Charles’ sons James, Charles and frames were placed transversely to the by the Royal Agricultural Society of
Stephen were also working for their entrance (known in beekeeping circles Ireland and other agricultural and
father, who fondly referred to them as as “Warm Way”). A vertical queen horticultural bodies. The two men took
'The Juniors'. The three young men excluder was used to confine the with them the BBKA bee tent so as to
were set up in business as bee queen to the rear of the hive. be able to lecture and demonstrate
appliance manufacturers by their modern beekeeping. By now Abbott Brothers were
father, who named the firm Abbott producing a range of bee appliances, Also accompanying them was
Brothers. Relieved of the day to day some not always very successful, Mr Timberlake of Abbott Brothers.
running of the firm, Charles became according to William Herrod-Hempsall. Their six-week long journey started in
deeply involved in the work of the For example, they offered a cheap the south and made a great sweep
BBKA and he also gave his time to foundation mill based on a wooden through the country ending up with
building properties on the road mangle roller with hob nails to imprint the show of the Newtownards
frontages of the Fairlawn estate. the cell shapes onto a preformed Horticultural Society near Belfast in
James Andrews Abbott was to play a sheet of beeswax. They also tried early September. It was typical of
leading part in the development of the making foundation with a thin wooden Charles Abbott that in each place
beekeeping businesses. He had his septum to give the rigidity obtained where they were to speak it was well
first entry into print in the BBJ, today by wiring the sheet. In 1888 placarded with advance publicity. At
volume ii, page 151, when he they patented the split-top section the same time, Abbott Brothers put on
describes how he collected a swarm box. The Brothers were continuing the market a stout single-walled hive
from a local barn. their father’s tradition of that could be shipped as a compactexperimentation. parcel and then easily assembled. Its
In the October 1878 edition of BBJ, eight frames had the Abbott broad top
Charles Abbott described his single- Charles Abbott was not only bar spacing. The price of the hive was
walled Combination Hive in which the developing his beekeeping sales in 12s/6d. The hive permitted the addition
the United Kingdom, but was awarded of sections, costing 5 shillings, at the
a diploma in September 1879 at rear of the brood frames.
Colmar for a hive adapted for
continental use. In that year both William Carr of Manchester, who
Abbott Brothers and the long accompanied Charles Abbott, was a
established firm of George Neighbour leading beekeeper. He is not to be
and Sons exhibited at the Paris confused with William Broughton Carr
International Exhibition. of Cheshire.
TOUR OF IRELAND BRITISH STANDARD BROOD
FRAMESIn 1880 with the BBKA well
established and the appliance Charles Abbott and Alfred Neighbour
business run by his sons, Charles were members of the BBKA committee
Abbott was able, with William Carr, to which, in 1882, agreed a standard size
make an important tour of Ireland to for the brood frame to be used in
encourage the development of Britain. At that time nine different
beekeeping. The tour was supported sized brood frames were in use in
The front cover of the first issue of
the British Bee Journal
Abbott Brothers manufactured hives
while Charles ran his School of
Apiculture at Fairlawn, Southall
Page 20 Bee Craft digital December 2008
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