Today I thought it would be fun to look at some of the history of canning, and what better place to start than with a few fun facts about the history of the mason jar. It's funny how mason jars are something I use on a daily basis and yet I never really knew much about their interesting history before. I did a little researching and here is what I was able to find out.
In the early 1800s glass jars called "wax sealers" were commonly used for home canning. These were invented by a French chef named Nicolas Appert. They looked more like an apothecary bottle than a jar and had a wide lip that you poured wax into to secure a tin lid. The complicated process was prone to errors but it was the only method available at the time. Later in the century zinc screw on lids were invented which were the predecessors of the screw on lids that we use today.
In 1857 a man named John Landis Mason who was a tinsmith in Vineland New Jersey invented and patented the first screw cap bottle that was named for him, the mason jar. Since that time mason jars have gone through many different changes in shapes, colors and design of the caps.
When other manufacturers discovered that Mr. Mason's patent had expired they began to make glass jars for home canning using the mason jar style. The original jars were embossed with the words "Patent Nov 30th 1858," and were produced in such large quantities throughout the year 1900, that some of them are still around today.
One of the most popular types of lid designs was the "wire bail". This was a glass lid with a rubber o-ring attached to the neck of the jar with a wire and had a latch type closure that fit over a lip on the lid and clamped it down tight. The lid pivoted off the top and over the side of the jar like a flip top. These lids are not recommended for home canning anymore but are still made for decorative uses and the old vintage ones are cool to have as collectors items.
Sometime between 1910 and 1915 the bead jar was developed. These screw on lid type jars have a glass bead between the shoulder of the jar and the screw threads as a sealing surface. They were sealed with two piece lids that had a rubberized flat and a screw ring. This is the same kind of jar lids we use today.
There are only three manufacturing companies left that make mason canning jars. This is due to the decline in popularity of home canning brought on by many factors which include the abundance of prepared foods available in the supermarkets but because of the modern interest in homesteading and healthy eating, the art of home canning is not dead yet.
In the spirit of fun, I wanted to show you the first canning theme kitchen clock I have designed for my canning supplies niche store. This makes a great unique gift for the home canning lover in your life.
In the early 1800s glass jars called "wax sealers" were commonly used for home canning. These were invented by a French chef named Nicolas Appert. They looked more like an apothecary bottle than a jar and had a wide lip that you poured wax into to secure a tin lid. The complicated process was prone to errors but it was the only method available at the time. Later in the century zinc screw on lids were invented which were the predecessors of the screw on lids that we use today.
In 1857 a man named John Landis Mason who was a tinsmith in Vineland New Jersey invented and patented the first screw cap bottle that was named for him, the mason jar. Since that time mason jars have gone through many different changes in shapes, colors and design of the caps.
When other manufacturers discovered that Mr. Mason's patent had expired they began to make glass jars for home canning using the mason jar style. The original jars were embossed with the words "Patent Nov 30th 1858," and were produced in such large quantities throughout the year 1900, that some of them are still around today.
One of the most popular types of lid designs was the "wire bail". This was a glass lid with a rubber o-ring attached to the neck of the jar with a wire and had a latch type closure that fit over a lip on the lid and clamped it down tight. The lid pivoted off the top and over the side of the jar like a flip top. These lids are not recommended for home canning anymore but are still made for decorative uses and the old vintage ones are cool to have as collectors items.
Sometime between 1910 and 1915 the bead jar was developed. These screw on lid type jars have a glass bead between the shoulder of the jar and the screw threads as a sealing surface. They were sealed with two piece lids that had a rubberized flat and a screw ring. This is the same kind of jar lids we use today.
There are only three manufacturing companies left that make mason canning jars. This is due to the decline in popularity of home canning brought on by many factors which include the abundance of prepared foods available in the supermarkets but because of the modern interest in homesteading and healthy eating, the art of home canning is not dead yet.
In the spirit of fun, I wanted to show you the first canning theme kitchen clock I have designed for my canning supplies niche store. This makes a great unique gift for the home canning lover in your life.
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| Buy it HERE |
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