James Henry Atkinson

James Henry Atkinson (1849 – 1942) was a British ironmonger from Leeds, Yorkshire who invented the mousetrap. Atkinson invented a number of items, but his mousetrap, known as the Little Nipper which he patented in 1897, remains the most well known mousetrap invention to date.

Little Nipper

Rat and mouse traps used for pest control

James Henry Atkinson was the British inventor who in 1897 invented the prototype mousetrap called the "Little Nipper". The Little Nipper is the classic snapping mousetrap that we are all familiar with that has the small flat wooden base, the spring trap, and the wire fastenings. The Little Nipper slams shut in 38,000s of a second and that record has never been beaten. This is the design that has prevailed until today. This mousetrap has captured a sixty percent share of the British mousetrap market alone, and an estimated equal share of the international market.

James Atkinson sold his mousetrap patent in 1913 for 1,000 pounds to Procter, the company that has been manufacturing the "Little Nipper" ever since, and has even erected a 150-exhibit mousetrap museum in their factory headquarters.