How old is my crown Mason jar?

Age

1. Pontil marks or indented rings in the bottom of the jar mean it was hand finished by a glass blower.
2. Seams also help determine the age of your jar: Seams that go all the way up the jar indicate it was machine made, probably between 1895 and 1915.
3. Color can also help date your jar.

Who made Crown Mason jars?

As noted in the section on the Diamond Glass Co., the jars with the somewhat standardized crown drawings and machine basal scars continued to be made by the Dominion Glass Co. In addition, the ad reprinted by Roller (1983:166) showed that the Improved Crown jars were made for at least a few years by Dominion.

How can you tell how old a Mason jar is?

The logo imprinted on each jar is, by far, the easiest and fastest way to determine the approximate age your Ball mason jar.

What do numbers on bottom of Mason jars 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 is the oldest 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.

What is the oldest mason jar company?

Ball Corporation
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. There are few everyday objects more iconic than the Ball Mason jar.

Which Mason jars are antique?

Antique Mason Canning Jars

• Aqua Mason’s Patent Nov. 30th 1858.
• Aqua Mason’s Patent. Quart, Shoulder Seal, c.1875-1900.
• Aqua Atlas Strong Shoulder Mason. Quart, Bead or Ledge Seal, c.
• Aqua Ball. Quart, Shoulder Seal, c.1900-1910.
• Aqua Ball Mason.
• Aqua Ball Perfect Mason.
• Lightning Registered U.S. Patent Filed.
• Aqua Ball Ideal.

Why are old 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 are 13 mason jars rare?

The higher numbers were used when a mold was replaced. Dealers sell jars with 13 on the base at a higher price, but fruit jar collectors and the published price guides do not consider the number on the base to make any difference in value.

Do old Mason jars contain lead?

Ball Mason Jar (year unknown): 43 ppm lead. Ball is the most consistently Lead-free brand I have found (with just a few exceptions.) Conversely, almost all Kerr jars I have tested have been positive for low-levels of lead (20 to 40 ppm range) – with very few exceptions.

How do I know if my mason jars are valuable?

If you have a jar with one of the older logos, it will likely be worth more than one with a newer logo. Next is the color. Clear and pale blue are the most common colors, but jars of all colors were produced. Yellow and amber jars were common.

What is the oldest Mason jar company?