2011/52/1-4

A wax melter. From John Wason, Buckinghamshire who had taken up beekeeping 40 years before, suggesting it to date from circa 1956.
This is a wax melter, which possibly used steam as a source of heat. The heat source would have been located in the base and when the wax melted, it would form a suspension with the wax on the top. This wax melter, together with a strainer/honey ripener (object number 2011/51/1-3), were given to the donor, Karen French, by John Wason from Fawley in Buckinghamshire who had taken up beekeeping about 40 years before, suggesting that the two items date from circa 1956. Karen French used both items in Charvil, Wokingham.

1 wax melter: metal; good condition.

Email, Karen French to MERL, 13 December 2010 - 'Hi Ollie, // Further to our conversation today I don't have the email address of the chap that gave me the equipment, but I have his postal address. It is // Mr Wason // [...] // He was there about 4 or 5 years ago, and gave me the two items I have donated to the museum, the honey spinner, and the decapping tin which I still use. Hope this is of some help. // Karen French', Email, MERL to Karen French, 13 December 2010 - 'Hi Karen, // Thanks for the objects and thanks also for these details. I looked Mr Wason up in the phonebook online and he still appears to be there: // John Wason // [...] // I'll get in touch in due course. Many thanks again and I hope you get well soon. // Best wishes, // Ollie'