I love it- especially that last statement.
Pest Control
This looks a bit … direct, but it dates from 1882. James Williams needed a device that would destroy a burrowing animal and give an alarm so that it could be reset. His solution was a revolver attached to a treadle. Touché.
The patent abstract adds, “This invention may also be used in connection with a door or window, so as to kill any person or thing opening the door or window to which it is attached.” Evidently Williams had problems bigger than rodents.
We can't get away with things like that in today's world, with lawsuits and such, but it would be nice. I'd love to electrify the contact-points on my truck, and fry a fucker if he decided he wanted it. <lmao>
I'd be in jail for one law-break or another if that happened.
This would rock - if you didn't get imprisoned for it: