TRAP, RABBIT
1897 - 1939The base plate has two jaws which pivot from open to form interlocking teeth when closed. They are closed by a sprung lever which is around them.
To set the trap, the spring lever is compressed allowing the jaws to open, they are held open by a tongue and lock plate over one jaw which is released when weight is placed on the baseplate
A short length of chain is attached to the end of the trap, while the other is attached to a steel spike approximately 300mm in length.
There is a raised spade shaped emblem on the tongue.
This trap was used by Thomas Henry Buckingham to capture rabbits in Roleystone. This would have been done for two reasons, vermin control and for food as rabbit was a cheap accessible meat when other sources were not available, especially during the global Great Depression which impacted food prices during the early 1930s.
His father Thomas Buckingham Junior was known to have made furniture for a living in the 1860s. Henry pursued a career as a carpenter, wagon builder and wheelwright in Kelmscott. In c1897 he purchased part of his fathers Roleystone property and established the orchard Bangup. In 1905 he married Lucy J Fancote and had a daughter Sybil (Mrs Sybil Gwynne). In a copy of his diary he records on the 1st of March 1898 'Mending traps, making wagons and carts, mending Bob Marsh's carriage, etc.' This tool may have also been used in 1905 when he built a house up on the orchard
Details
Details
This object is part of a collection of items associated with a person or family who have played a significant role in the economic, community or social development of the City of Armadale. This can include holding key political or social positions within the community, being a key contributor or member of a community organisation, a strong contributor to improving the well-being of the local community, a prominent figure in a local business or industry, developer of new industries or activities or someone who grew up in the area and moved away and had a noteworthy career or life.
