When was the mason jar invented?

In 1858, a 26-year-old Mason patented threaded screw-top jars “such as are intended to be air and water-tight.” The earliest mason jars were made from transparent aqua glass, and are often referred to by collectors as “Crowleytown Jars,” as many believe they were first produced in the New Jersey village of Crowleytown.

When was the first jar invented?

John L. Mason. John Mason invented and patented the first glass jar with a screw-on cap in 1858.

Why was the Mason jar invented?

A Mason jar, also known as a canning jar or fruit jar, is a glass jar used in home canning to preserve food. It was named after American tinsmith John Landis Mason, who patented it in 1858. The jar's mouth has a screw thread on its outer perimeter to accept a metal ring or "band".

When did ball start making mason jars?

John Landis Mason invented the Mason Jar on November 30, 1858. In 1884, Ball Corporation began manufacturing glass home-canning jars, the product that established Ball as a household name and licensed Mason's design.

How do you tell how old a Mason jar is?

Almanac: The Mason Jar

Why are Mason jars blue?

Feeling Blue

Those blue mason jars were mass produced until 1937 using sand from around Lake Michigan. It was that sand that gave the glass its blue hue.

Why is Mason jar called Mason?

Mason jars were invented by Philadelphia tinsmith John Landis Mason. He named the jars after himself and patented his design in 1858.

Are old Mason jars worth anything?

Nowadays, you can even buy a big flat of Mason jars for pretty cheap at your local craft or household goods store — but the older ones can fetch much higher prices. Typically, the smaller or more common antique jars can go for about $20 apiece, but the more rare versions can sell for as much as $300.

Who invented jar lids?

John Landis Mason. The interesting thing about his famous invention is that Mason invented the lid first and the jar came later. He patented his invention in 1858 (US Patent Nr. 22,186) but his patent expired in 1979.

Where did Ball jars originate?

It is best known for its early production of glass jars, lids, and related products used for home canning. Since its founding in Buffalo, New York, in 1880, when it was known as the Wooden Jacket Can Company, the Ball company has expanded and diversified into other business ventures, including aerospace technology.

What brand is the original Mason jar?

In 1858, a 26-year-old Mason patented threaded screw-top jars “such as are intended to be air and water-tight.” The earliest mason jars were made from transparent aqua glass, and are often referred to by collectors as “Crowleytown Jars,” as many believe they were first produced in the New Jersey village of Crowleytown.

Why are Mason jar lids 2 pieces?

In home-canning a two-piece lid is needed to let the air escape during the boiling water or pressure canning process. A one-piece lid doesn't allow the air to escape resulting in blowing out the bottom of the jar or the lid to buckle.

What is a 63 jar?

Expert Response. The #63 lids and corresponding jars were used for home canning at one time, but are no longer recommended for that purpose. The jars and one-piece lids are still available for commercial food processing.

What does the number on the bottom of a mason jar mean?

Many Ball mason jars have a number printed on the bottom of the jar, but this is a mold number that does not indicate the year of production. Rather, the mold number tells you where the jar was positioned on the glass-making machine that was used to produce it.

What are the rarest mason jars?

Do old mason jars contain lead?

Vintage blue glass mason jar – the jar had no heavy metals but the vintage lid had 861 ppm lead and 1,537 ppm cadmium. Weck glass canning jars – 142ppm of lead.

Can you put hot coffee in a glass Mason jar?

Yes! You certainly can enjoy your piping hot drinks straight out of a mason jar, but there's one vital thing to keep in mind: thermal shock. Pretty much anything made out of glass is vulnerable to thermal shock.

Can you freeze Mason jars?

Mason jars are a workhorse in the kitchen, and are the perfect simplified storage solution because they can be used in so many different ways. They're durable, are plastic-free, inexpensive, and work perfectly in the pantry, fridge and in the freezer.

How old are Knox Mason jars?

The Knox jars were made in the 1940s by the Knox Glass Bottle Co. in Knox, PA The pints and quarts are worth about $6.

Are Mason and Ball jars the same?

Different Types of Mason Jars Used for Canning

The mouth of the jar has threads on its outer perimeter so it can accept a metal ring when it is screwed down onto it. Other common names for the original Mason jar include Ball jars (after the Ball Corporation), fruit jars and simply glass canning jars.

How do you date a jar?

If you have a Ball jar, you can date most of them just by looking at the logo. Every few years, the Ball Manufacturing Co changed the logo and if you compare yours to a reliable chart, you know how old it is.

When did they stop making Atlas mason jars?

The Hazel-Atlas Glass Company, famous for its depression glass, made the Atlas mason jars and operated from 1902 until 1964.

What are green mason jars worth?

While colors produced in recent years may look similar, be aware that they have quite different values than the vintage colors. The smaller and more common vintage jars usually sell for less than $20. However, the vintage green jars or those with special wire carriers can sell in excess of $300.