BOOK - Perfect Triumph: Places, Faces and Cases of the Triumph Trap Company

Description

EJ Dailey on the cover.  Book has 306 pages and 210 images.  Full title of book is Perfect Triumph: Places, Faces and Cases of the Triumph Trap Company, Oneida, New York, 1913-1935.  Excerpt from book is below.
Please look for my four other books about Dick Wood, EJ Dailey, Walter A. Gibbs and Walter Arnold.
In the spring of 1913, Henry A. Constantine considered locating the new trap manufacturing company in Niagara Falls, New York and calling it the Niagara Game Trap Company.
He inquired about manufacturing sites and studied the labor conditions.
He found that a satisfactory site could not be obtained with real estate being very expensive.
Available labor conditions were not satisfactory either.
Constantine then visited Oneida and met with the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Thomas A. Devereux.
Devereux presented the advantages of locating a manufacturing plant in Oneida.
They included real estate being available for purchase at lower prices, lower rent, Oneida was free of labor disputes, and abundant labor experienced in trap manufacturing.
Because of those reasons, the decision was made to incorporate under the name Oneida Game Trap Company instead of Niagara Game Trap Company.
A site for the building of a factory could not be located.
Constantine wanted to be located near the right of way of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad or near the Ontario and Western Railroad.
The major advantage of locating near a railroad was the convenience of shipping.
He asked Devereux to help locate a site.
Several locations were suggested but they either could not be purchased or were not suitable for a building site.
Devereux suggested a possible location on the northerly side of the West Shore Railroad near that railroad’s freight station.
It was formerly known as the Oneida Castle Station.
This was the only satisfactory location that could be found for sale at the time.
Constantine secured an option on the property and the option was later assigned to him making him the owner.
Eugene F. Kitendaugh, Oneida Community Limited Legal Department, pointed out the interesting connection that all of the traps shipped out by Oneida Community Limited were under the Bill of Lading of Oneida Castle.
The identical spot where the property was purchased.
He said “if this scheme is carried out” both company’s shipments will have the same Bill of Lading out of the same freight depot.
Kitendaugh believed the name of Oneida Game Trap Company and the location of the factory with a Bill of Lading of Oneida Castle out of the same freight depot as Oneida Community Limited was intentionally done to identify the new business as closely as possible with the business of Oneida Community Limited.
Kitendaugh questioned whether this interaction with the president of the Chamber of Commerce even happened as Devereux would later be an attorney for the Oneida Game Trap Company.
On May 10, 1913, Constantine received information from the officers of the Chamber of Commerce that it was possible to obtain manufacturing space in the building known as the industrial building located on James Street near the freight depot of the New York Central and the Hudson River Railroad Company.
He entered into an arrangement with the owners to occupy part of the building for trap manufacturing and took possession on May 10, 1913.
Thus began the tumultuous twenty two years the Triumph Trap Company was in business.
Contents
Foreword…………………………………………………………………...…………….................6
Chapter 1 – The Idea
Albert E. “Bob” Kinsley, 1877-1944……………………………………………………...7
Chapter 2 – The Money
Henry A. Constantine, 1876-1943……………………………………………………….19
Robert W. Carter………………………………………………………………………....21
Henry J. Hiller, 1876-?.......................................................................................................21
Sigmond Frensdorf, 1866-?...............................................................................................22
Moritz Mayer…………………………………………………………………………….22
Walter A. Gibbs, 1869-1941……………………………………………………………..22
Chapter 3 – The Patent Holders
Donald W. Kelley, 1870-1915…………………………………………………………...25
Holdridge G. “Greeny” Greene, 1885-1938……………………………………………..28
Francis E. “Frank” Adams, 1875-1955………………………………………………..…31
Harmon Thompson, 1850-?...............................................................................................34
Charles B. Corbin………………………………………………………………………...37
Robert L. Gow, 1890-?......................................................................................................37
James I. Pneuman………………………………………………………………………...41
Lester A. Beardsley, 1875-1939………………...……………………………………….42
Chapter 4 – Patents
Triumph Trap Company………………………………………………………...……….43
Are these Triumph Patents?...............................................................................................57
Norwich Wire Works, Diamond Traps………………………………………………..…60
Chapter 5 – The Trap Testers
Richard K. “Dick” Wood, 1895-1977…………………………………………………....69
E.J. Dailey, 1889-1973………..………………………………………………………….80
Raymond Smiley Spears, 1876-1950………………………………………………….…88
Walter S. Chansler, 1887-1977…………………………………………………………..93
Chapter 6 – Employees
Giles A. “Barney” Graves……………………………………………………………..…97
Allen Pankhurst………………………………………………………………………..…98
George J. Skinner, 1878-?..................................................................................................98
John G. Roehm, 1877-?.....................................................................................................98
Cornelius H. “Neil” Collins, 1865-?..................................................................................98
Dennis F. Hicks, 1872-?.....................................................................................................99
Alexander Barow………………………………………………………………………...99
James H. “Harry” Schocke……………………………………………………………..100
George Adams……………………………………………………………………….....101
Chauncey Eagan………………………………………………………………………...101
Theodore H. Kelley, 1896-?.............................................................................................101
E. Joseph Grinner……………………………………………………………………….102
Frank S. Ricker…………………………………………………………………………102
Dave Umstead…………………………………………………………………………..104
Joseph Silverman…………………………………………………………………….....104
Ned Brown…………………………………………………………………………...…105
Gene Hill…………………………………………………………………………..........105
I.H. Rothschild……………………………………………………………………….....105
Chapter 7 – Agents
Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Company; Charles Hopkins Conover, 1847-1915………107
Walter Arnold, 1894-1980……………………………………………………………...109
Lincoln Hide & Fur Company………………………………………………………….110
Montgomery Ward & Company…………………………………………………..........111
Triumph Baits……………………………………………………………………..........115
Chapter 8 – Attorneys
Charles H. Wilson, 1878-1938………………………………………………………….118
Thomas A. Devereux………………………………………………………………...…119
Benjamin Stolz, 1867-1937………………………………………………………….....120
Herbert E. Sholes, 1855-?................................................................................................121
Chapter 9 – Incorporation, Stocks and Name Change
Incorporation……………………………………………………………………………122
Capital Stock…………………………………………………………………………....126
Name Change………………………………………………………………………...…127
Chapter 10 – Business and Advertising
The First Circular……………………………………………………………………….130
The Factory………………………………………………………………………..........130
The Banquet…………………………………………………………………………….131
First Class Toolmakers…………………………………………………………………131
The Fire………………………………………………………………………………....131
Gripping the Dollars…………………………………………………………………....134
Modern Trapping Methods……………………………………………………………..137
Trapping Tricks………………………………………………………………………....141
Private Mailing Card……………………………………………………………………146
Employee Numbers………………………………………………………………..........147
Fifty Hour Work Week…………………………………………………………………147
Everlasting Trap Tags……………………………………………………………..........147
Maryland and New England Hardware Dealers…………………………………..........153
A Gratifying Increase in Sales………………………………………………………….154
Order Acknowledgement……………………………………………………………….154
The Triumph Guarantee……………………………………………………………...…157
Ever-Hold Trap Chains………………………………………………………………....161
Well Stretched Furs……………………………………………………………………..162
Triumph Trappers are Successful Trappers…………………………………………….163
Mud Turtles……………………………………………………………………………..163
A Greater Degree of Merchandising Cooperation……………………………………...163
Jobbers………………………………………………………………………………….163
Chapter 11 – Traps
The Composite Traps…………………………………………………………………...166
Trap Construction………………………………………………………………………169
We Have No Name and Must Put Out a Good Trap……………………………………169
Blurred Pans of 1913………………………………………………………………...…171
Barrels and Boxes………………………………………………………………………172
The Pinched Cross……………………………………………………………………...173
The Jumper Trap………………………………………………………………………..174
Spring Tempering………………………………………………………………………175
High Grip……………………………………………………………………………….177
The Trap Springs Only Once…………………………………………………………...180
Smoothex Chain………………………………………………………………………...184
Ranger…………………………………………………………………………………..185
Experimental Crossless Trap…………………………………………………………...186
Gopher Traps…………………………………………………………………………...187
Official Beaver Trap……………………………………………………………………189
Trapping Outfit…………………………………………………………………………190
Dollar a Dozen………………………………………………………………………….191
A Very Attractive Line of Traps………………………………………………………..191
Eliminates All Danger in the Setting Process…………………………………………..191
The Outstanding Success of 1930………………………………………………………193
Master Grip……………………………………………………………………………..194
Chapter 12 – Oneida Community Limited vs. Oneida Game Trap Company and P. Rouss
Trademark and Unfair Competition…………………………………………………….195
Kiley’s Decree………………………………………………………………………….202
Appeals…………………………………………………………………………………205
Contempt of Court……………………………………………………………………...211
The Investigation……………………………………………………………………….215
Chapter 13 – Triumph Trap Company vs. Oneida Community Limited
The No. 1 Victor Giant Trap……………………………………………………………218
The Photographs…………………………………………………………………..........227
The Sargent Trap………………………………………………………………………..227
Traps Bought in 1914……………………………………………………………...........231
Day Three……………………………………………………………………………….231
Early Trap Sales………………………………………………………………………...232
The Freeman Patent…………………………………………………………………….234
I Have the Word of Fellows Who Tell the Truth……………………………………….236
No. 1 Victor Spring Construction………………………………………………………238
The Discussion at the Oneida Elks Club………………………………………………..239
Milford J. Newhouse……………………………………………………………………240
Last Day…………………………………………………………………………...........242
The Final Hearing………………………………………………………………………243
Cooper’s Opinion…………………………………………………………………….....252
Oneida Community Limited’s Appeal………………………………………………….254
The Outcome……………………………………………………………………………256
Chapter 14 – Hurwitz Brothers Iron & Metal Company vs. Triumph Trap Company
The Brothers…………………………………………………………………………….257
Decision………………………………………………………………………………...258
Chapter 15 – W.A. Gibbs vs. Triumph Trap Company
The Most Wonderful Trap Ever Made………………………………………………….259
Infringement…………………………………………………………………………….267
The Appeal……………………………………………………………………………...275
Chapter 16 – W.A. Gibbs vs. Montgomery Ward & Company
Coil Spring Attachment………………………………………………………………...277
The Appeal……………………………………………………………………………...284
Chapter 17 – Adams vs. Stuller
Tire Chains……………………………………………………………………………...288
The Appeal……………………………………………………………………………...289
Chapter 18 – The W.A. Gibbs & Son and Animal Trap Companies
Gibbs……………………………………………………………………………………293
Animal Trap Company…………………………………………………………………298
Chapter 19 – Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery………………………………………...299
References………………………………………………………………………………………..302