LANGSTROTH Equipment & AI Root Box

[kcproder]

Hello, I am attempting to understand the value of some equipment I have obtained?  What little I know is this; Langstroth 8 Frame Glass Beehive.  Also an AI Root Inspection Box.  These items were found inside an old, old attic and seem to have been kept there for the last 50 years.  I have found that the equipment, based on what little research I can find, is perhaps in fact original Langstroth from the Oxford Ohio area.  Considering it has be located very near that location, I suspect this could be authentic.  The age appears to be very, very old and yet strong.  I think the equipment was placed inside this attic after a fellow passed on after years of bee keeping and then nobody knew what to do with it.  Thats how it was presented to us...

I am sure it has true value, perhaps even a Museum quality.  But I am in need of opinion and identification of value before I can proceed.  Otherwise, I'll simply stick it in the attic for another 50 years or place it on display in the house???  I may sell it on eBay too ???  Please respond and provide me with some direction, thankyou...

[Brian D. Bray]

A few questions:
Is the 8 frame glass hive in box form (glass sides and ends or wood ends) or vertical as in an observation hive?
What type of wood and is it natural or painted?
Clear cedar would indicate a pre 1960's origin, whereas furniture type woods (Cherry, Maple, Oak, etc) would indicate an interior observation hive.
What about top, bottom, and inner top (if any) and their condition?
The IA Root inspection box most likely has a date stamped on even if it's been painted over.
What are the condition of the frames?

Need more information is needed for a more explicit answer.

[kcproder]

Thanks for the reply.  The hive box has all glass sides and top.  There is paint on the wood but it resembles old hickory color with a red tint perhaps, and seems to be very hard/sturdy.  It also has a tunnel that attaches to it (I am told for a window???)  I understand the chambers to be 1 deep and 2 shallow ???  The inspection box has been painted also and I cannot find a date but will keep looking and report back.  Frames appear to be very solid as the other.

Hope that is better info and perhaps a good guess or further info from your knowledge would be helpful.  The attic this came from was that of a very old widow who said her Grandfather had passed the equipment down to her husband who after 20 years of use, put it away and that is where it has now sat for 50 years till now.

Do you know the value range of this equipment?  Thankyou...

[Frantz]

Hmmmmm. I think the best thing to do is send it to me and I will do a very thorough evaluation of the equipment and its worth. Yea,,,, that is probably the best thing to do.
I would be very interested in seeing some pictures. I would love to make something similar to what you have described. You can email the pics to Robo and he will post them for you if you are new and yet to have pic posting ability..
What an interesting find.
good luck and let us know.
Brian, is there anything out there that you don't know about????
F

[Brian D. Bray]

Brian, is there anything out there that you don't know about????
F

My brain is a sponge, only I never know what's going to come out when I squeeze it. 
I used to have a photographic memory until too many head injuries robbed me of that ability--taking tests in high school was a breeze, I just mentally flipped the pages of the text in my mind until I found the answer and and then wrote it down.  Never did any homework, passed solely on the basis of test results.

The hive described by kcproder sounds like a study hive from the 1880's or 1890's.  It would have been used much like an observation hive is today except to study the growth of the hive from initial install to finished broodchamber.  Most likely it was used by a individual researcher rather than an educational or scientific instituation. 
I would advise contacting the AHBA, Smithsonian, or some other orginization that would be interested in preserving it.  It's value is debatable but I think, if truely an antique, in the $1000+ range.