how to date your ball jar
In 1880, the five Ball brothers used a $200 loan from their uncle to start a business manufacturing tin cans for products such as paint and kerosene. Then, in 1884, the brothers switched to glass home-canning jars and created the household name that we still know and love today. 🥰
Ball jars are classic vintage pieces that add so much class to every room! ✨ Not only are they beautiful as décor, but they are genuine pieces of history that bring so much life to a home. Each is unique in its own way!
To answer that, compare the logo of your jar to those on this chart: (from Minnetrista Gathering Place)
You can also use other identifying marks to help date your jar! Phrases such as “IMPROVED,” “PERFECT,” and “IDEAL,” give further clues to find the approximate year that your Ball jar was made.
Some helpful notes to keep in mind:
- Not every jar has their manufacture date on the glass, but most have the patent date. However, this date has no relation to the year your jar was made.
- There will be a large number on the bottom of your jar. This is the mold number, and unfortunately also has no relation to the manufacture date.
- These charts tell you the approximate decade in which your Ball jar was made.
- EVERY Ball jar is special, and no matter what decade yours was manufactured, it’ll still look beautiful in your home! 😍😍
Hey I read the information y’all have posted but still don’t know the year my jar was made it’s blue with missing metal seal says ball ideal A16 & other side bicentennial celebration 1776-1976 with eagle on bottom has 76 on top and A16 on bottom if can please msg with any information I can send pics if need also have some harvest brand jars and kerr
I have a few ball jars with “perfect mason” on them plus a few that say “Mason Jar” with a star on it. Also, a few with "Crown"and “presto” on them. Can you tell me when they are from. I cannot find some of them anywhere online about their history. Thank you
I have a small, approx. 1 1/2 cups, blue tint jar that say GENUINE over the word MASON. On the bottom there is a small circle with the number 1 from the mold position. No other identifying marks. There are a few bubbles in the glass and the jar doesn’t have much of a shoulder. the mold halves are evident in the glass. Is this a Ball Brothers competitor? Roughly when would this jar have been made? Thanks!
For my son’s wedding I made apple moonshine put in mason jars ( pints ) gave to the bridal party as gifts.
I have a jar with no writing on the sides. It is a little taller than a regular auart jar. On the bottom. It says Ball. One number is A10 and another is 805-45. It tapers a lite at the top and bottom with vertical ridges at the top and bottom and s.ooth in the middle.
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