Hi Robin

> the standard National hives I feel I ought to demonstrate to visitors
> to my apiary, have straight side bars the whole depth and the frames
> are spaced only by clips on the top bars

The reasons why this method exists, is a historical one... The so called
'metal ends' are the culprits... Not the tinplate variety that was developed
bt W.B. Carr, but the original ones made of printer's type metal which go
back to the early 1800s.

Just because they are 'traditional' does no mean that they are compulsory...
They are an abomination and detract from the speed with which hives can be
manipulated. The beekeeping equipment trade is partly responsible for their
continued use during the last 70 years.

The hobbyist does not need to scrap his precious stock of straight sided
frames they can be made compatible with the more widely used hoffman frames
by using small plastic adaptors.
http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cushman/hoffadapt.html


Best Regards & 73s, Dave Cushman... G8MZY
Beekeeping & Bee Breeding Website
Email: [log in to unmask] or  [log in to unmask]
http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cushman & http://www.dave-cushman.net

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