1921.] 



Beeswax: Methods of Extkaction. 



363 



provides the necessary heat. The appUance is really a miniature 

 garden frame, with a double glazed and hinged light (Fig. 2). 

 Inside, the frame is fitted with a metal tray which slopes down 

 to a tin trough covered with wire gauze. The extractor is placed 

 in a sunny position and the material to be treated is spread 

 thinly over the bottom of the metal tray. The wax melts and 

 runs into the trough, being strained of impurities by the wire 

 gauze covering. When the melted wax ceases to flow, the dross 

 remaining in the tray is removed and a fresh supply of material 

 given. Another advantage of this extractor is that no storage 

 of old combs or refuse is necessary; these can be put hi for 

 treatment as collected. 



If a garden frame is available, it can be used for extracting 

 wax by placing the material to be treated in a perforated zinc 

 tray over a metal box (such, for instance, as a biscuit tin), placed 

 close up to the glass hght. Wax extracted by solar heat improves 

 in colour instead of deteriorating, as it may do when steam or 

 boiHng water is used. 



The material to be extracted by methods (2) and (3) must be 

 stored until required in an air-tight tin, for protection against 

 the ravages of the wax moth. In the winter it can be melted 

 over the kitchen fire by means of a Gerster wax extractor (Fig. 3). 

 This is an arrangement similar to a domestic steamer, as illus- 

 trated in Fig. 3. It consists of a cylindrical, perforated, tin 

 basket (A), having a cone-shaped tube running up the centre (c), 

 which is also perforated, and open at the top to allow the steam 

 to percolate right through the combs or wax that are placed in it 

 for melting. The upper part of the appliance (B) consists of a 

 circular shaped pan, having a false bottom or tray (tr.) about 

 IJ in. deep. This is fixed so that there is a space between it 

 and the wall of the pan, in order that the steam can pass up the 

 sides and into the perforated basket, as indicated by the arrows. 



From this tray the melted wax passes through a tube (indi- 

 cated in the drawing by the word " wax "V There is also a 

 cone-shaped tube (st.) running up from the tray, which fits very 

 loosely into a similar perforated tube (c) in the basket. When 

 placed in position, as shown in section at B, this is open at the 

 top to allow the steam to pass through as indicated by the arrows, 

 and thus permeate the wax or combs in the basket. The basket 

 does not fit close down on the tray, but is raised about 1 in. on 

 three legs. The bottom pan is for water only. 



