World's Largest Mousetrap Collection

World's Largest Mousetrap Collection AG WORLD 28-4-23 You've never seen anything like this collection of more than 5,000 mousetraps owned by Bob Kwalwasser, Renfrew, Penn., at his "mouseoleum." He has all kinds of mousetraps that kill mice in a variety of ways including drowning, smashing, choking, spearing and cutting them with razor blades. He'll soon be in the Guiness Book of World Records since he bought the collection of the previous record holder, adding it to his own collection which was already the largest in the U.S. Kwalwasser's traps come from all over the world including some unusual ones from the Philippines, Africa, Asia, and South America. The oldest mousetrap he has dates back to the 1700's. Some are made from gun parts and others are made of clay. Some even use crossbows to kill the mice. He also has the oldest patented mousetrap in the USA. It was patented in 1838. Kwalwasser admires the imagination and workmanship that went into creating many of the traps. "Some of them are very clever. Most of them were made before electric tools were invented." Here are some examples of the traps he has. One live trap that looks more like a toy than killer trap captures the mouse when it enters the front to get food. Once captured, the mouse is forced around a wheel. Kwalwasser says kids like that one. The "5-hole choker trap" explains itself. When the mouse goes through a hole to get the food, it activates a wire choker which strangles the mouse. "The Electrocuter" was made in the 1930's . By hooking up two prongs to a baseboard electric outlet or an extension cord, it would supposedly kill mice when they made contact with the copper plates while going for the bait. The directions recommend putting a wet napkin in front of the trap so the mouse's feet are wet when electrocuted. The shock would throw the dead mouse 5 to 10 ft. away from the trap's entrance to make room for the next one. Other traps are the simple "smasher" traps where the mouse steps onto a lever to get bait and is smashed. Even with the number of mousetraps he has, Kwalwasser continually looks for more on eBay and at sales. And since new designs come out all the time, he also keeps an eye on his local hardware store. People can see the collection if they call first, he says. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Bob Kwalwasser, 168 Camp Fatima Road, Renfrew, Penn. 16053 (ph 724 789-7766; email: robertk@tcis.net).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.