Object number
63/540
Collection
Description
This is a spring-jawed metal rabbit trap, inscribed 'D.W.'. When the rabbit depressed the spring plate, the serrated jaws would open, and would then close with force on the rabbit’s leg when the plate was released. Unusually, the spring is coiled at the rivetted end and attached to the underside of the baseplate, rather than to to the top as is common. The trap was collected by the donor's father, who was interested in rural crafts. The donor's father was one of the Bushell Brothers, Charlie and Joseph, who ran a canal boat building and repair business at Gannel in New Mill, Tring, on the Wendover Arm Canal, until their retirement in 1952. They also did general coach-building.
Physical description
1 rabbit trap: metal; good condition
Archival history
MERL Miscellaneous note, Greta Bertram, 1 March 2013 – The Bushell Brothers, Charlie and Joseph, ran a canal boat building and repair business at Gannel in New Mill, Tring, on the Wendover Arm Canal. The business was founded by their father, Joseph Bushell Senior, in 1875. They took over its running in 1912, and the business closed in 1952 when they retired. This Collection comprises tools and other objects used at Bushell Brothers, as well as other various old tools that one of the Bushell brothers, who was always interested in rural crafts, collected druing his retirement. The majority of the Collection was donated by the daugther of one of the Bushell brothers, while other items were donated by a former employee.
Object name
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Associated subject
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External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_5382.tif - High resolution image
