Odd Beehive

[Brian Bush]

Today I visited a new lady who had 3 disused hives in her garden. There were 2 WBCs in need of a little TLC. It was the third hive that grabbed my attention. Made by Taylors of Welwyn it appears to be a mini beehive taking 7 or 8 national frames. The side boxes (2) have flanged sides so they overlap the box below and the roof is gabled. I did not take any photos, (never gave it a thought). Has anyone any idea about this. My first thought is that it is a NUC box but I don't understand the use of the upper box as it is not equipped to take frames.

 

[For want of a better word]

Did it have "sliders" in the entrance ( or grooves for one as they may have long since have rotted away or been lost)...
I have something similar... 10 frame "cold way" National sized brood frames, supers will take 10 with a dummy board
W Willtham Beehive manufacturers Tatsfield.

A swarm of "Buckfasts" took up residence in it last season !

Post some photos.
Yeghes da

 

[mintmoth]

Taylors were taken over by Thornes. You could try asking them, they may have old Taylors catalogues and specifications archived.

There's an old thread here about Taylors.

 

[Teemore]

You mention some of the boxes being "falnged": did it look anything like this? http://www.donegalbees.ie/product-category/beehives/cdb-hive/

Thornes make or made a "cottager" hive that had overlaps.

 

[Brian Bush]

Thank you all for your advice and comments. I have contacted Thornes and they have been helpful. Treemore it does look similar to a cdb hive. Am I correct in thinking that the top box is placed below with the bottom box inside to make it double walled in the winter?
Cant upload pictures. I am going to contact admin

 

[Apiarisnt]

This might be of interest: http://www.northernbeebooks.co.uk/newbooks/taylors-of-welwyn/

http://www.northernbeebooks.co.uk /newbooks/taylors-of-welwyn/

 

[Teemore]

Yes, the upper box (a couple of beekeepers I know call them "lifts") is reversed: when turned upside down it then drops down over the lower box, the "flanges" stopping it dropping right down. Whilst it provides good insulation, it is a heavy beast to move around so not best suited to migratory beekeeping. Traditionally, the CDB was used for section production. There is a fair space between the sides of the section crate and the inner sides of the lift. I understand that this was then packed with fleece, sawdust or rags to give additional insulation and encourage the bees up into the sections. Of interest, the CDB was made with a mesh vent in the floor and a wee sliding cover to allow alteration of the ventilation. An early appreciation that top ventilation was a poor idea perhaps?

 

[ugcheleuce]

It took a bit of googling, but I found the original publication, with lots of edifying illustrations:
1905 version: http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/54161#/summary
1912 version: http://www.sbutler.ie/CDB/1912Bee.pdf

 

[Brian Bush]

Thank you all for your contributions. I obtained the booklet on the cottage hive from NBB and compared it with the hive. Although of roughly similar proportions and layout there were some noticeable differences.
I obtained plans of the CDB hive and although a little unclear this seemed to be the culprit. I contacted Thornes and they were most helpful. Paul looked up their archived Taylors catalogues and found me there advertisement for their version of the CDB hive in 1921. Complete hive 48 shillings. £ coats of paint an extra 10/6

 

[ugcheleuce]

I obtained plans of the CDB hive...

Are these plans publicly available?