Hi All
It would still be possible to "shake out" a standard for Langstroth gear by
recording the age and all dimensions from several hundred boxes... the
consensus of dimensions and tolerances could then be statistically stripped
out of the data.
This consensus would then become the new "standard" which would be
compatible with the majority and as time went on the new standard kit would
dilute the non standard. Any parts that were drastically different could be
adjusted to fit within the new standard or to be close to it.
Perhaps the variable equipment that you have at present is so mixed that you
have forgotten how much more easily bees can be worked with accurate kit
that stays much cleaner when in use.
There is a little information on the developement of British Hive standards
on:-
http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cushman/hist.html
There may be a few errors in it, that I would welcome corrections for.
Regards From:- Dave Cushman, G8MZY
Beekeeping and Bee Breeding, http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cushman
IBList Archives, http://website.lineone.net/~d.cushman