RODENT EXTERMINATORS

A 2,500-volt box that plugs into any household outlet.

Bait is placed on a platform inside an open-front chamber containing two closely spaced metal grills. A transformer inside the casing steps household current up to 2,500 volts and applies it across the grills. The rodent enters the chamber to reach the bait and its feet slip from the upper grill toward the lower one. Contact with both grills at once completes the circuit and electrocutes the rodent, which is then carried to a waste receptacle by the handle.

“As the rodent enters its feet, and particularly its front feet tend to slip from the rods 47 of the upper grill or electrode 43 and move toward one of the rods 40 of the lower grill or electrode 36. As the feet of the rodent move toward or upon engagement with one of the lower rods 40 and with the limbs or body of the rodent engaging one or more of the rods 47, the secondary voltage differential as between the upper and lower grills or electrodes 43 and 36 is effective for electrocuting the rodent and the current flow, upon charring of the rodent and increasing of the gap will be discontinued.”— Irving Levine, from the specification

And the world did not beat a path to his door.

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