196 WAX AND COMB. 



simply leave the impression of the bases of the cells, with- 

 out any start whatever, of the side-walls ; and he consid- 

 ers this to be the extent to which they carried the work. 

 This is corrected by E. Kretchmer, of Coburg, Iowa, who 

 writes in the " American Bee Journal," of December, 

 1878, as follows : " Comb-foundations were made in 

 Germany in 1843 by my father ; they were made by a 

 pair of engraved rollers, and starch was used to prevent 

 the wax from adhering to the rollers." This statement 

 is corroborated by Mr. Kretchmer's •'' Guide Book," pub- 

 lished in 1868. The improvements which brought foun- 

 dation into general use in America, are accredited to 

 Frederick Weiss. A modern comb-foundation machine 

 consists of two rollers so accurately engraved that by 

 passing thin sheets of wax between them, not only the 

 base of the cell is formed, but also the rim or beginning 

 of the side-walls. 



Comb-foundation has of late been receiving the careful 

 attention of many skilled workmen and thorough manu- 

 facturers. 



In the construction of machines for making founda- 

 tions with the natural or hexagonal base, I think I am 

 justified in saying that in perfection of workmanship, J. 

 Vandervort, of Laceyville, Pa., stands at the head. His 

 machine for making a light quality of foundation, shown 

 in fig. 77, is acknowledged to be the most perfect one for 

 the purpose ever made. He claims it to be the only ma- 

 chine that will make foundation with natural base as 

 light as twelve square feet to the pound. Messrs. Dadant 

 & Son, Hamilton, Ills., who are high authority, as they 

 unquestionably manufacture the best grade of natural 

 base foundation in America, use it in preference to any 

 other. 



I feel certain that the heavy grades of this make for 

 brood frames will also take a prominent position. Mr. 

 Vandervort deserves patronage from the fact that while 



