MtMan-List: Parafin oil

[Carpenter Family <kcarpenter@bigbear.net>]

Hello the list:
We found, in my grandfathers garage, some parafin oil  My grandfather 
was born in 1903 and died about 5 years ago.  I know he did many things 
the old ways, because he was brought up that way, on the farm, in 
Nebraska.  I have never heard of parafin oil.  Does anyone have info on 
this?  Was it used by old timers for waterproofing?  I doubt this 
material dates back to the fur trade days, but I believe it to be old.  
I don't think parafin was around in the 1830's.  Is this related to what 
we know as parafin, today, or not?

Thanks - Carp