How mason jars went from thrifty to hip smart news. Dick is a retired curator of business and industrial history at minnetrista. The company started making mason jars back in 1880, and many people today still use these for canning, or collect the jars as a. With over 250 different mason jars, i use this page for reference when im out finding more jars i dont have yet. Mason canning jars come in a variety of sizes from the large half gallon size to the tiny one cup size. Roy underwood was the power behind the knox glass bottle co. The hazelatlas glass company was a large producer of machinemolded glass containers headquartered in wheeling, west virginia. A lawsuit between the company and a former executive knox glass bottle company v. Jars may be standard or wide mouthed and were once made in a variety of colors, although modern mason jars are manufactured using clear glass. Nov 30, 2006 if you come across an old jar proudly embossed with the words masons patent nov 30th 1858, hope but dont assume that you have found a valuable antique. Youll meet enthusiastic and knowledgeable jar collectors, including club president dick cole. Bernardin was originally just a bottle cap and lid company.
Although this was indeed the date of issue of a patent to john landis mason, jars bearing the date were produced by the millions until the 1920s. Eccleslesher memorial library, local and state history books. Kerr glass manufacturing corporation, glass company, fruit jars, vintage and antique glass containers for canning, background, information, history, info. I have also found some information from an early reference book history of oklahoma, by joseph b.
He organized the marienville glass company in 1914. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. I have a clear mason jar says atlas ez seal on the front and on the bottom it has a 6 with a line above it an h over an a mark and a single a but beside the a there is a dot with a minus sign below it any information would be appreciated of age or what it was. While dating jars are still manufactured today, collectible and antique examples jar back to the mid. These became very popular and were known from the 1880s to the present as ball mason jars. A hundred and fifty years ago, these jars meant survival, authenticity, repurposed, in a mason jar.
Prior to the jar s invention, settlers had no reliable and safe way to store food for the winter, which. The subject of bottle makers marks is a complex one as is virtually everything to do with bottle dating and identification. Manganese added to the jars created a purple tint when exposed to the sun. In 1885, the ball brothers of buffalo, new york began manufacturing a kind of glass canning jar that had been patented by john mason in 1858. This book is no longer is print, but it is avaialble on secondary markets and you. A mason jar, named after john landis mason who first invented and patented it in 1858, is a. Although this was indeed the date of issue of a patent to john landis mason, jars bearing.
Born on july 27, 1887, he began his career in glass as a boy at the crescent glass bottle company and soon learned glass blowing. The greyhound is swiftly followed by the red dragon of wales because as followers of the history jar know, henry vii saw himself as the descendant of king arthur or at least thats what he tried to convince his subjects in order to steer them away from the fact that he took his crown on the battlefield and that his wife elizabeth of york. The quart size mason jar is the most common, but the pint sized jar is popular as well. What if your old college roommate called, raving about a book someone sent her, calling it the most beautiful book shes ever read. The mason jar was patented by landis mason in 1858 and ball started producing these jars in 1885. But before we jump in, liets take a look at some of the history behind these vintage collectibles. How to date old ball mason jars with pictures wikihow. Welcome to my antique and vintage canning jar price guide. Numbers on the bottoms of glass bottles glass bottle marks. Canning jars are one of the few products that have changed very little in style since they were invented in the 19th century.
The jars mouth has a screw thread on its outer perimeter to accept a metal ring or band. Mason jar projects mason jar crafts mason jar diy diy projects kerr mason jars vintage mason jars painted mason jars colored mason jars shabby chic pink vintage kitchen with all the stuff my family comes across this could be good info. Underwood shared beginning with the knox glass bottle prescriptions, vials. It did not actually start selling its own mason jars until possibly as late as the 1990s. New listing rare fruit jar lid glass bros stoneware red book 1118. Aug 29, 2016 mason jars are everywhere, but how did they get to be so ubiquitous. The collectors guide to canning jars antique mason jars these vintage canning jars from the to the are. Pdf the knox glass bottle co peter schulz academia. In the mason jar, clayton fincannon is a tennessee farm boy raised at the feet of his grandfather. The jar is marked knox mason and has the raised keystone graphic.
Complete with work tables, chairs, even little stools to sit on and really check out those jars on the bottom shelves, this area is perfect to spend a day and absorb all the great ball jar history that is in this one room. The mason jar was invented and patented in 1858 by philadelphia tinsmith john landis mason. Ball is one of the most recognized names in home canning. Generous benefits to attract, motivate and reward employees. This book deals with how difficult life can be for college students like dating, friendships, homework, and family life. New listing rare fruit jar lid glass bros stoneware red book 1118 very tough find size. A mason jar, named after john landis mason who first invented and patented it in 1858, is a molded glass jar used in home canning to preserve food. Mar 26, 2020 ironically, while its one of the more iconic products of all time, few people know the history behind the ageless invention. The history of greenfield fruit jar and bottle works company. To satiate your curiosity, were serving up a pintsized history of the ball mason jar.
The knox glass bottle company was a former american glass manufacturing company based in knox, clarion county, pennsylvania the great majority of the companys production was in the form of glass bottles with 7 k inside of a keystone 404 many of which were beer bottles, milk bottles, and many glass medicine bottles in a variety of standard sizes. Mason jar nation begins by exploring the mason jars impact on america since its 1858 patent. Ironically, while its one of the more iconic products of all time, few people know the history behind the ageless invention. Get the best deals on fruit jar when you shop the largest online selection at. A quick guide to collectible jars from 1900 to now. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Instead, i mean how do you tell how old your ball jar is. The plant did not appear in the 1927 glass factory year book, but it was listed with r.
Find out more about the history and collectibility of these common jars. Details on our internshipcoop program for developing talent. This book is probably the best selling jar and bottle book ever published. For many years, they were not considered a valuable collectors item because they.
The lid of this 1880s jar made in canada has a metal band with a glass topthe result of the government deem ing it unsanitary for metal to directly touch canned foods. Learn how to make more than 50 mason jar projects, including luminaries, planters, and upcycled art, in this eagerly anticipated book for diyers. Prior to the jars invention, settlers had no reliable and safe way to store food for the winter, which. Get the best deals on fruit jar when you shop the largest.
History of the home canning jar and collecting antique mason. Sep 09, 2014 what if your old college roommate called, raving about a book someone sent her, calling it the most beautiful book shes ever read. In it youll find many commonly found canning jars and their suggested values. The founder of the knox glass bottle company was roy underwood 1887. If you come across an old jar proudly embossed with the words masons patent nov 30th 1858, hope but dont assume that you have found a valuable antique. Antique bottles vintage bottles bottles and jars antique glass glass bottles vintage mason jars blue mason jars pot mason mason jar crafts. My mother and aunt started canning in the 1960s and 70s, when the mason jar experienced another resurgence.
Mason converted his basement into one of the nicest display rooms i have ever seen. How to identify and value mason jars dusty old thing. Our commitment to ethical behavior and corporate compliance. Old 1 one quart knox mason jar with a metal ring and glass lid. Yet, few people know the history behind the ageless invention. This book is probably the best selling jar and bottle book ever. The history of greenfield fruit jar and bottle works company february 2016.
History of the home canning jar and collecting antique. One of the most common emails i receive comes with a description of. The samco genuine mason jars are virtually identical to knox genuine mason. The history of greenfield fruit jar and bottle works. If you love mason jars, keep an eye out the next time youre at your local thrift or antique. Sep 24, 2015 my mother and aunt started canning in the 1960s and 70s, when the mason jar experienced another resurgence. Ball mason jars are a type of home canning jar made by the ball corporation. Sep 30, 2015 smart news keeping you current how mason jars went from thrifty to hip one jar that can be used to store pickles, serve cocktails and, with some craftiness, light up a room just not all at the. If youre interested and close by, attend one of the clubs meetings, which meets regularly at minnetrista. Knox mason 1930s1940s canning jar square quart fruit jar glass. Mason jars were used in home canning ultimate preserve food.
Mason jars are everywhere, but how did they get to be so ubiquitous. This time, it was as part of the backtotheland diy movement, a reaction to the. The mason jar by james russell lingerfelt goodreads. John landis mason invented the mason jar on november 30, 1858. I have a mason jar that has ahk 24 505 on the bottom of it. Smart news keeping you current how mason jars went from thrifty to hip one jar that can be used to store pickles, serve cocktails and, with some craftiness, light up a. During its operations, from 1917 to 1968, the company acquired 16 other glassmaking companies. These vintage mason jars from the 1840s to the 1920s are the staple of retro country charm. Cooking for one with meals in a jar mason jar, mason jar recipes, mason. The jar s mouth has a screw thread on its outer perimeter to accept a metal ring or band.
It transitioned into a mason jar lid company making lids for other companies jars, then a canadian company. May 14, 2014 knox mason jars were produced in the united states from 1925 to 1935. His famous patent was a glass container with a disappearing thread molded into its neck, a zinc lid and rubber seal. Collecting canning jars and the history of the common canning jar. It was founded in 1902 in washington, pennsylvania, as the merger of four companies. For your consideration scarce jar is actually not even listed by the fruit jar red book in this size. Knox mason jars were produced in the united states from 1925 to 1935. Reads top to bottom mason star emblem jar it has been so hard for me to find any information on this specific kind. I have a clear mason jar says atlas ez seal on the front and on the bottom it has a 6 with a line above it an h. The value of a jar is related to its age, rarity, and condition. Atlas ez seal jar recipes book 1924 hazelatlas fruit. Later, the process was perfected by ball in 19 when his factory was able to. History of the home canning jar and collecting antique mason, ball.