Insulated bee hive

[WhipCityBeeMan]

My great uncle had 1 hive that is an insulated hive.  After he passed away I got into beekeeping and I still use that hive. The inside of the hive is standard dimensions then there another layer of wood around the outside with a 2" air gap between the wood.  So the outside dimensions of the hive are significantly larger than a standard hive.   In other words it is a hive inside of a hive. 

Has anyone seen a hive like this?

Does anyone know where this hive could have come from?  Perhaps it was homemade.

This is without a doubt my strongest hive and it overwinters extremely well.  I wish all my hives were made like this.

I can post a picture if anyone would like to see it. 

[JP]

I would say its homemade and I would like to see a pic, thanks.


...JP

[WhipCityBeeMan]

Here are two pics. 

The first show the difference between the insulated hive (white) and a regular hive (green).



The second show the thickness of the wall between the inner wall and outer wall.  My hive top feeder is on which makes the picture not quite as good.  It is chilly this morning and I didn't dare move it off as I didn't have my veil on. 



After my great uncle passed away his 4 hives were left untended.  There were 3 standard equipment hives and this one.  This was the last one to die out and I believe that took several years to happen.

[Irwin]

No pic's just a blank

[WhipCityBeeMan]

Yeah I know.  I am having trouble uploading the pics.  I just bought a mac.   Does anyone know if the uploading tool that is provided on this forum works with mac. I think it should but I can't seem to get them uploaded.

ARRGH!!! :-x

[Irwin]

ARRGH That's what I use when I get mad when the grandkids are here. :-D

[buzzbee]

Are you uploading using the link below the reply space?

[Michael Bush]

They were popular back in the 1860s or so.

[WhipCityBeeMan]

Here are the pics again.  I got it to work.  Perhaps I was too impatient.  

The first one shows a green hive which is standard equipment and the white hive which is insulated.  



The second pic shows the thickness between the inner wall and outer wall.  It would be a better pic without the hive top feeder but obviously the frames are right below it.  

[IMG]http://img187.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif

[WhipCityBeeMan]

They were popular back in the 1860s or so.

I guarantee this hive isn't that old.  I wish someone would build them again.  I love this hive!

[SgtMaj]

It looks pretty easy to make... if nothing else a simple modification could be done to any standard hive body to add this feature... maybe even add insulation if you're that concerned about insulating your hive.  Just build it like a standard house wall, only use 1x2's instead of 2x4's for the studs... make sure to cap both top and bottom... especially if adding insulation.

Anyway, wood is a pretty good insulator by itself, so I don't think I'll do this with any of my hives, but then again, I don't live up in the great frozen tundra like some of you do.

[Jim134]

They were popular back in the 1860s or so.

I guarantee this hive isn't that old.  I wish someone would build them again.  I love this hive!

     
     I know of two beekeeps in MASS. you can ask


     Frank Lagrant    www.lagrantshoneybees.com


     Dan Conlon  www.warmcolorsapiary.com/




                                                 BEE HAPPY Jim 134  :)