#Blue mason jars series

It may take a while before exact duplicates are found – that is, finding two jars that were both made from one individual, specific mold. Thus, if a random sampling of these jars are studied (for instance, just looking at a selection of only those marked with a number “2” on the bottom), it may be seen that the numbers typically appears slightly different, in fact “unique” in their exact formation, from one jar to the next.

#Blue mason jars series

A set of molds included numbers above “10” as the higher-numbered molds were typically used as replacements on the machine.Īs can be readily discovered, there were many different “sets” of molds used over a period of many years, with this same series of (up to) 16 numbers used over and over again to identify the molds being used on a particular machine. Thus, the single digit numbered jars are more commonly found. Usually, the automatic jar-making machine had eight or ten mold cavities or “positions” for the molds. On some jar variants, (such as the first BALL embossing variant on these jars, “Logo 5” in chart shown below, used circa 1913-1923 on BPM jars), the number may be accompanied by a letter to the right, such as A or C. Most of the typical Ball Perfect Mason jars in aqua or Ball Blue are marked with a mold number between 0 and 15 on the bottom. (See the chart farther down on this page). Also, there were a number of variations in the way the Ball name logo was written, those changes occurring several times over the space of several decades. Many slight variations are seen, with the exact lettering orientation just barely noticeably different from one example to another, such as the spacing, height, width, depth of cut, of individual letters.

Very close inspection and comparison between different older jars (that may appear to be exactly the same) will show that it was very difficult, if not nearly impossible for all of the lettering (including the cursive “Ball” lettering and the “block style” lettering underneath) to be engraved absolutely identical from one mold to the next.

Many different jar molds (thousands) were used over the many years’ time these jars were being produced.Įach mold was hand-cut (hand-engraved) with the lettering incised backward into the inside surface of the mold, which of course resulted in the embossing (raised lettering) which is seen on the surface of the jar. automatic glass container-making machinery. Some variants have vertical raised lines (“ribs” or “grips”) along the sides, added to assist in handling the jars while they are wet.īall Perfect Mason jars were made utilizing steel molds as part of “ABM” (“Automatic Bottle Machine”) i.e. Most of the earlier versions were round (cylindrical) in shape, and some of the later types are square (with rounded corners) in design. Ball Perfect Mason – Half Gallon and Quart sizes Typically, they were made in half pint, pint, quart, and half-gallon sizes. Hundreds of slight variations in lettering font, glass color, base markings, etc., exist, and this particular type of jar presents a wide field of study for fruit jar collectors and glass historians. The very first versions with this embossing are believed to date from approximately 1913, with production continuing to about 1960. They are commonly seen for sale on the secondary market at antique malls, farm auctions, flea markets, yard sales, and on online auction sites. (IMPORTANT NOTE: please see the paragraphs with info farther down on this page describing modern reproductions of this jar, including the “AMERICAN HERITAGE COLLECTION” introduced in 2013, and the new “Collectors Edition” BALL PERFECT MASON jars being sold as of 2019). Hundreds of millions (probably upwards of a billion or more!) were made, and these jars have been used by home canners throughout much of the 20th century. Glass jars with this embossed marking was the most popular jar for home canning ever produced in the United States. (See “ Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company” page, for a brief summary of that glass company). The Ball Perfect Mason was a brand of glass fruit jar (canning jar) made by the Ball Bros.