However the center of the square column was cut out to provide “bee space” for the bees to travel from comb to comb. In the center of a few Langstroth frames, you would have noticed that there was a square column that would also provide the “V” edge to correspond with the sides. There was also a vertical “V” edge on the inside of the Langstroth frame ends. This “V” served as the guide for bees to use in forming their combs. The first frames had a convex “V” on the underside of the top bar. Reverend Langstroth discovered between frames and between frame and the walls of hive that if the bees were given a space of ¼ to ⅜” the bees would not generally fill that space in with brace comb. A problem was soon noted that the bees would form comb that would be attached to the sides of the box and thus it was difficult to remove honeycomb. Some of the very early box hives didn’t have frames but had a provision for sticks or top bars across the top of the box. One of the most important items that the early beekeeper did was to wedge one or more sticks across the inside top of the container, giving the bees a place to hang and the sticks would serve as guides for the comb. What is not mentioned is how the early beekeepers got the bees to accept these containers as their home. This leaves you scratching your head as you may have noticed that in early times bees were kept in clay pots, skeps, and log gums. If you captured a swarm of bees and put them in a plain box that the bees accepted as their home, you would soon find the box filled with honeycomb that twists and turns in many directions and that the box will not be easily opened without destroying some of the comb. Any one starting beekeeping today may not realize the discovery, manufacture, assembly, and use of the frames in a beehive.

Bee hive frames