Re: MtMan-List: Parafin oil

[mxhbc@TTACS.TTU.EDU (Henry B. Crawford)]

As I said, it's an early name for lamp oil or kerosene.  Do
>NOT attempt to use it for waterproofing as you would essentially make a
>huge, solvent soaked torch just begging for a stray spark to come
>visiting.  I think the general consensus reached on the other list was
>that this "paraffin oil" dates at the EARLIEST to the mid 1850's.

The general consensus among living history types is that since we know
kerosene (paraffin oil) came into widespread use by the Union Army sometime
during the Civil War, and since its use is largely undocumented in the 50s,
the best period for its use by reenactors in 1861 and after.  Candles,
whale oil, tallow, etc. before that.  I do hope someone can positively
document its use prior to the 1860s.  Two good books on early lighting are:

O'Dea, William T.  _The Social History of Lighting_.  New York: The
McMillan Company, 1958.

and

Thwing, Leroy.  _Flickering Flames:  A History of Domestic Lighting through
the Ages_.  Rutland, VT: Charles E. Tuttle Co., 1958.

Cheers,
HBC

*****************************************
Henry B. Crawford        Curator of History
mxhbc@ttacs.ttu.edu     Museum of Texas Tech University
806/742-2442           Box 43191
FAX 742-1136             Lubbock, TX  79409-3191
               WEBSITE: http://www.ttu.edu/~museum
******  Living History . . . Because it's there!  *******