Langstroth's original hive was designed for Comb Honey production as seen in this photo. Langstroth offered this hive for sale without glass sides for $5 and with glass sides for $12 (each with a license). In some photos the porch is not shown. It's interesting to note that even Langstroth seriously considered changing his frame to a deeper one. On this subject he wrote in a letter to A. I. Root on April 4, 1872, as follows: "Dear Friend: I hope you will try the 12"xl2" but I have years ago tried such frames and do not like them—too much cost to make and handle, etc. I think the hive 14"xl4"xl3" deep much better and shall probably adopt the shape, as the honey emptier (note Honey Extractor) and side boxes make it no longer desirable to have a shallow hive." The next day, April 5th, he wrote, "You will see from my last that I propose to change the dimensions of my frame. Perhaps there will not be much choice between the hive 14"xl4"xl3" and 12"xl2"xl2" but I prefer ten frames to twelve." (Gleanings in Bee Culture Vol. 2, p. 38.)
January 9, 2010
Langstroth "Original"
Langstroth's original hive was designed for Comb Honey production as seen in this photo. Langstroth offered this hive for sale without glass sides for $5 and with glass sides for $12 (each with a license). In some photos the porch is not shown. It's interesting to note that even Langstroth seriously considered changing his frame to a deeper one. On this subject he wrote in a letter to A. I. Root on April 4, 1872, as follows: "Dear Friend: I hope you will try the 12"xl2" but I have years ago tried such frames and do not like them—too much cost to make and handle, etc. I think the hive 14"xl4"xl3" deep much better and shall probably adopt the shape, as the honey emptier (note Honey Extractor) and side boxes make it no longer desirable to have a shallow hive." The next day, April 5th, he wrote, "You will see from my last that I propose to change the dimensions of my frame. Perhaps there will not be much choice between the hive 14"xl4"xl3" and 12"xl2"xl2" but I prefer ten frames to twelve." (Gleanings in Bee Culture Vol. 2, p. 38.)