Watch the beehive open and close:
Bees in a Mechanised Beehive (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4RCtg63Gks#)
Cool.
Hi Allen - its an interesting idea - a bit Heath Robinson as well! I think this is only tolerable as it is for educational purposes. I wouldn't wish to pull apart a beehive like this unless it had educational purposes. The bees seem to cope very well, a very quiet strain.
Andrew