And The World Did Not Beat A Path To His Door

4,400 attempts at a solved problem

The Ones That Worked

So that the record is complete: it can be done. It was done twice.

Patent drawing of a wooden-based wire mousetrap showing a coiled spring jaw, locking bar, and hinged bait trigger in set and sprung positions.ANIMAL-TRAPWilliam C. Hooker · November 6, 1894Patent drawing sheet showing a rectangular-base animal trap with a U-shaped wire striker, coiled spring, lever-arm, and sliding treadle trigger, along with detail views of the shaft, lever hooks, and trigger variations.ANIMAL-TRAPJohn M. Mast · November 17, 1903