Kelley Hive Loader photos

[DocOz]

I've now finished my restoration project of an old Kelley Bee Hive Loader. I found it on an Ebay auction last Fall. It's now restored, and I just completed a 600 mile move with my 20 hives. Unfortunately, loading and unloading were done at night so I don't have photos of it actually in service. I'll try taking some this weekend while I'm checking the hives. If you want to see video of the one working just watch "Ulee's Gold." Thanks.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dwozment/my_photos

[Sundance]

Nice job!! I am envious............ I remember when that was listed and I am glad it went to a good home. A classic!

And Ulee's Gold is a wonderful flick....... If you others haven't seen it....... It is worth the rental.

[Lew Best]

Looks great! Is that a tarp over the bees? How much heat can bees stand tarped like that? I need to move my 3 hives about 130 miles in a week or so; we're in the mid 90's now; maybe into mid 80's by the weekend. Supposed to close on my country home Tuesday; my bees can finally come home from 130 miles away. I'll move them at night if necessary but really need to move them in the daytime due to my night vision.

Lew

[DocOz]

The orange cover is actually a net manufactured by A.H. Myers in South Dakota to transport bees. They custom make each one. They make some large enough to cover semi trucks. If I were moving only 3 hives I would just put a screen over the entrances and strap the boxes together with a ratchet strap. You can use a spray bottle with water to make the bees go inside if it's hot at night (they think it's raining and don't "beard" as much). Once they are closed tight at night you can move them early the next morning during daylight hours.

[Lew Best]

Thanks! When I moved them up there I had them screened but at each stoplight I saw bees flying. Think I'll duct tape the hives together also; slipped a little giving some openings just using the straps.

Lew

[latebee]

Great loking rig-looks like it will be a very handy item. Keep on truckin Lew!

[JJ]

Hi everyone, Nice looking rig. I just bought a piece of shade cloth. I think it comes in a grade of 30 40 50 and 70 per cent, meaning thats how much sun it lets through. The holes are small enough that the bees cant go through and it is pretty tough. I got a piece about 45 x20 and I cut it into the sizes I want as to a small load or a larger one. It does come in different prices. I paid 39 dollars for the piece I got Take care JJ

[Lew Best]

Thanks JJ

I'm guessing you can get the shade cloth at garden centers like Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.?

Lew

[JJ]

Yes I think you can I bought mine at a nursery supply house. Its pretty tough stuff. What I like about it is you can set your load up the way you want then over size it some and cut the way you like. Take care JJ

[magnet-man]

DocOz, I must say when I say your post about purchasing it I though you had s**t for brains. I was sure it was rusted up so bad that it would never get back into service. But when you are wrong you are wrong. Looks like you did a good job!

[DocOz]

Thanks Magnet-man. I'm still impressed with how the thing just grabs the handholds on a box and lifts it up like it was born to do it. To tell you the truth it took lots of sandblasting to get it to the shape it's in now. The good thing is it was not frozen up anywhere. I had to replace all 4 winch motors but all the gear boxes were good and still had oil in them. I put on a new hydraulic pump/motor as well. The entire electrical system had to be replaced. I had to fabricate the handholds on the cradle from scratch since they were rusted so badly. Bottom line is 1950s technology is still pretty good stuff.

[Beeboob]

Could you post a pick of your newly restored loader, can't seem to find it on flicker, Thanks

[Batman]

Ditto.
When I tried to sign up for flicker, I kept getting spammed with new windows and another pop up that asked if I wanted to close the current window yes or no? It kept throwing that same thing so many times I had to disconnect the wifi just to close them all down.

Thanks,
C2

[PCM]

Could you post a pick of your newly restored loader, can't seem to find it on flicker, Thanks

Good luck on getting a reply from DocOz, this posting is dated 5-23-2005 !!

His last posting on the Forum was 3-2006

PCM