Very old bees wax.

[Whiteoak15]

I found an old can tucked on top of a beam in what was a stanchion-type milking parlor about a hundred years ago. The letters B WAX were scrawled on it and I assume it is beeswax because thatis what it looks like but it is hard as a rock. My pocket knife can pry chips off of it but it seems harder than old candle wax. I haven't tried melting it as yet but does anyone have experience with stuff like this!

 

[Ames]

Should be good to go. Melt it down and tell us what it smells like. Beeswax has a distinct pleasant smell, unlike the smell of paraffin.

 

[windini]

How do you know how old those bees were?!

I'm with @Ames on this - it should be fine; melt up some & see how it smells & beehaves. Of course, if it's a commercial product (what does the can look like?), it may not be pure beeswax. Many commercial waxes are blends or have additives to make them easier for a consumer to use for the intended application, be it car wax, furniture wax, bowling alley lane wax, etc.

There might be some info on it online if it is a store-bought product.

 

[NorthFork]

If it's 100 years old and claims to 100% pure, it likely is. Melt it and you will know!

 

[Ohio Rusty]

I love the carmel smell that beeswax gives off.
Ohio Rusty ><>

 

[necchi]

Viable bees wax(and honey) is found in Egyptian Pyramids,,
Melt it really slow, form it in a way that you'd like, then cherish the find.

 

[smo]

I have a block I bought more than 20 years ago that chips off just as you described…

I melts and works just fine.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Some one ate 1000 year old bees wax, mines only a few decades old.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Doesn't get older, just better.

 

[springfield art]

Interesting thing to experiment with! Recall they've found honey in ancient Egyptian tombs, although I'd not want to heat and pour over pancakes! Finding something old in an old barn like this (or even a muzzleloader!) is something rare nowadays. Thanks.

 

[Whiteoak15]

I spoke to a retired farmer in his 90's about this beeswax and he said that the old stanchions that hinged at the bottom and locked at the top needed occasional lubricating and a dab of beeswax on the latch made it work fine for quite a while. This makes sense in relation to where I foud it. Thanks for all your responses! I'll try melting some outdoors when spring finally gets here!

 

[Abarnes]

I know I have some that is well over 30 years old, I have had it for that long and it was old when I got it. It is still awesome, also the older it is the less chemicals ( pesticides medications exc.) It will have in it.

 

[Will]

This beekeeper says it's good to go.