The History of the Oneida Victor Company

The Oneida Victor Company got its start in the 1840's in up-state Oneida, New York.  The Oneida Community was a tight-knit, utopian society that was very religious and practiced a communal lifestyle in which the members were all viewed as part of the same extended family.  Most members participated in manufacturing the various products they produced, including animal traps, chains, silks, silver knives, spoons and forks, and canning. 

In 1852, Sewell Newhouse was the Community member who first introduced trap manufacturing the the Oneida Community, and thus inspired much of their early industrial success.  The traps of the Oneida Community were immediately considered far superior to their European counterparts, and news of their quality quickly spread throughout the United States and Canada.  The fur trade was very significant to the development of the United States during the 1800s, and is considered an important means of commerce that allowed settlers to travel west-ward.

By the late 1870's, the Oneida Community had largely disbanded, and their holdings were transformed from the family-owned-and-operated company into a joint stock company, the Oneida Community Limited.  By the end of the 19th Century, the company had implemented manufacturing and marketing strategies that propelled them to even greater success.

In early 1900's, The Oneida Community restructured itself to focus mainly on its silverware industry, and in 1925 the trap business was sold, eventually relocating its headquarters to Cleveland, Ohio, and thus the Oneida Victor Company was born.  The quality craftsmanship and a solid business model has continued with the Oneida Victor Company well into the 21st Century, and once again it is a family-run business.

From rodent control to big game hunting, Oneida Victor is the original company that defined the standards for animal traps and trapping internationally, and continues to be a leader in both the industrial manufacturing and distribution of wildlife management devices of all types. 

Wildlife Management Devices by Oneida Victor® including:  Conibear® Traps, Soft Catch® Traps, Northwoods® Traps, Newhouse® Traps.  Made in the USA since 1852