280 



GLEANINGS IN BKE CUIvTURK. 



Apk. I 



the contents of one of the latter can be trans- 

 ferred in lots to the press while the others are 

 heating for future use. 



Third, much less fuel is required by such 

 management ; and the danger of fire or acci- 

 dent is not as great as where pressure is used 

 while the material is still on the stove. 



Fourth, I prefer that the back end of the 

 press be raised two inches higher than the 

 front, as by this means the water and liberat- 

 ed wax run directly into the pan in front, 

 thereby leaving much less wax to be removed 

 after the refuse has been taken therefrom. 



Fifth, the only other article for securing the 

 wax by pressure, that I have seen, is operat- 

 ed with steam, but is far too small in capaci- 

 ty for those requiring to melt up a large quan- 

 tity of combs, so that I consider it but a toy as 

 at present manufactured in Canada. 



No claim is made that this article is the best 

 of its kind manufactured. I trust, also, that 

 future experiments may still further improve 

 the methods now in vogue for securing the 

 best results in wax rendering, and that those 

 making such will allow their fellow bee-keep- 

 ers any advantage thus realized, as I believe 

 in helping one another as much as possible in 

 this important part of apiculture. My only 

 desire is that my mite in this direction will be 

 of as much benefit to others as my friend Hall 

 and myself have found it. 



Stratford, Ont., Can., Feb. 4. 



[As Mr. Chrysler is the maker of the Gem- 

 mill machine, and has made some improve- 

 ments, I asked him to tell of them, and how 

 he uses the machine. Mr. C. writes :] 



THE GEMMILLHATCH MACHINE 



as Made and Used 



BY W. A. CHRYSI,ER. 



In December, 1899, I purchased of Mr. 

 Gemmill a sample of his wax press, and he 

 very generouslv encouraged me to manufac- 

 ture them for the trade I found after a trial 

 it needed some better way of liberating the 

 melted wax that would collect in the form 

 and above the cheese while pressing. This 

 wax had to be cooled and hardened with cold 

 water poured into the form, to be successfully 

 removed, causing much loss of time, and 

 making it necessary to rewarm before com- 

 mencing to press again. I made the form a 

 little larger, and placed fluted or grooved 

 pieces of wood, within grooves running up 

 and down, all around its sides (on the inside) 

 to drain all melted wax that might collect and 

 come from the top of the cheese. This done 

 it was not necessary to retain the rolling slat- 

 ted mat that was used on top of the cheese. 

 The follower was made fluted on its under side 

 to conduct all melted wax to the outsides. To 

 prevent the canvas from sometimes squeezing 

 up between the form and follower, two strips 

 of wood, I^X %, were nailed across and cross- 

 wise of the flutes, or grooves, at their ends, to 

 press the canvas far enough down to be sure 

 of not hindering the wax from passing away. 



The form needs to be made strong at the cor- 

 ners or it will burst out from the pressure. 

 With dovetailed corners like the hives, and 

 well crossnailed, I think it would be sufficient. 

 The press, as is now perfected, I think stands 

 head and shoulders above any other that has 

 been placed before the public, for rapid work, 

 and at the same time getting more wax out of 

 a given amount of old combs. 



The modus operandi of the Gemmill wax- 

 press, as operated by myself, is as follows : It 

 will be supposed you have arrangements for 

 melting up a large quantity of combs If you 

 have two stoves and large pans the full size of 

 their tops, you can keep them busy melting, 

 for the capacity of the press for doing rapid 

 work is limited only by the inability to melt 

 fast enough ; and only one man need be en- 

 gaged. 



Have your press securely fastened to the 

 floor with platform slightly higher at the back, 

 your combs melting (in water of course), and 

 a good-sized pail of water to be heated to the 

 boiling-point when you are about ready to be- 

 gin to press. When that time comes, place a 

 cork in the outlet of the pan of the press. 

 The lower rack, the form in place, with can- 

 vas inside and follower on top, take the pail 

 of boiling water, pour into the form, and 

 thoroughly wet and heat all surfaces that will 

 be exposed to wax. After about five minutes 

 the water may be drawn off. Your melted 

 combs being ready (boiling-point), you re- 

 move the follower to one side, and spread the 

 canvas over the form ; place a receptacle to 

 catch the wax from the pan. Now dip your 

 melted product into the canvas in the form. 

 Dip it full ; then fold in the overlapping edges 

 of the canvas, drawing taut, so as not to have 

 any surplus canvas in the way of wrinkles 

 near the form. Now place thefollower on top 

 and slowly screw down. Give it a little time 

 to drain off. When you have screwed down 

 fairly tight, leave it for two minutes (your 

 time can well be employed in putting more 

 old combs to melt), then give another turn at 

 the screw, and another wait of two minutes. 

 The wax will be running slowly ; but it is as 

 pure gold, and can be counted as net gain, for 

 you have already obtained more than other 

 processes furnished. 



When screwed down as tight as possible, and 

 drained, loosen the screw ; draw pan, form, 

 and all forward from under the press beam, 

 letting the forward edge rest on a box, or strips 

 arranged of suitable height to support ; put 

 one foot on the follower, and with both hands 

 draw up the form. Remove the follower. 

 The cheese containing the refuse will be hot ; 

 but take hold of some loose edges at such 

 places as will allow you to carry it where you 

 wish to deposit by letting go all but one hand. 

 The refuse will usually all fall out clean. 

 Give it a shake, hurry back, replace, and re- 

 peat as before. 



Chatham, Ont. 



[It appears that there are two methods of 

 rendering up old combs — one using steam in 

 connection with the press, pressure being ex- 

 erted on the refuse while it is surrounded by 



