Chain uncapper

[Swobee]

I just bought some old bee keeping equipment from a farmer in S-Central Nebraska. One item appears to be a Maxant chain uncapper, but there are no labels anywhere. It is dirty, but in great shape. Does anyone have pics of old equipment such as this that I could compare? The pillow block bearings are all Dodge brand, the motor is GE, but it might be an after market motor. He bought it used and knew the former owner, but that fellow has passed away and it might be some time before I get to meet him. Any help with ID of this unit? I'd post some photos, but need to re-establish a photobucket account or some other hosting site, as I can't find my password or user ID info anywhere to even get into photobucket. Haven't posted for about a year and seem to have CRS disease any more.

I also got a AI Root motorized (minus motor) four-frame extractor, a single-walled tank w/syracuse valve and a gas powered bee blower (without the stand). He's getting up in years and decided to drop down to two hives, so he sold off his larger equipment.

[MAXANT]

email a pic to sales@maxantindustries.com ;)

[Swobee]

I sent five photos to the email address. Some views of the interior mechanism, outside top & side shots, etc. It sure looks like a Maxant, but I haven't seen one in real life before, only photos on the Maxant Industries website. If this is a Maxant, I would also like to obtain a manual for operation/maintenance if at all possible.:thumbsup:

Thanks again!

[riverrat]

I'd post some photos, but need to re-establish a photobucket account or some other hosting site, as I can't find my password or user ID info anywhere to even get into photobucket. Haven't posted for about a year and seem to have CRS disease any more.



Go to photo bucket log on page click on forget pass word it will ask for your email adress it will then send you your user name and password:thumbsup:

[MAXANT]

Try and post pics on here. It is not ours. I know someone on here might be able to figure out what it is. Look homemade.:eek:

[The Honey House]

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b221/DaveNH/MVC-008F.jpg

[Swobee]

The one I just bought is a few years old, probably 40 or so. The guards and shrouds are not stainless steel but heavy galvanized steel instead. It looks virtually like the one in Maxant website photos and obviously, your shot.

However, there are no labels of any sort, no belt guard, etc. I was willing to bet it's an old Maxant, but now that thought has been dashed. Dang!

The old fellow I bought it from said he knew the former owner and all he said about it was that it was 'factory made'. Cook & Beals is only about a 100 miles from the place I got it, maybe they made it?

The lower guard is made using Lockformer joints (the ones used to join half-sections of HVAC ducts together to make a piece of rectangular ductwork. I have sheet metal equip., so I can make a belt guard easily enough. Safety first, right?

If time permits tomorrow or even later this week, I'll try to get into Photobucket and post the shots for all to see.

[tecumseh]

swobee writes:
The one I just bought is a few years old, probably 40 or so. The guards and shrouds are not stainless steel but heavy galvanized steel instead.

tecumseh:
if galvanized material think more like 60 years plus. my best GUESS without looking at a picture is the machine in question is 'homemade'. I noted in one of the old bee magazine that in one very dated issues (early 1980's) there was an article where the 'beekeeper' had manufactured all his own equipment. The picuture of the interior of his honey house showed something that looked quite a bit like a maxant uncapper.

[Swobee]

http://s205.photobucket.com/albums/bb168/Midwest_photo/?action=view&current=Chainuncapper005.jpg
http://s205.photobucket.com/albums/bb168/Midwest_photo/?action=view&current=Chainuncapper001.jpg
http://s205.photobucket.com/albums/bb168/Midwest_photo/?action=view&current=Chainuncapper004.jpg

It looks very similar to a Maxant, but they say it's not one of theirs. If it's homemade, it's creator was a master machinist. Everything flows smoothly, turns easily, etc.

If it's factory made - who done it? Thanks for looking

[Swobee]

Maxant says this isn't theirs, Cook & Beals said they'd 'never seen anything like it before'. Any one else want a crack at trying to ID this device? I may just have to resign myself to accept it's homemade, but as I mentioned... it just seems awfully well engineered, welded, balanced, etc. to be home made.

We have some frames in a freezer that might just have to be thawed out and tested. I don't want to wait until next fall to find out it does or doesn't work!

[Ross]

Angle iron frame and a couple of pillow blocks and shafts. Most of that requires no machining at all.