MAY 15, 1913 



(-omb. the cappings dropping into tlie tank 

 below. 



If it is desired to leave the coinb in ilie 

 siq^er the machine is then withdrawn, and 

 the operation repeated on the otliei' combs 

 in their respective turn; but if it is desired 

 1(1 remove the comb, the operator grasps the 

 handles at the center, which causes a couple 

 of dogs, or catches, to engage the top-bar of 

 I he frame, and the comb is Avithdrawn with 

 I he machine as shown in Fig. 2, and may be 

 deposited in any desired place; but in either 

 case it is not necessary for the operator 

 lo touch with his hands a single frame until 

 they are lifted to put in the extractor. 



Nearly every one to whom I mention this 

 feature of leaving' the combs in the super 

 after uncapi^ing doubts there being any ad- 

 vantage in it ; but let us see. After the 

 machine is pushed down over the comb it is 

 nearly as cjuick and easy to withdraw^ the 

 comb as to leave it ; but after it is Avitli- 

 drawn it takes fully as much time to swing 

 the comb over to any kind of rack, deposit 

 and release the comb, and bring the ma- 

 chine back to position as it would take to 

 uncap another comb; or, in other words, 

 two combs can be uncapped and left in the 

 super in the time required to uncai) one and 

 deposit it in some other place, or the simple 

 expedient of leaving them in the super will 

 double the capacity of the machine. 



Considering the g-reat variation in styles 

 of frames, and in the degree of care or 

 carelessness bestowed on the building or se- 

 curing of combs, I believe I am safe in say- 

 ing that there Avill never be built a practical 

 machine which will work equally well with 

 all makes or styles of frames, so it follows 

 that the machine which will Avork well with 

 the class of frames in 

 most general use will 

 be the most practical 

 machine, and that is 

 just what I believe 1 

 have produced But. 

 as with all other im- 

 provements, it will be 

 necessary for the bee- 

 keeper to meet it part 

 Avay by making such 

 changes in his manage- 

 ment aud equipment 

 as Avill favor the suc- 

 cessful use of the ma- 

 chine, and this means 

 a little extra care to 

 secure reasonably 

 straight combs, and 

 Avide enough spacing 

 to insure as much as a 

 i/S-inch bulge on each p. Mercomhin 



hiiii's two li' 

 beekeepers 



ys -wlio wil 

 some dn\. 



lie extensive 



side of the top-bar. This Avill insure a gain 

 or saving of two frames in ten, or 20 per 

 cent in frame efjuipment, and anyAvhere 

 from 50 to 75 per cent in the cost of uncap- 

 ping; and this saving surely makes it Avorth 

 while to take some extra pains in securing 

 the right kind of combs. 



Mr." J. J. Wilder, of Cordele, Ga., Avho 

 has used tAvo of my experimental machines, 

 writes me in part as folloAvs regarding his 

 impressions of the last one : 



Your 1912 moclel tinoapper came to hand in due 

 time, aud we set it to work at onee, and have done 

 a lot of uncapping with it. I uncapped lots of old 

 tough combs containing tliick sticky honey, and we 

 are pleased with it, with only one exception. AA'e 

 can't get close enough to the top-bar with it. It 

 leaves from two to five rows of cells near the topl'ar 

 on straight smooth combs built out just even with 

 the top-bar : but it runs over them nicely when they 

 are bulged a little. * * * 



This is the only suggestion I have to offer, for it 

 certainly uncaps the honey in shallow and deep 

 frames except a few rows of cells at the top, and 

 this is so easily overcome that a sugicestion is not 



and his extracting force rtady foi Avorli. 



