Buzz
Ball mason jars, crafted by the Ball Corporation, have been a fixture in home canning since 1880. Today, many individuals still utilize these jars for canning or collect them as a pastime. Various methods exist for dating old Ball mason jars, with one of the simplest being examination of the logo. Additionally, factors such as color, size, and distinguishing marks can aid in dating these jars.
Steps
Dating by Logo
Search for the early BBGMC logo. This logo was one of the initial ones used by Ball, during the era when the company was known as the Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company. Due to their production in Buffalo, New York, these jars are commonly referred to as Buffalo jars.
- Buffalo jars are both rare and antique. If you possess a mason jar bearing this logo, it dates back to the years between 1885 and 1886.
Inspect for Block Letters. Ball adopted block letters for their jar logos in 1892, maintaining this style until 1896. Notably, earlier jars feature simple printed lettering rather than the cursive or stylized lettering seen on newer jars.
Verify the First Ball Script Logo. In 1895, Ball introduced their inaugural logo featuring cursive lettering, often accompanied by underlining. During this period, the Ball logo was typically straight rather than angled towards the upper right corner of the jar.
Search for the 3-L Logo. While the Ball logo has remained relatively consistent since the debut of the first script logo, subtle variations provide clues for dating the jar. For instance, the 3-L logo was exclusively used from 1900 to 1910.
- Named the 3-L logo due to the decorative loop resembling a third L in the Ball name.
Identify the Dropped A.
Between 1910 and 1923, the letter A in the word Ball featured an ascender at the beginning, appearing as if it should connect with the preceding B. The lack of connection between the B and A is known as the dropped A.
- During this period, Ball also transitioned to the 2-L style logo, eliminating the decorative loop at the end of the name.
Spot a Ball Jar without an Underscore. Jars featuring the cursive word 'Ball' without an underscore were manufactured exclusively between 1923 and 1933.
Inspect for the Looping B. This signifies a period from 1933 to 1962. Look for the underscore, a “B” with a loop, and a small “a.”
Search for the B Connected to the Underscore. Beginning in the 1960s, the lower part of the “B” connected to the underline, indicating a timeframe from 1960 to the present day.
Spotting Other Distinctive Features
Seek Out Christmas Lettering. Ball mason jars featuring Christmas lettering sport a unique calligraphic design instead of the traditional printed or cursive lettering. These jars read “Masons Patent” and were crafted in 1890.
- This design was exclusive to Ball mason jars from 1890.
Identify Specific Words. Over time, Ball introduced various jars identifiable by specific words printed on them. Although some words remained consistent for years, the style often changed periodically.
- “Improved:” In the 1890s, Ball produced jars labeled “Ball Improved 1858,” later transitioning to “Ball Mason Improved” from 1900 to 1933.
- “Special:” From 1910 to 1913, Ball jars were embossed with “Ball Special Mason” in block letters.
- “Perfect:” Between 1913 and 1922, the word “Perfect” was slightly offset and indented from the word “Mason” below.
- “Sanitary:” Printed around 1913-1915, jars featuring “Sanitary” in capital letters and italicized indicated the sanitary sure seal, positioned below the Ball logo.
- “Ideal”: Produced from 1915 to 1962.
- “Square:” Jars labeled “Square” emerged in 1925.
- “Eclipse:” Wide-mouthed jars known as “Eclipse” were crafted from 1926 to 1952.
Examine for Unusual Sizes. Certain Ball mason jars come in peculiar sizes produced during specific periods, allowing their size to indicate their production date.
- In the 1920s and early 1930s, Ball manufactured 40-ounce (1.2-L) jars for coffee and 42-ounce (1.24-L) jars favored by bootleggers.
- To determine the capacity, fill the jar with water and measure the volume it holds.
Assess Color to Approximate Age. Ball produced various colored mason jars over time, with blue being the most prevalent, though green and yellow jars were also made.
- Blue glass Ball jars were made from the late 1890s to the early 1900s, ceasing production in 1937.
- In the 1950s, some brown amber jars were produced, but post-1940s jars were mainly clear glass.
Scrutinize the Jar for Errors. Throughout the years, Ball manufactured mason jars with spelling mistakes and other errors printed on them. These can be cross-referenced with resources like the Redbook, a price guide for fruit jar collectors, to determine their age and value based on the error.
- One common error jar is a Ball jar with misspellings of “Perfect,” such as “perffct,” “peprect,” or “perefct.”
Inspect for Inverted Writing. Upside-down logos on Ball jars indicate jars designed to dispense coffee and were produced between 1900 and 1910.
Understanding Which Markings and Inscriptions to Ignore
Disregard the 1858 patent year. Although Ball mason jars often feature the year 1858 printed on them, it does not signify the jar's age. Instead, 1858 marks the year John Mason patented his mason jar design, a detail Ball incorporated on many jars.
Disregard the 1908 patent date. Another common patent date found on mason jars, it does not reflect the year of production. Ball continued using this patent date on their jars well beyond the 1930s.
Disregard the mold number. While many Ball mason jars bear a number on the bottom, it merely indicates the mold used in production, not the year of manufacture. Mold numbers range from zero to 15, sometimes accompanied by a letter.
