SUPPLIER NEWS SUPPLIER N LITTLE NIPPER CELEBRA T


his year Pelsis is celebrating the 120th anniversary of the Little Nipper. Invented in 1897 and largely


unchanged since its cr eation, the humble wooden mouse and rat trap is one of the oldest and most recognisable pr oducts within the r etail pest control market.


This product has a rich and vivid history, which is why it remains one of the most popular mouse traps in the UK, selling in the tens of millions


y,, whi


the UK, selling in the tens of millions over many decades.


Leeds ironmonger James Henry Atkinson first invented the Little Nipper in 1897 and filed a patent in December 30, 1898 for the weight- activated treadle plate which is still a key co mponent of


the product


today. He subsequently sold hisy.. He patent in 1913 to Procter Bros who manufactured it fr om their factory in Wales.


South Wa ale


In fact, the name Little Nipper was derived from a popular music hall song at this time penned by Albert Chevalier – nothing to do with mouse traps – it was a somewhat whimsical r


N


SUPPLIER NEWS B TESATRA TES 120 YEARS


prematurely but needed a powerful and fast-snapping action, which he achieved with a simple spring.


developed - but the wooden Little Nipper has changed very little. The customer base of


The customer base of


product has always been varied: Little Nipper traps were sent to orld


Wo Wa a from the past such as Wo To Woolworth


By 1899 the Little Nipper was beginning to be sold in lar ge volumes. Over the years many plans have been drawn up to stay ahead of the consumer demand, with dif ferent forms of mouse traps developed - but the wooden Little


developed - but the wooden Little the


East Africa during the First Wor W ar; traditional high street r etailers oolworths,


whimsical refrain about the singer’s young son! Nipper was once a


the risk of


brand name for his mouse trap. The inventor wanted to avoid the risk of the trap going off


previously sold this pr oduct and, in mor e r ecent times, distributors have included businesses such as Amazon, T


young son! Nipper was once a popular term for a child as well as for pliers or pincers - hence its adoption by Atkinson as a suitable brand name for his mouse trap.


mazon, Toolstation and Decco. Thr oughout


its existence, the


which is synonymous with both the pr oduct and the brand.


Little Nipper has always been assembled by hand, maintaining the ‘handmade in the UK’ quality which is synonymous with both the


ity y,, The Little Nipper brand was The Little Nipper brand was


pur chased in 201 1 by Pelsis, which is headquartered in Knar esbor ough, bringing its manufacture back to Yorkshire. Founded in 1984 as P&L Systems, Pelsis has been shortlisted Dealmakers Yorkshire


Yo for two Yo Yorkshire


A war ds 2017 and the Yo Business A wards 2017.


YEARS


www.diyweek.net


24 NOVEMBER 2017 DIY WEEK 7


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