Petroleum Paper for Clothing Bales

[Virginia Mescher]

Re: Petroleum Paper for Clothing Bales

Alas, "paraffin paper" appears to be strictly a post-CW invention. I've been on two different websites and they both assert that Thomas Edison invented it in 1872:

http://www.thomasedison.com/Inventions.htm

Mark Jaeger

It's a shame that the website did not offer annditional information such a patent numbers. I went back to the _Subject Matter Index_ and found one paper patent for Edison in 1872. He patented a method for making an improved paper for chemical telegraphs (no. 132455). Before Edison's patent telegraph paper had been made using iodide of potassium mixed with starch but only worked as long as the paper was kept damp. His method employed the use of flour and water mixed with the iodide. There was no mention of paraffine in his patent.

Additional patents were listed for Edison but they did not relate to paper.

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Re: Petroleum Paper for Clothing Bales

While reading through my copy of the 1863 C.S. Ordinance Manual I found the following receipt for Water-proof Paper;

"Lacker for Small Arms, or for Water-Proof Paper.

Beeswax .................................................. ........................13 lbs.
Spirits of turpentine .................................................. .........13 galls.
Boiled linseed oil............................................... .................... 1 gall.

All ingredients should be pure and of the best quality. Heat them together in a copper or earthen vessel, over a gentle fire, in a water-bath, until they are well mixed."

The Ordinance Manual for the Use of the Officers of the Confederate States Army. pp.166

Paul B. Boulden Jr.

RAH VA MIL '04

http://23rdva.netfirms.com/

[Vicksburg Dave]

Re: Petroleum Paper for Clothing Bales

Philadelphia Inquirer, March 2, 1865
"Chief Quartermasters Office, Philadelphia, February 24, 1865"
Sealed proposals will be recieved at this office until 12 o'cloc M., on Thursday, the 2d of march next for supplying the Schuylkill Arsenal with the following articles, viz:--
Woolen army stockings, army standard.
Felling axes, do [ditto]
Hatchets, do.
Crossed cannon, brass, for uniform hats, army standard
Bugles, do.
Numbers, do. Nos. 1, 6, 7, and 8, army standard
1 1/2 inch yellow worsted lace, army standard.
1 1/2 " " scarlet do.
1 1/2 " " dark blue do.
Light blue Nous de Laine, sample required.
Canvas padding
Coats' spool cotton, No. 30, white, sample required.
Cotton twine, 5 ply. do.
Burlaps, 50 inch. do.
Dark blue patent thread, no. 35. do.
Petroleum paper, 20 by 42, and 54 by 60 inches wide, sample required
[and so on.....]


The Philadelphia Inquirer, August 26, 1871
"The Schuylkill Arsenal"
[excerpt] There are five large storehouses filled with goods. An extensive one constructed in 1868, is entirely fire-proof, and is built altogether of iron and brick. The goods are all packed away in petroleum paper to guard against moths.


Philadelphia Inquirer, February 16, 1878
"The United States Arsenal"
In baling goods sheets of canvas are laid down, on which are placed sheets of white paper, and on these petroleum paper, and the goods while under pressure are sewed up in canvas and securely bound with ropes.


The Knoxville Journal, April 26, 1892
"A Word About Moths"
These little pests are the plague of every housekeeper and very difficult to exclude from trunks or chests. It is therefore an excellent plan to use something offensive to them. Petroleum paper is said to be very effective. It can be bought in rolls, cut in pieces long enough to cover insides of trunks or boxes, over which clean newspapers or wrapping paper can be spread, and then all woolen clothing and furs packed in and first covered with cloth or paper and then with the petroleum paper, after which the top should be securely fastened. Woolen goods put away thus will be safe for any length of time, the paper seeming to act like an antiseptic on the animal fiver of the wool, to preserve and make it beautiful.

[Vicksburg Dave]

Re: Petroleum Paper for Clothing Bales

After further research, I think petroleum paper was their equivalent to moth balls. They were well aware of Naptha by the 1850s and used it to impregnante paper for other applications. The extra layers of material associated with petroleum paper in bales of clothing suggest that they sought to avoid staining, or impregnating the clothes with the stench of Naptha.

[neocelt]

Re: Petroleum Paper for Clothing Bales

David,

Is the Philadelphia Enquirer (19th c.) available online? Yes, I did some searching (Dogpile, Ask.com, etc.) without results...

Thanks a million!

[Vicksburg Dave]

Re: Petroleum Paper for Clothing Bales

It is available through the "Early American Newspapers" database, which I think caters to academic institutions. Newspaperarchive.com is another good database, but it is subscription only.

[Charles Heath]

Re: Petroleum Paper for Clothing Bales

The first paragraph describes melting beeswax in turpentine (a petroleum product) and applying it with a brush. Perhaps this is what is meant?

Turpentine is definitely not a petroleum product.

[KathyBradford]

Re: Petroleum Paper for Clothing Bales

Charles,

You're right. Thank you.

[tomarch]

Re: Petroleum Paper for Clothing Bales

My brother, Don Smith, may be of some help as he has an 1850's encyclopedia of industrial materials, methods and processes. It may be the answer to the formulation of petroleum paper is in there.

[markj]

Re: Petroleum Paper for Clothing Bales

Piggybacking on the above posts, whatever petroleum paper consisted of, the fact is clear that the QM depots used a lot of it (even after the war) based on the following extract from the New York Times:

New York Times, 9 August 1866

CLOTHING DEPOT, SCHUYKIL, ARSENAL,
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 1, 1866.

SEALED PROPOSALS WILL BE ACCEPTED at the office of Army Clothing and Equipment in this city, until THURSDAY, the 9th instant, for supplying the Schuykill Arsenal [sic] with the following supplies, viz:

2 tons Petroleum Paper, 36 x 40 inches.
1 ton Petroleum Paper, 56 x 60 inches
Samples of which can be seen at this office

*************
Whole quantity to be delivered within ten days from date of award.

*************

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[Charles Heath]

Re: Petroleum Paper for Clothing Bales

Mark,

When this topic cycles around every six months, the consensus generally gravitates towards bearing paper being the most likely modern commercially available equivalent. It is still available, but in very small or very large quantities.