General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

WOODEN FRAME SECURED BY METAL SCREWS; GLASS VIALS WITH CORK STOPPERS; PAPER LABEL

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

21.0 cm

Width

3.1 cm

Height

9.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Agriculture

Category

Apiculture

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Unknown

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

Period

THIS TYPE OF GRADER MAY HAVE BEEN USED. C. 1930S+

Canada

SIMPLE DEVICE SANCTIONED BY ONTARIO HONEY PRODUCERS CO-OPERATIVE FOR GRADING OF HONEY BY COLOUR, AND SOLD UNDER TRADE NAME "BEEKIST". OHP WOULD HAVE OFFERED GRADER FOR SALE TO MEMBERS. THIS EXAMPLE USED BY DONOR MR. TOOP IN THE LATE 1930S-EARLY 1940S, INARNPRIOR AREA WHEN HE FIRST BEGAN KEEPING BEES. (REF. 2)

Function

USED BY BEEKEEPERS TO CLASSIFY HONEY BY COLOUR, ACCORDING TO ACCCEPTED STANDARDS.

Technical

GRADER USED FOR CLASSIFYING HONEY SOLD DOMESTICALLY, BY COLOUR. STANDARD (ALL THREE ARE EMPTY IN THIS EXAMPLE) IN CLASSIFIER SHOWS GREATEST AMOUNT OF COLOUR ALLOWED IN EACH CLASS IE) 'LIGHT', 'AMBER' OR 'DARK'. IN 1930S, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LEGISLATED THAT ALL HONEY SOLD IN AND EXPORTED FROM CANADA HAD TO BE GRADED AS TO COLOUR AND MOISTURE CONTENT. MOISTURE CONTENT WAS MEASURED USING A HYGROMETER: THE PROCESS TOOK APPRX. 1/2- HOUR. GRADER & HYGROMETER HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY A SINGLE INSTRUMENT WHICH COMPLETES BOTH MEASURES IN APPROX. 3 MINUTES. (REF. 2)

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Paper label glued to grader front reads " "BEEKIST" HONEY COLOR GRADER/ DIRECTIONS: Fill the spare bottles with the honey to be graded, and after wiping the bottles clean, insert the samples between the two/ nearest colours. Look thru the honey at the sky (never towards the sun or artificial light). If the honey does not match a color, give it the/ grade of the color next darkest. KEEP THE GRADER IN A DARK PLACE when not in use. To replace broken indicator/ vials, remove the to screws holding cap over vials and broken vial may be readily taken out. New vials may be secured from the office/ of THE ONTARIO HONEY PRODUCERS' CO-OPERATIVE LTD., TORONTO". Three vials labelled (L TO R) "LIGHT", "AMBER" & "DARK".

Missing

LIQUID COLOUR STANDARDS MISSING.

Finish

NATURAL FINISHES.

Decoration

N/A