2 Attachment(s)
I Thought Going Foundationless Was a Modern Idea!
With some directions from my Uncle, I went back to Grandpa's farm to look for more of his bee equipment. It was where I was told, unfortunately the shed he kept it in collapsed several years ago on top of it. But there in the frozen snow and rotting wood was bee boxes and frames sticking up out of the mess. And guess what the first frame I pulled out was? A foundationless frame.
Attachment 3905Attachment 3906
Seems like his apiary was cutting edge, 8 frame boxes, foundationless frames, Kelley type N slotted frames, basswood comb honey supers, and a drone trap.
I really wish he was still here now so we could discuss this new hobby for me. I really have learned alot about him the past few weekends going thru this old stuff.
Re: I Thought Going Foundationless Was a Modern Idea!
There is a window of opportunity where wisdom can be past on to enthusiasm. If you miss it it is a shame...
Re: I Thought Going Foundationless Was a Modern Idea!
Foundationless is a very old practice man started tinkering with the wax to make bigger bees in theroy to haul more nector. Many years ago beekeepers keep bees for the honey to use as sugar to cook and sweeten with you just couldnt run to walmart and grab a bag because sugar was a luxuary not a need. The bees were also needed for pollenation on the family farms and orchards. think of bee gums with sticks hanging in the top of them and crush and strain that is how long foundationless has been around.
Re: I Thought Going Foundationless Was a Modern Idea!
He kept the colonies in the shed or just equipment ? Sounds like fun :)
Re: I Thought Going Foundationless Was a Modern Idea!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Maryland Beekeeper
He kept the colonies in the shed or just equipment ? Sounds like fun :)
The equipment was in the shed. His bee yard was located behind the shed for many years. Mom said he kept around 20 hives, sold the honey at his country store he ran from 1941 till 1985. When I was growing up, he only had 1 hive that I remembered, it was located in a barn where I found some other stuff a few weeks back. That hive produce comb honey for personal use as I was growing up. I was too young to work the bees with him, I did harvest the supers with him one time. That was all about 40 years ago.
Re: I Thought Going Foundationless Was a Modern Idea!
Foundationless is not as old as top bar hives.
Re: I Thought Going Foundationless Was a Modern Idea!
Bees have been making comb from scratch since day one. But I was thinking the Foundationless Frame was a modern idea of the last few years in a Langstroth hive. When did it come about?
Re: I Thought Going Foundationless Was a Modern Idea!
Neat post JD. Thanks for sharing.
Re: I Thought Going Foundationless Was a Modern Idea!
Quote:
But I was thinking the Foundationless Frame was a modern idea of the last few years in a Langstroth hive. When did it come about?
When Lorenzo Langstroth took a Champagne shipping box and built wood frames to fit it and put some bees in it... Wax foundation didn't arrive on the scene for at least 50 years after that.
I have a copy of the Langstroth patent from Oct 5th 1852 and he states: "I draw a line of melted wax down the center of the frame, and the bees commence drawing their comb from there."
Re: I Thought Going Foundationless Was a Modern Idea!
I think the presumption of foundation-less might be premature. I have heard of greenwood twigs bent between frames and painted w/ beeswax, string, ect..Frame could/would have been boiled, any holes in it ?
Re: I Thought Going Foundationless Was a Modern Idea!
> When Lorenzo Langstroth took a Champagne shipping box and built wood frames to fit it and put some bees in it... Wax foundation didn't arrive on the scene for at least 50 years after that.
Well, perhaps not exactly.
Langstroth received an American patent for his frame system in 1852. But other frames of a different design had been around since 1789.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._L._Langstroth
Foundation was first made in Germany in 1842.
http://www.beesource.com/point-of-vi...ations-part-1/
Another reference on foundation history, although in this one the first mention of foundation is in 1857:
http://www.beesource.com/point-of-vi...dation-part-1/
.
Re: I Thought Going Foundationless Was a Modern Idea!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Maryland Beekeeper
I think the presumption of foundation-less might be premature. I have heard of greenwood twigs bent between frames and painted w/ beeswax, string, ect..Frame could/would have been boiled, any holes in it ?
It is pretty rotten, been exposed to weather for many years.
I did use it for a template to make some of my own. That is what I brought the stuff back for, templates for design. I need to make an 8 frame hive now, and some comb supers. I found a box of the basswood boxes this weekend too. I need to order some thin foundation for them.
Re: I Thought Going Foundationless Was a Modern Idea!
Re: I Thought Going Foundationless Was a Modern Idea!
>Foundationless is not as old as top bar hives.
If we are talking about the old Greek basket hive they are older. But they were also foundationless...
Many historic references to foundationless frames here:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfoundationless.htm
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesnotinve...tionlessframes
