As an independent Journal, hav- 

 ing no "• axe to grind " nor "• hobby to 

 serve," Ave Avould ask, in all candor, is 

 this doing justice to the bee-keeping 

 fraternity in general, leaving the rights 

 of the inventors out of the question 

 entirely? Is it not the encouragement 

 that we as a "class" hold out to inven- 

 tors, that is lying at the root of all ini- 

 provementsV Should we not encourage 

 and sustain the real inventor of a prin- 

 ciple instead of the mere copyist who 

 may manufacture a cheap imitation? 

 It really appears to us that Quinby and 

 Bingham have some rights that should 

 be respected. 



In saying that the Bingham Smoker 

 is original both in construction and 

 design, we mean that it is so more 

 especially in its internal arrangements. 



BINGHAM'S SMOKER. QUIXBVS SMOKER. 



All can see that the upright bellows 

 and tube somewhat resemble the one 

 invented by the late. Mr. Quinby, but 

 in no other respect, we believe, are 

 they similar. 



But we started to notice the new 

 smoker made by Novice, a cut of which 

 may be seen in connection with tliis 

 article. All will see at a glance, its 

 form and shape ; tlie bellows being ex- 

 actly the same as the Bingham smoker. 

 The shoi-t and thick tube is not as con- 

 venient, we think, as the tiibe of the 

 latter. The tire-pot being fastened to 

 the bellows by screws, the heads of 

 Avhich are exposed to the fire, the heat 

 will extend to their tips and cause 

 them to loosen from the wood of the 

 bellows, and soon there will be a divi- 

 sion of parts. Having to lay it down 

 on the Hat of the bellows is also an ob- 

 jection; it cannot be as readily picked 



up. and ^xi]\ not be kept in such good 

 order as one that is put down on the 

 edges of the bellows and the end of the 

 tube. Having to suck the air in at the 

 same place where it is discharged, 

 (there being no valve) the volume and 

 |X)wer are lessened, and there is danger 

 of sucking the ashes and tire into the 

 bellows from tlie fire box. 



Seeing this difficulty, Novice has at- 

 tached a little slide to operate as a cut- 

 oif between tlie fire-box and the bel- 

 lows; but the fire-box being so large at 

 the base, and its being so near the bel- 

 lows this cut-off will not be of much 

 service. 



It is perfectly natuml to hold tlie bel- 

 lows by the left hand in a horizontal 

 position, ready to puff the smoke at 

 pleasure, leaving the riglit hand free to 

 manipulate— but with Novice's smoker 

 this natural position and operation is 

 out of the question. 



Novice has named the article " The 

 Smoker I prefer,"— but for these and 

 many other reasons Ave say— candidly 

 but kindly — It is not the smoker ice 

 prefer. 



He also intimates that it can be used 

 to for subduing stubborn children, but 

 we do not see in what way. It can't be 

 possible that he would be so cruel as to 

 bloAV the smoke into their eyes! We are 

 soiTy he has not given the modus oper- 

 andi. It would have been such a relief 

 to tender-hearted, loving parents. 



The "King" imitations of the Quinby 

 and Bingham smokers are of similar 

 construction to the originals, but very 

 inferior to them in many particulars. 



Is it not " mete and right and oiu' 

 bounden duty" to render "honor to 

 whom honor is due," and deal out jus- 

 tice alike to all? It is with the kindest 

 feelings to all that we criticise — and 

 did we not deem it a duty to our 

 readers we should have Avritten little 

 or nothing on the subject. 



LATER. 



The foregoing article has been crowd- 

 ed out several months, by long Conven- 

 tion reports. 



Now we have to announce that the 

 Bingham Smoker- has been patented. 



This step Avas taken because of the 

 " King " and " Novice " imitations of 



