85/52

This is a homemade item of bee-keeping equipment used for extracting honey from combs. The beekeeper would turn the handle which would cause the central cylinder to rotate and the honey to run down into a container placed underneath. The extractor was made by the donor's father or grandfather and was probably made circa the mid-19th century.

1 honey extractor: metal; wood; good condition but rusty

MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: EXTRACTOR, Honey // Accession number: 85/52 // Classification: LIVESTOCK Bees // Negative number: 60/15616 // Acquisition method: GIFT // Acquired from, date: Mrs Joan Belcher, [...], via Glyn Jones. 21 October 1985 // Store: CAMP // Condition: good but rusty // Recorder, date: JMB 14.11.85 // Description: A homemade extractor consisting of a metal cylinder with three legs. A central rectangular cage is connected to two wooden pulley blocks the larger of which has a handle for turning the block or wheel which drives the central cylinder round. The honey would then run down into a container which would be placed underneath. // Dimensions: Height + handle: approx 1 metre. Diameter of cylinder 41.0cm // Associated information: This extractor was made by the donor's father or grandfather // see also neg No. 60/16179 // References:', Letter, Glyn Jones to MERL, 21 October 1985 – 'Dear Mr Brigden, // The extractor is donated by: - // Mrs Joan Belcher // ... // and was made by her father or grandfather (it is over 100yrs old). // Thank you for looking at it, // Yours sincerely. // Glyn Jones'

1850-01-01

Wood, Metal