Mason jars are a type of home canning jar made by the Ball Corporation. The company started making mason jars in 1858, and they were used for home canning purposes. Mason jars are also known as ball jars because of their round shape.
The screw-on lid creates an airtight seal, which is necessary for canning food.
If you’re a fan of antique Mason jars, you might be interested in learning how to date them. There are a few ways to do this, and none of them are perfect.
But with a little bit of research, you should be able to figure out the approximate age of your jar.
- Look for the logo
- The most defining feature of a Mason jar is the logo stamped on the front
- Ball and Kerr are two common brands
- If the jar is missing its logo, it’s likely not an authentic Mason jar
- Check the seams
- Authentic Mason jars have vertical seams running up the sides of the jars, where the glass was molded into shape
- If the seams are horizontal, or if they disappear entirely, it’s a fake
- Inspect the lip of the jar
- A true Mason jar will have a smooth lip with no sharp edges, while a fake will often have a rough, unfinished edge
- Feel the weight of the jar in your hand
- Because they were originally designed to be used as canning jars, Mason jars are heavier than your average glass container—a fact that can help you quickly weed out fakes fromauthentics
- Examine how evenly spaced apartthe letters in “Mason” are on the logo
- They should be perfectly even ,with no extra space between anyof them
- Look at how straightand levelthe lines surroundingthe bottom halfof he “o”in “Mason”are
- On fakes ,these lines often appear crookedor wavy
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How Do You Date a Ball Perfect Mason Jar?
If you’re a collector of Ball jars, you may want to know how to date them. The Ball company began making mason jars back in 1880, and many people today still use these versatile glass jars for canning, storing food, and crafting. Here’s a quick guide on how to date Ball mason jars.
Most Ball mason jars have a number printed on the bottom along with the company logo. This number is usually either 5 or 6 digits long, and if you can find it, it can help you date your jar.
The first digit of the code indicates which factory produced the jar – 2 for New Jersey, 3 for Ohio, 4 for Pennsylvania, 5 for Indiana, 6 for Kansas City (Missouri), 7 for Virginia (after 1963), 8 for Muncie (Indiana), 9 Toronto (Ontario).
The second and third digits indicate the year – so 13 would mean 1913 while 70 would indicate 1970. If there are only three digits on the bottom of your jar then that means it was made between 1900 and 1910 when they used a two-digit code.
The fourth and fifth digits tell you which day of that year the jar was made – so 001 would be January 1st while 365 would be December 31st.
Finally, if there’s a letter after all those numbers then that tells you which shift during that day that particular jar was made – A would be first shift (6am-2pm), B would be second shift (2pm-10pm) and C would be third shift (10pm-6am).
What are the Most Valuable Mason Jars?
The most valuable Mason jars are those that were produced during the early years of canning. The oldest known Mason jar, dating back to 1858, is worth around $30,000. Other rare and antique Mason jars can sell for thousands of dollars.
The most common and less valuable Mason jars are still worth a few hundred dollars.
Which Mason Jars are Antique?
There are a few things to consider when determining if a Mason jar is antique. First, look at the logo. The Ball and Kerr brands have been around since the 1880s, so any jars with those logos are likely to be at least 100 years old.
Another telltale sign of an antique Mason jar is its color. Clear jars were produced until about 1915, after which time they were made in aqua blue, green, and amber hues. If you find a Mason jar with a colored glass insert, it was most likely made between 1900 and 1910.
Finally, check the condition of the lid. Vintage lids should have an embossed design; newer ones are smooth. If you’re still not sure if your jar is antique or not, take it to an appraiser or antiques dealer for expert opinion.
What Year is a Ball Jar That Says Perfect Mason on the Bottom of It?
The “Perfect Mason” jars were first produced in 1908 by the Ball Brothers Company. The company was founded in 1880 by five brothers: Frank, Edmund, George, Ambrose, and William Ball. They started out making wooden toys and later moved on to produce glass fruit jars.
These “Perfect Mason” jars were made with a unique screw-on lid that created an airtight seal. This allowed people to preserve food for long periods of time. The company continued to produce these jars until they were bought out by Kerr Glass Manufacturing Corporation in 1962.
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Mason Jar Collectors Guide
Mason Jar Collectors Guide
With the popularity of canning and pickling on the rise, many people are looking for ways to add character to their home canned goods. One way to do this is by collecting mason jars.
Mason jars come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. They can be found at most thrift stores, flea markets and even some garage sales. When collected carefully, mason jars can make a beautiful addition to your home décor.
Here are a few tips for starting your own collection:
Start with one size: It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you see all the different sizes and shapes of mason jars available. To avoid this, start by collecting just one size.
Once you have a good selection of that size, you can move on to collecting other sizes.
Picking a color: Another way to narrow down your options is to choose a color scheme for your collection. This could be all blue jars, or all clear jars with colored lids.
By picking a color scheme, you’ll end up with a cohesive collection that looks great displayed together.
Label each jar: As you start using your mason jars for storage, it will become difficult to remember what’s in each jar if they’re not labeled. Use labels or chalkboard paint pens to label the contents of each jar so you can easily find what you need when you need it.
Chalkboard paint pens: These pens allow you easily label each jar without having to worry about the label peeling off over time like traditional adhesive labels tend to do. Simply write on the lid with the pen and erase as needed when contents change.
With these tips in mind, starting your own mason jar collection is easy and fun!
1910 to 1923 Mason Jar Value
Mason jars were first introduced in 1858 by John Landis Mason, and since then, these versatile glass jars have been used for everything from canning and preserving food to storing spices, tea, and coffee. Over the years, Mason jars have become collector’s items, with some antique jars fetching hundreds or even thousands of dollars at auction.
If you’re lucky enough to have a few old Mason jars kicking around your house, you might be wondering how much they’re worth.
Here’s a quick guide to help you determine the value of your 1910-1923 Mason jars:
Base-Model Jars: These were the most common type of Mason jar produced during this time period. They can typically be found with either a bail (wire handle) or screw-on lid.
Base-model jars are usually worth between $10 and $20.
Embossed Jars: These Mason jars were embossed with the company name or logo on the front, making them slightly more valuable than base-model jars. Embossed jars from this era are typically worth between $20 and $30.
Colored Jars: A small number of colored Mason jars were produced during this time period (most likely due to errors in the manufacturing process). These “mistake” jars are highly sought after by collectors and can sell for upwards of $100 each!
Most Valuable Mason Jars
You may not think of Mason jars as being valuable, but to some people, they are worth a lot of money. There are a few factors that contribute to the value of a Mason jar. The age of the jar, the condition it is in, and the rarity of thejar all play a role in determining its value.
Mason jars were first produced in 1858 by John Landis Mason. They were originally used for canning foods, but now they are popular for drinking glasses, storage containers, and even vases. The oldest Mason jars can sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
The most valuable Mason jars are those that are over 100 years old and in good condition.
There are a few things you can look for when trying to determine the value of a Mason jar. First, check the bottom of the jar for a patent date.
The earlier the date, the more valuable the jar is likely to be. Second, look at the color of the glass. Clear glass is more valuable than colored glass.
Finally, look for any chips or cracks in the jar. A perfect condition jar is worth more than one that is imperfect.
If you have an old Mason jar sitting around your house, it might be worth more than you think!
Conclusion
If you’re a fan of rustic décor, mason jars are probably already a staple in your home. But did you know that these versatile glass jars can also be used as vases, storage containers, and even light fixtures? And if you’re looking for a unique way to add some charm to your next dinner party or outdoor gathering, consider using mason jars as candle holders or drink dispensers.
Mason jars have been around for centuries, but they’ve become especially popular in recent years as people have begun to appreciate their versatility and charm. If you’re planning on using them for any purpose other than canning or storage, it’s important to date them so that you can be sure they’re safe to use. Here’s how:
1. Look for the embossed logo on the bottom of the jar. This will tell you when the jar was manufactured.
2. Check the color of the glass.
Older mason jars were made with clear glass, while newer ones are usually green or blue.
3. Inspect the lid for any rust or corrosion. This is an indication that the jar is old and should not be used for food storage purposes.
4. If possible, try to find ajar with a metal bail closure rather than a screw-on lid.