Posted 12 years ago
jonima
(113 items)
Being originally from PA, I had to buy this jar when I saw it since it has the Keystone in the middle of it. Patent date is 1858. I'm not a jar collector but had to have this one.
Antique Mason Jar | ||
| Fruit Jars84 of 139 |  |  |
Just some FYI stuff.
"Jars conforming to Mason’s Nov. 30, 1858 patent, probably with the embossed date, were being made by some unknown glass house as early as June 25, 1859, when an ad for “Mason’s Patent Sheet Metal Screw Top Preserve Jars” appeared in the Pittsburgh Dispatch.
There are hundreds of different “1858” jars, made in sizes from half-pint (extremely rare) to four-gallon (made for exhibition purposes), and their colors range across the spectrum, including clear, sun-colored-amethyst, aqua, green, amber and blue. These colors also come in many shades, such as green-aqua and blue-aqua, light green and emerald green, light honey amber and dark amber, cobalt blue and teal blue, and all the shades in between. Many of the glass companies also added their monograms, initials or other identification to the jars, further increasing the variations. Unfortunately, most of the 1858s found by new collectors will be clear or aqua and of nominal value due to the number still being found. The teal blue half-gallon jar has a market value today somewhere above $5,000; the amber 1858 quart, about $125-$150; and the midget keystone 1858 pint, about $35. Aqua “Mason’s Patent Nov. 30th 1858” quarts, ground or smooth lip, are valued at only about $5."
pack-rat, thanks for the info! Mine seems to be a half gallon one. I doubt it's a $5000 one though.
Here's a great link for info on dating your jar: http://home.earthlink.net/~raclay/DatingBalljars.HTML