BEE BRUSH
c. 1900 - 1940Fan shaped arrangement of rushes bound with welded wire at the narrow end.
1/3 of the way up the brush there are two pieces of timber, set at right angles to the rushes and nailed in place.
Ends of the bristles are very stained and chipped.
Some pieces of sedge still have flower or seed heads on them.
Associated with the Cook family, who had established an apiary at Coondle in the Toodyay district by 1902.
The brush uses a primitive, hand-carved wooden clamp or collar to compress the fibres. This indicates a localized or farm-made piece using methods dating from the early twentieth century. The handle end is tightly wrapped with what looks like coarse natural cordage or fine split roots rather than metal wiring. Tools from the 1940s to the 1960s were overwhelmingly commercial, mass-manufactured, and featured standardized metal parts rather than the hand-hewn wooden construction seen here.
Details
Details
A bee brush can be used to move bees off frames during an inspection or harvesting the honey, herd them into a box while they're swarming, or brush them off your clothes after you've checked the hive. Soft, natural bristles mean you can gently nudge bees along without hurting them or damaging their wings.
Specially made brushes are commonly used today but in the past they would often be made from what was at hand, like this one, made from sedges found in the bush. The brush would be frequently dipped in a bucket of water to keep it free of honey.
