouse - Oneida Community N.Y. - No. 5." The trap is additionally stamped on each blacksmith forged spring arm, reading; "S. Newhouse Oneida Community NY.". The condition of this bear trap is well preserved with oxidation and patina adorning the frame of the bear trap and the anchor but otherwise shows a well preserved condition. The measurements of this bear trap is 30" x 10 1/4" x 7 1/4". The collective weight of this bear trap is 27lb 10oz. The bear trap has a unusual 60" blacksmith installed secure link chain and a treble hook holding the anchor attached.Starting production in 1845, Sewell Newhouse - A blacksmith within the community, learned to hand-forge animal traps better than anyone else of the time. Newhouse was part of the Oneida Community, a religious based "family" of approximately 250 members, who believed in a harmonious group living, and striving to reach human perfection through congruous collaboration. By 1852, the community was able to further improve Newhouse?s design, and mechanized the manufacturing process. By the 1860's, the Oneida Community was making over 200,000 traps a year, then in 1864, production demanded a new facility, and scores of new employees, making their trap facility the largest in the country, as well as putting Oneida Newhouse in the mainstream of American industrial development. by the 1870's the new factory was producing over 400,000 traps per year. In 1886, The Oneida Community, Ltd. introduced a less expensive line of traps, known as the Victor. By the early 1900's, 2 in every 3 traps across the globe came from the Oneida factory.