AN IMPROVED VERMIN TRAP
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Ratford Wilson, of Camden Town, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED VERMIN TRAP."
Sealed the 11th December, and dated the 16th June 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Ratford Wilson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th
June 1866.
I, GEORGE RATFORD WILSON, of Camden Town, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
VERMIN TRAP," to be as follows:-
On a shaft at the ingress end of the trap I fix three, four, or more series
of pointed wire arms, so bent that the points shall be inwards when the arms
are at the bottom, and on each series there are other wires for holding the
bait. At one end of the shaft there is a ratchet wheel the teeth of which
correspond with a ratchet or catch jointed to that side of the trap, so that
the arms will turn to allow the entrance of the vermin, but will not turn
back to allow of their return, and beyond the revolving arms there is an

page_text: ordinary cage provided with a swing door for the detention of the vermin,
and another door for their removal. When the vermin nibbles the bait on
the lower series of arms that series turns forwards and upwards to allow
entrance into the cage, and another series turns downwards to prevent any
return, and thus the vermin are effectually trapped.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Ratford Wilson, in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 14th December 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
RATFORD WILSON, of Camden Town, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Hler heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
George Ratford Wilson, Her special licence that I, the sail George Ratford
Wilson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said George Ratford Wilson, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter, during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Chaunel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"AN. IMPROVED VERMIN TRAP," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said George Ratford Wilson, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their bands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Ratford Wilson, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):-
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal
elevation of one of my improved vermin traps; and Figs. 2, 3, and 4
represent a modification of same. On a shaft B (Fig. 1) at the ingress end

page_text: of the trap or framework A, I fix three, four, or more series of pointed wire
arms C, the points of which are bent inwards in the direction in which the
arms move, and on each of which series are other wires or holders D, provided
for holding the bait. On one end of said shaft B are fixed a ratchet wheel E
and pall F, so arranged that the said arms will turn inwards to allow of the
entrance of the vermin, but will not turn back to allow of escape. Beyond the
revolving arms there is provided an ordinary cage or receptacle G, with swing
doors H for the entrance and detention of the vermin, a door I being provided
for their removal. When the vermin nibbles the bait on the lower series of
arms that series turns inwards and upwards, while another series turns down-
wards behind the vermin to prevent any return, and thus is the vermin
effectually trapped.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal elevation
of the modification of my improved vermin trap; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal
section of same with the back perpendicular wires removed in order to shew
the working parts more fully; and Fig. 4 is a plan of same with the top
removed. On a shaft B, working in suitable bearings near the ingress end of
the trap or framework A, I fix three, four, or more series of pointed wire
arms C, as in the previous case. To one end of said shaft is attached an india-
rubber spring D, and on the other end are fixed two ratchet wheels E and F,
and palls G and H, to prevent said shaft turning in either direction until
required. The bait is placed in holders K, fixed beyond the inner end of a
tilt platform N, the other end of which platform is attached or connected by a
wire J to said pall G, for liberating the pall and enabling said shaft and arms
to be turned by the action of said spring. Beyond said pointed arms and bait
holder there is an ordinary cage or receptacle M, provided with one or more
swing doors L for the entrance and detention of the vermin, another door O being
provided at the back for its removal. When the trap is required to be baited
the pall I should be removed by band from the teeth of the ratchet wheel E,
and the said shaft and arms turned and said spring wound up by turning the
thumb stud P (see Fig. 4), the shaft B being held stationary by the ratchet
wheel E and pall G. When the rat or other animal enters the trap to take
the bait it steps on the tilt platform N and depresses its inner end and with
it the connecting wire J, so as to liberate the pall H and allow said shaft and
arms to be turned by the action of the spring in the direction indicated by the
arrow in Fig. 3, and thus entrap the animal; and as the arms cannot. be
reversed until the pall H is liberated by hand, the animal, if it endeavours
to escape back will press against the sharp points of said arms and
be compelled to pass through one of the hanging doors of said cage or

page_text: receptacle, from which it is removed through said door at the back. When
desired I fix the pointed arms to a tube instead of a shaft, and use a spiral
spring in the interior of the tube for turning the arms.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Ratford Wilson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of December, in the year 5
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
GEORGE RATFORD WILSON. (L.S.)