Honey Extractor, circa 1920

A swarm of bees captured Amos Root's attention in 1869. He began publishing Gleanings in Bee Culture in 1873 and included testimonials about his "Novice extractor." Root improved the extractor over 25 years, and by 1898, beekeepers used this galvanized metal version, advertised as stronger and more durable than earlier versions, to separate honey from comb to satisfy a growing number of honey consumers.