APPLIANCES. 



35 



Improved Gersfer Wax Effractor, 



in its original form, the wax extractor of to-day. By tlie old- 

 fashioned method, all dark comb had to be melted separately 

 from the light, as the process of boiling dyed the wax with 

 the dross ; but by using the wax extractor, we obtain an almost 

 uniform colour, no matter whether clean or dirty combs are 

 placed in it for extraction. The engraving will give a clear idea 

 as to its principles. A 

 boiler Hke a saucepan is 

 surmounted with a tin 

 cylinder, at the bottom of 

 which is a stationary dish, 

 connected with the outside 

 by a spout ; resting upon 

 short legs in this dish is 

 a perforated zinc or tin 

 basket, having a tube of 

 the same material in the 

 centre ; a lid covers all. 

 The comb is placed in 

 this basket, and the 

 boilerabout half filled with 

 water ; upon the whole 

 being placed on a brisk 

 fire the steam surrounds 

 the basket and also passes up the tube, thus thoroughly heating 

 the combs ; the wax in them melts, and percolating through 

 the basket falls into the dish below, and thence runs out of 

 the spout into some receptacle placed under to catch it. In this 

 receptacle some hot water is placed ; any little dirt that may 

 run out with the wax settles at the bottom, and is easily removed 

 when cold. This is rather an expensive appliance, and only 

 suitable to those making some considerable quantity of wax. A 

 cheaper extractor, the invention of Mr. 

 Redshaw, was some two years ago intro- 

 duced ; it is formed of two tin basins, fitting 

 one in the other, the upper one having a per- 

 forated zinc bottom ; the whole is placed in 

 the oven, water being in the underneath one ; 

 the wax melts, and runs through the bottom 

 of the top basin, and is caught by the under- 

 neath one. This can be purchased for 2s. 3d. 

 Another, called the " Killick Wax Extractor," 

 is very similar in its method of working to 

 the above one, but will not hold more than 

 sufficient comb at one melting — which takes 

 about three-quarters of an hour — to produce 

 Both these are very suitable for a small 



Redshaw's Wax 

 Extractor. 



60Z. or 80Z. of wax. 



apiary of from one to four hives 



D 2 



