Weighing Beehives

Bryan, Ernie. If there is a will there is a weigh. Gleanings in Bee Culture (?). April 1977 page 161. Bathroom scales inserted into frame below hive. Scales not permanently fixed.

Shaw, F.R. An improved device for weighing colonies. American Bee Journal 96(8):322. 1956. Uses spring scale with two people lifting hive off the ground using pipe across hive. Hive supported on sides and back.

Owens, C.D. New hive scale for use by one man. American Bee Journal 98(4):140. 1958. Two wheeled cart with forks. Foot operated pedal with 4:1 advantage used to lift hive. Commercial hydraulic-compression unit between lifting lever and moving frame to read weight.

Harding, J.P. A simple method of weighing a hive. Bee World 43(2):40-41. 1962. Pipe inserted into permanent stand below hive. Hive lifted from sides using spring balance. Total is sum of two sides weight times two.

Al-Tikrity, W.S., Hillmann, R.C., Benton, Dr A.W., Clarke, W.W. Jr. Three methods for weighting honey-bee colonies in the laboratory and field. American Bee Journal 111(4):143-145. 1971. Modified pickup truck hive loader method: boom off truck using block and tackle and hanging spring scale. Lifting method: one person on each end of rod, lifting hive with hanging spring scale. Leverage-lift method: Wooden bar is pushed down, pulling wire cable to lift hive in building.

Bell, Roland. My homemade hive scale. American Bee Journal February 1979: 97. Uses screen door spring, piece of baling wire, short chain and three iron straps. Long bar (beam) suspended at the one foot mark, weight can be lifted from the short end when long end is pressed down at 2 to 1, 3 to 1, etc.

Hofmann, Chas. S. Wintering its in's and out's. American Bee Journal 105(1):6-8. 1965. Telescoping device used to lift back of hive. Pointer moves up given distance before hive lifts off ground, indicating weight.

Anonymous. Introducing hive monitor(tm) weighing base, a revolutionary advance in hive management. Gleanings in Bee Culture 105(4):138. 1977. Base to sit hive on, mirrored scale with pointer. Claims accurate readings to within 1/2 pound.

Anonymous. Fuers bienenhaus. Chr. Graze catalog 1973-74 (German bee supply company). "Plastikwaage" DM 21.80 (1982 price). Appears to be a manometer/hydrolic scale, with water being poured in tube.

Wedmore, E.B. A manual of bee-keeping. (publication details not available). p 228-229, items 880-883. Describes value of scale hive, use of spring balance to lift hive.

Reid, G.M. Personal communication. 1974. Describes use of spring balance with lever arrangement (fits into handhold on bottom box, to measure 1/2 weight of hive). Commonly used in South Island, NZ.

Gilberd, Darcy J. Make your own bale weigher. NZ Farmer, September 25, 1986, page 57. Uses four car tires with tubes filled with water, joined by stems with copper tubes, then up to plastic tube against scale on wall. Will take up to 2 tonnes.