Cartridge hive

Cartridge hive updated their business hours.

Hi beekeepers,
Does anybody know the prices of beehives from around 1900?
Langstroth or modified Dadant?
I'm writing an article comparing recent designs of beehives and I need to create a reference point including the price of course.
There is a good book " Dadant's Catalog of Bee Supplies" from 1916 but I cannot access it.
If you have an (very) old price list of beekeeper's supplies or know a link to digital version, can you let me know please?
Thanks!

Is the current beehive’s design suitable for 21 century beekeeping?

Many of the available analyses of the beekeeping operations differentiate between amateur beekeepers, semi professionals and pro-beekeepers based on the number of hives the beekeeper operates.

It is less than 30 for the enthusiasts, between 30 and 150 for the semi-pros and more than 150 for the commercial beekeepers.

A new beekeeper, usually, starts with just one beehive. It’s the hobby stage. The equipment needed is easily transported with a family car: a stand, floor board, brood box, super and the roof. Frames, smoker and the bee suit doesn’t require a lot of space either.

With time, the beekeeper accommodates more beehives and collects more tools of the trade. Often, he or she makes a conscious, well-informed choice of one particular beehive system and sticks to it.

The progress to the semi-professional level requires a change of the vehicle, because the family hatchback is not up to the job. More boxes of the chosen system, hive stands and small nucs need more serious transport tools. It is time for a van or a small truck.

The professional beekeepers are in a completely different league.

The average number of beehives operated by pros in the UK, Germany and Spain is 443, 587 and 406 respectively.

The beekeeping operations are run with the use of truck and trailer units. Forklifts or hydraulic cranes mounted on a truck are also common tools.

My favorite utilitarian truck is Unimog with a HIAB crane attached.

But, wait a second, is this article about beehives or trucks and vans?

You have noticed that during the progression from a small beekeeping operation to one with many hundreds or thousands of beehives the tools of the trade have changed.They adapted to the changing needs of the business.

There are two constant elements though.

The first is the beekeeper. The beekeeper doesn't change but his/her knowledge grows.

The second is the beehive. The same beehive is used by an enthusiast with 1 or 2 hives and by a professional with 3000.

That’s right: regardless of the size of the operation, the beehive, the basic tool of beekeeping trade, does not change.

Is the current beehive, descendant of the system patented by Langstroth in 1852, still suitable for all 3 types of beekeepers? In 21 century ?

Or can we do better ?