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 1842 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. Kretchmeyr’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. 
MAKING WAX INTO SHEETS. 
This is a simple process. The wax is melted in a deep 
boiler. A metal plate or piece of thin board the size of 
the desired sheet is first dipped in cold water, and then 
immersed in the melted wax, repeatedly, until enough 
adheres to it produce the desired thickness. When cool, 
it will cleave from the metallic or wooden moulds, and is 
ready to pass through the foundation machine and re- 
ceive the impression. The Hetherington Brothers form 
their foundation sheets by revolving a cylinder in the 
melted wax, which is so constructed as to be lowered and 
raised at pleasure. 
WIRE IN FOUNDATION. 
Where wire is incorporated in the foundation for pur- 
poses to be explained, the merits of this method will be 
apparent, The cylinder is thoroughly wet, and lowered 
