David Drummond, Carl Brandt and Jim Koch - William C. Hooker's Great American Mouse Trap

William Hooker's 1894 design for a flat mouse snap trap remains one of the most important events in the whole history of mouse traps. It was not only important for is speedy mechanical action, but also for its flat wooden base on which could be advertised not only the trap's name, but also that of its manufacture and marketer. This second edition of the book takes care of both these important facets by providing drawings of the mechanisms and colour illustrations advertising the manufacturers and marketers of the traps.

Hooker's design and its variations have remained prominent for over 100 years, not only in the USA but throughout the world. It is only in the last two decades that a few designs of plastic mouse traps have become a little more reliable and successful in catching mice.  

David Drummond is a zoologist who was educated at University College, London and Pennsylvania State University. His professional work has been largely concerned with rodent control research and advice, a filed in which his expertise has been used overseas by many aid agencies including the World Health Organisation of the United Nations. Since retiring in 1988 as the Chief Scientific Officer responsible for the UK Ministry of Agriculture's Central Science Laboratories involved in research into Plant Pests and Diseases, he has occupied himself with gardening, overseas travel and writing books and articles on the history of rodent control particularly in relation to the successful development of better mouse traps.

David is a huge supporter of Dorking Museum and donates all of the proceeds of his books to us.

Carl B. Brandt was employed from 1976 to 1994 as a Draftsman in the Engineering Department with Woodstream Corporation. Carl is married and has 2 children and has been collecting mouse traps since 1987. Many of the traps figures are from Carl's collection and his expert knowledge comes from being employed by Woodstream for 18 years.

James L. Koch has been employed for 37 years as a Machinist for the Victor Division at Woodstream Corporation. Jim has followed his father, Mel Koch's footsteps, as Mel worked at Animal Trap Company from 1925-1975 and was very instrumental with innovative ideas on mouse trap produced by this company. Jim is married and has 2 children. He has been exposed to Lititz mouse traps all of his life and many of the traps figured are also from Jim's collection.

55 pages. Published in 2002. Republished in 2013.