[jhunts]

My recollection is that American Trap is 2x as old as bunker...

Can I ask where this recollection comes from.

In 1901 a group of Americans went to England to shoot over a bunker or trench with 15 traps just like it is shot today, it appears.

From the book - The Patriotic Sport

"The trap equipment consists of five sets of three expert traps in each set practically five sets of the Sargent system arranged in a straight line, the several sets of traps being about five yards apart. Back of the traps is a deep brick lined trench in which the trappers stand as they load the traps..."

ADDED: Olympic trench - olympic trap - shotgun discipline.

"Olympic trench is a shotgun discipline of the Olympic Games from the Paris edition of 1900, as a demonstrative sport. Till Tokyo 1964 it was the only shotgun discipline admitted, so it may be considered as the mother of all the shotgun disciplines."

 

[jhunts]

jhunts: I do not believe the 1900 Olympic "Clay trap shooting (Ball-trap) Tir au Fusil de Chasse" was bunker trap, but I have not been able to find a clear description of the rules. No American competed in the Tir au Fusil de Chasse.
Scroll down about 1/3 here, then a bit further for Ed Banks' description of the 1912 Olympics rules, indeed with 15 traps
1901 International Match & Olympic Games

Thanks.

Do you have the set up for the 1908 Olympics from London?

The fact is, most people who shoot trap could care less how well the U.S. is represented internationally in Olympic trap.

Well, that doesn't sound good.