A recent inquiry about booms for hoisting hives made me remember a kind of
jack that I saw advertized in a fairly old issue of a beekeeping magazine
(probably ABJ).  I've been meaning to try to build something similar to
decrease strain on my back when removing supers to inspect brood chambers.
As I remember the photo showed something like a hand-dolly.  One placed the
apparatus at a hive and the lowest super or hive body was secured to the
lifting mechanisms (with some kind of adjustable strapping?) then the boxes
could be jacked upward so that boxes beneath could be removed for
inspection.  Has anybody out there ever used anything like this?  I imagine
the things are no longer available commercially so if any one had favourable
experiences are plans available?
 
         '\  /`
          ()()
           \/\                      Conrad Berube
  ____  /`\  \\                     ISLAND CROP MANAGEMENT
 / ; ; /` `\/'\\  _____________     613 Hecate St.
 `    /`   `'  \`-===========/~~\   Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 4K4
      \         \ -^\ /\____/^^^~>  (250)754-2482; fax: (250)656-8922
                 |/ '\ '\~~~~~~~~   email: [log in to unmask]
                     '\ '\          website: http://vvv.com/~bwarner/
                       \__\__
                         `` ``