Old canning jars

[nrst]

Several weeks ago an aquaintance (sp?) sold me 12 cases of canning jars for $25. THen three days later she called me again and said they found 15 more cases and if I wanted them I could have them just for taking them out of the shed. WOW!

So, going thru them last night to get ready to can some spuds and make some jelly we noticed:
some of them were a light blue color,
some were a very pale yellow color
some were a light green color
some are very heavy for pint canning jars and you can see bubbles in the glass like they are very old.

I know the blue ones are old but are the others old too and can they all be canned in? Im almost afraid to can in these older ones, afraid they will break.

Either way I still got ALOT of canning jars to fill now!

Thanks!

[LWMSAVON]

Great deal and goodies you got!!

Word of Caution... Do not put the blue ones in a pressure canner! They will bust. Don't ask me how I know that. lol ok, I admit... I broke one of the old blue ball jars by doing that.

Not sure about the others you mentioned.

If you don't care about their antique value but rather their usefulness, you can water bath can in them.

I don't use them to can in anymore, just to store dry goods in. I have pints, quarts, and half gallon size jars in the blue from Ball. Most came from my Mom's.

[tyusclan]

We don't use our old ones to can in because we don't want to risk breaking one. We also just use them for dry storage.

LWMSAVON is right, you can't use them for pressure canning, but you can water bath in them if you want.

They're worth a bit of money. the yellow ones (amber) are pretty rare. I have a book somewhere of antique fruit jars, gives value. i see them in flea markets anywhere from a buck or 2 for the most common blue jars to 25 bucks or so for some on the amber ones and more unusual blues.

[Common Tator]

Check the rims carefully to be sure there ar no nicks. If there are, they won't seal properly. Those can still be used to store dry goods, if you won't cut your hand getting things in and out of the jar. Otherwise, they should be good to go!

The ones with air bubbles probably shouldn't be used either, but sound pretty and antiquey, and would probably sell well on ebay.

[7thswan]

I never use my old jars for canning. Glass gets brittle with age. I just store things in them.

[LadyJane]

I store my dried herbs in my blue ones. One year I did tomatoes in the water bath canner using a few of the blue jars but the tomatoes didn't look very appetizing in that color.

I have never seen an amber colored canning jar so now I will be on the lookout!

Terry

[Ann-NWIowa]

I use old canning jars (but not the antique colored glass jars) for canning. I have jars from my grandmother that I'm still using. I've purchased many jars at estate auctions and have other that were found in abandoned cellars. I don't have any problem with the clear glass jars but the oldest with the bubbles in the glass and blue/green colored ones I use only for dry storage. My dd has shelves in her kitchen filled with the blue/green jars in pint, quart and 2 quart size and it looks very nice.

[soulsurvivor]

If you're interested in looking for similar jars online, I've got some easy links you can go through to compare with the jars you have:

The Fruit Jar Collector Web Site
http://members.intertek.net/~pmurfe/fruitjars/main.html

Darrell's Favorite Links
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Chip/4514/

Nick's Antique Fruit Jar Collection
http://glassjunkie.coolfreepages.com

[Paquebot]

Before you use them for canning, carefully check the INSIDE edge of the rim. If they are old enough, they would have been designed for zinc lids and rubber rings. If so, there was often a slight burr sticking up in places. I had a number like that and polished off the burr with a 150 grit emery cloth.

Martin

[LWMSAVON]

Originally Posted by Paquebot

Before you use them for canning, carefully check the INSIDE edge of the rim. If they are old enough, they would have been designed for zinc lids and rubber rings. If so, there was often a slight burr sticking up in places. I had a number like that and polished off the burr with a 150 grit emery cloth.

Martin

Great to know. I have the zinc lids with a few of my jars that I got from my Mom. I bought some rubber rings last year during the hwy 127 yard sale for them. Bought extras too... as this seller had a bunch of them.

[WisJim]

I agree with what Martin said about jars made for zinc lids--also, zinc lids with separate rubber rings were made to seal on the rim on the outside of the jar, below the opening, where the rubber ring fit between the zinc lid and the jar. They didn't seal at the rim of the jar, so the rim didn't need to be smooth and even and flat. If the colored jars are made like that for zinc lids, just use them for dry goods that don't require a tight seal, or use zinc lids and rubber rings.

[nrst]

Thanks for the info on the old jars. I do need some jars for storing 80 pounds of spices I just bought so will use the old jars for them. I was worried about having them break in the canner - being a canning newbie I worry about everything - dh says too much! Oh well, time to get started!

[crashy]

You know you could use them for drinking glasses. We use em and they work great. When people come over they are surprised to see canning jars but they work just fine and dandy.