About me
It all started when...
In 2003 I started a new path in pest elimination. Though I had no experience, I always had a fascination with insect, spiders and reptiles. To me this job was, in a lot of ways, like my childhood. Me and my brother were always looking to catch something, either in a vacant lot, flood control or just in our own back yard. We came home with all kinds of creepy crawlies and thank god my parents had the patients to tolerate most of it.
In 2010 I was watching American Pickers on TV and In this episode they came across a antique mouse trap. Not only did they find it but they actually wanted it. I said to myself, is there really a market for that? Is that really a collectable? I soon found out the answer is, YES! People collect all kinds of pest control items, from a old match book that has a pest control advertisement on it to mice traps that command thousands of dollars.
I too started collecting antique and vintage pest control items. If you're wondering, no, i didn't win the Ebay bid, pictured below. I did however win plenty of others, not to mention items found in antique shops and flea markets. I have antique books, mouse traps, rat traps, fly traps, old advertismet as so much more. In 2012 I purchased the oldest Knapsack sprayer i have ever seen much less owned. F.E. Myers & Bro. The Perfect Knapsack Sprayer. (Pictured above) Produced in the late 1800's to the early 1900's. It certainly didn't look like that when i bought it, in fact it looked, well over a hundred years old. First, you couldn't even tell it was copper from all the tarnish and it had a hundred years of dents as well. The graphics were almost none existent and It was only from me finding old advertisement, that they were able to accurately recreate it for the restoration.
Knowing about my collection, my fascination with the rich history of our industry, my manager at the time, Mark Ramsey, is the one who suggested writing for our newsletter. In 2011 I wrote my first article in, at the time, Sierra Nevada newsletter. I believe now, its offered to all regions throughout the United States.
American Restoration Season 4 Pests and Pins
I got the idea to have one of my antiques restored but i wasn't sure which one. it wasn't till I acquired my Perfect Knapsack Sprayer, i knew that was the one to have done. I thought that if i got on the American Restoration TV show they would pay for my restoration. I figured, antiques that they liked and they wanted for the show they would cover the cost, wrong! My original quote was for $1,500, the cost mentioned on the show but in fact, it cost me $1,900, when it was all said and done.
I love the piece and it's certainly the pride of my collection but it is no longer the oldest Knapsack sprayer that i have seen. I found and purchased another, that is even older then this one. It won't get restoring , it is awesome just the way it is.
Now, i have added this website to add additional content, pictures and more. Its a work in progress and i will be posting more pics of my collection so please keep checking in.
Gregory J. Duquette
