BELLOWS-SMOKER.
This is a tin tube attached to a bellows. Cloth or rotten wood can be burned in the tube, and will remain burning a long time. The smoke can be directed at pleasure, the bellows easily worked, and the smoker used without any disagreeable effects or danger from fire. It can be got from any dealer in bee apparatus, and only costs from $1.25 to $2.00. I most heartily recommend it to all.
There are two smokers in use, which I have found very valuable, and both of which are worthy of recommendation.
THE QUINBY SMOKER.
This smoker ([Fig, 63, a]) was a gift to bee-keepers by the late Mr. Quinby, and not patented; though I supposed it was, and so stated in a former edition of this work. Though a similar device had been previously used in Europe, without doubt Mr. Quinby was not aware of the fact, and as he was the person to bring it to the notice of bee-keepers, and to make it so perfect as to challenge the attention and win the favor of apiarists instanter, he is certainly worthy of great praise, and deserving of hearty gratitude. This smoker, until a better one appeared, was a very valuable and desirable instrument. Its faults were, lack of strength, too small a fire-tube, too little draft when not in use, so that the fire would go out, and too great liability to fall over on the side, when the fire was sure to be extinguished. Many of these defects, however, have been corrected, and other improvements made in a new smoker, called the Improved Quinby ([Fig, 63, b]).
Fig. 63.
THE BINGHAM SMOKER.
This smoker ([Fig, 64]) not only meets all the requirements, which are wanting in the old Quinby smoker, but shows by its whole construction, that it has not only as a whole, but in every part, been subject to the severest test, and the closest, thought and study.
Fig. 64.
At first sight this seems an improved copy of Mr. Quinby's smoker, and so I first thought, though I only saw it in Mr. Bingham's hand at a Convention. I have since used it, examined it in every part, and have to say that it is not a Quinby smoker. The bellows, the valve, the cut-off, and even the form, are all peculiar. The special point to be commended, and, I suppose, the only one patentable, is the cut-off between the bellows and fire-tube, so that the fire seldom goes out, while even hard-wood, as suggested by the inventor, forms an excellent and ever-ready fuel. The valve for the entrance of air to the bellows, permits rapid work, the spring is of the best clock-spring material, the leather perfect, not split sheep-skin, while the whole construction of the bellows, and the plan of the fire-screen and cut-off draft, show much thought and ingenuity. I am thus full in this description, that I may not only benefit my readers, all of whom will want a smoker, but also out of gratitude to Mr. Bingham, who has conferred such a favor on American apiarists. There are three sizes, which may be bought for $1.00, $1.50 and $1.75, respectively, including postage.
Mr. Bingham, to protect himself, and preserve the quality of his invention, has procured a patent. This, provided he has only patented his own invention, is certainly his right, which I think honesty requires us all to respect. Like Mr. Langstroth, he has given us a valuable instrument; let us see that he is not defrauded out of the justly earned reward for his invention.
Brother apiarists, let us cease this unjust clamor against patents and patentees. If a man procures a patent on a worthless thing, let him alone, and where is the damage? If a man procures a patent on a valuable and desirable invention, then buy it, or pay for the right to make it, and thus keep the Eighth and Tenth Commandments (Exodus, 20th chap., 8th and 10th verses). Let us never buy an article unless we know it is valuable and desirable for us, no matter how stoutly importuned; but for honesty's sake, and that we may encourage more inventions, let us respect a man's patent as we would any other property. If we are in doubt as to the correctness of some person's claim, let us not be forced to pay a bonus, but first write to some candid editor or other authority, and if we find a man has a right to the article, then pay as we would any other debt. I should be very suspicious of any man's honesty who was not willing to respect such rights.