BEESWAX CANDLES displayed by Marilyn Finley at Honey-Lite showroom B.C.

Govt photo]

By Ed and Jean MacKenzie

By rights, ‘candles should have become extinct
the day that Edison energized his first electric
light bulb. But they. didn't. In fact, more
decorative | candles. are. made today
before. 9. 8 eS
. And that’s ‘good » news for:
‘Glenn and Marilyn Finley of |
Creston:.. The Finleys, | with -
‘their daugher Shannon, -run_

‘one of the Kootenay’s most:
‘interesting industries

addition,
_candles. molded of. Paraffin
enliven: ‘the. show. windows
cand shelves. In a. wide
_. variety of shapes and shades,

than every

*

“holders, some made locally

_ of juniper or apricot wood.

in. the traditional manner. ‘In
modern ~— novelty.

-Honey-Lite. Candles. | This _ they are displayed as center-
- sweet-smelling . “business, — Pieces or featured i in unusual 7
~ which transfornis™ ‘surplus’ - .

beeswax. into: attractive, can-
dies, is located. on- the
outskirts of Creston, : just.
south - of the «junction of”
_ Highways 3 and 3A.: The {|
Honey-Lite factory and’show- |
‘room is: open from 9 to 5:30"
daily, offering - free tours.
enthusiastically’ - conducted
by Glenn Finley himself.

As the showroom door
tinkles open, the rich, sweet
scent of honey wafts into
your nostrils. A carnival of
colour greets your eyes...
Tapers, ‘neatly paired in
plastic envelopes, parade
along the walls. Gold and

apricot candles march in
company with salmon,
Christmas red and bur-

gundy, Shades of blue blend
into olive, green and mauve.

These are hand-made
tapers, painstakingly crafted

-

mantel charge

WAR RALDo ifay

North Vancouver

107 West Esplanade
(Just west of lower Lonsdale}
085-2812

; INTRIGUING _
But ‘although. the Honey-

Lite products. are appealing -
to both nose and eye, it is the .
workshop tour that is-most.
‘intriguing. Wax | for
‘candles comes d

_ Alberta. beekeepers to the

the
irect from”

Finley workshop, where it is
melted and cleaned... In its
natural colour,. the wax . ‘is. a

Density 1336 - 1833

Styrofoam

. golden-beige.. This i is fine for ..
use in dark coloured tapers,
but in order.to “‘take’’ many

of the popular pastel hues,
the wax must be ‘‘bleached’’

to the .colour of pale
parchment.
Though pure beeswax

candles may _ be — ordered,
most of the Fi inley’ S products
include 30 per cent paraffin.
The beeswax and paraffin .

mix -- up to 500 pounds at a"

time -- is melted in a large

_ dipping vat set in the floor of

the workshop.

While the wax reaches
proper temperature, Glenn
““wicks. up’ ‘stringing
white wicking cord to the

required length on the. metal
dipping racks..Each of the —

racks in turn is plunged. into .
the molten wax, quickly lifted

out and allowed to cool. This

process is repeated until

layer by layer the candles

‘grow around the wick to the

desired . thickness.

After the final cooling the
candles are. cut off at the
bottom, leaving them joined

‘in pairs by. their wicks. Each
one is. then. crimped inthe -

““baser’’ in order to shape
the bottom to fit into a candle.
holder.

. The pale, graceful columns
of wax are dipped in pairs
into. the colouring — tanks

which contain powdered dye

melted in pure beeswax. In
-an instant, the plain candies

are. transformed: to “glowing of

beauty.
_ FLUTED SPIRE.

“One of the: ‘most popular

- designs is. ‘the sRenaissance

_ CONTINUED oN PAGE 20

: Single ........... 519.95 - $35.00

: Double .......... 933.29 - 549.95 7
MD seceosccene 939.95
sceccsccsssee’d D099

. Let the Foam Shop supply you with all your Rigid Foam.

Flotation Billets
- ne ‘Urethane

$59.95
$116.95

'

Ethafoam for Boat Bumpers

stationwagon mattresses

Cut To Size and Shape In Our Store
Ask Richard To Make It For You

1485 MARINE DRIVE NORTH VANCOUVER
IN THE NORGATE (IGA) SHOPPING CENTRE

980-

$313

‘

A natural organic food with
long
growth. It’s high in purity, .
non-burning, -
and
. Comes in 50 !b. bags:

AW metal’ cultivator; trowel,” i
and transptanter.. a a ES

Heat treated, hollow ‘back
_. design with rolled shoulder
for. extra strength.

Long Hondo

lasting effects on

easy to use

keeps _ indefinitely.

Sturdy ‘construction with”
16°" spreading width and 25
ib. capacity. |

$10.99 ©

Grass Shears

Save your back with this
handy garden tool: Hori-
zontal blades with tubular
steel frame. —

_ $7. 99

ee 4

1977 -

. ~ fi. & 2 ce tae hai

North Shore News

Paragon Leusnap
and Appliance
Programmer

A push-button timer with
manual ON-OFF . feature.
The 24 hour timer plugs
into a wall outlet and it's
easily programmed to turn
Ughts or appliances on and
off more than once per day.

$11.99

PEARSON'S -
HARDWARE

1329 Lonadaloe Ave., North Van.
988-0838

GUS’ HARDWARE &
BUILDING SUPPLIES

| 4260 Mount Seymour Parkway
029-1814

_ SIMPSON
HARDWARE

1846 Marine Drive, West
Vancouver 022-4136

GARNIER
HARDWARE

3139 & Edgemont Blvd.,
North Vancouver 988-8010

we SR