Value of Root Automatic Extractor

[pjk]

Hello,
My father was a beekeeper back in the 1980's, and he held onto this extractor from then. I am now trying to find information on it, and trying to value it, and possibly get rid of it. There isn't much I can tell you other than that. There is also a stand for it, which is shown in the pictures below. Maybe these pictures will help. If you know any information about it, I would greatly appreciate to hear it. Someone I talked to suggested I give it to a local museum. It is in great shape, it has a lot of rust, but all the metal is still very strong and seems to be in great shape. Thanks in advance.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v113/pjkcards/DSCN6832.jpg
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[nursebee]

Others here will have more knowledge.

Call Root and ask if they have any resources on it.

Rust can be cleaned. You can camcoat the whole thing to make it food grade. I'd expect it does not really have museum value, but if you have a shop someday it would be a great piece.

I'd sell it on ebay, minimum $150.

It looks like it could be powered by bike!

[carbide]

I bought one like that about three or four years ago on eBay. The one I got was in much better shape than that (no rust). Came with a 1/2 hp motor. I bought it for $80. I ripped out the four reversible baskets and converted it into a 20 frame extractor, works great now.

In the shape it's in, with no motor included, it might fetch $100 if you're lucky.

[pjk]

Thanks, I appreciate the information.

[alpha6]

Hey Carbide,

I'll give you $120 for yours...thats a $40 buck profit...interested? :D

[stangardener]

I bought one like that about three or four years ago on eBay. The one I got was in much better shape than that (no rust). Came with a 1/2 hp motor. I bought it for $80. I ripped out the four reversible baskets and converted it into a 20 frame extractor, works great now.

In the shape it's in, with no motor included, it might fetch $100 if you're lucky.

how did you go about converting it to a 20 frame extractor?
i have close to the same extractor with the hand crank and only two baskets.
i keep it around as my own private museum piece but if it did more frames i might just use it.
thanks.

[bluegrass]

It looks like it is a converted handcrank extractor. I agree that you would do the best on ebay. I think if you get somebody to give you 50.00 for it you would be doing good.

[min79854]

I've got a smaller one that I've been working on...Check out the pics on the Equipment section..... I'm trying to clean it up and use it...After all...I have it, and if it only needs a bit of cleaning and sealing...why not use the old thing.....Good luck with yours.........Min

[pjk]

Thanks for the information guys. I posted it up on Craigslist for the time being to see if anyone local wants it. If not, I will put it up on eBay. If anyone here is interested in buying it, please let me know.

Carbide: Do you remember how much it cost to ship it to you?

[carbide]

Thanks for the information guys. I posted it up on Craigslist for the time being to see if anyone local wants it. If not, I will put it up on eBay. If anyone here is interested in buying it, please let me know.

Carbide: Do you remember how much it cost to ship it to you?

The extractor was being sold by a beek that lived about 25 miles from me, so i took this into consideration when I bid on it. I drove over and picked it up myself.

stangardener,

I fabricated a circle out of 1/8" plastic and attached it to the bottom of the basket framework. Around the top perimeter of the plastic circle I attached 20- 2" long aluminum channels facing out toward the inside of the drum. These channels hold the vertical leg of each frame for extracting. I also attached 20- 2" long channels vertically on the inside of the basket framework ring that is located a couple of inshes below the top of the framework. These channels hold the top bar of the frames.

Each frame to be extracted is thereby held in place by inserting the vertical leg of the frame in the bottom channel located on the plastic circle at the bottom and by the top bar being inserted into the channel located on the inside of the basket framework ring. The centrifugal force on the frames hold them against the outside frame ring and firmly inside the channels fastened there.

Once finished, the inside of the extractor looks quite similar to any of the extractors on the market designed to hold 18 or more frames at once.


alpha6,

If I took you up on your offer of $120, I'd have to come up with another $500 or so in order to replace the extractor with another comparable one on the market. And I don't even know of any of the available extractors that will handle 20 shallow, medium or deep frames at once.

[stangardener]

carbide,
thank you for the info.

[mike haney]

carbide, i and i'll bet others would appreciate a picture or two. you could email me or post here. thanks,mike