Old canning jars

If you look on the top of the jar, up by the threads, a lot of them have the year of their manufacture. I try to use the newer ones for pressure canning.

I have found the blue jars here and there. I use the quart size to make oil lamps. You just screw on the wick feeder and put the glass chimney on. Very pretty and practical in case of loss of elec. You can find the wick feeder at hardware stores, etc.
I ordered both feeder and chimney online. They make neat gifts, too.

Here's a close up of it, like I said it has a lot of bubbles (probably around 20) in the glass. We finally had had our first failures of the year, 3 out of 78 we ran for that hind quarter so I wasn't able to get it empty yet.




Here are the rest of that quarter's odd-balls...and yes I made sure to can elk chili in the Hormel canning jar.






One last pic, this is the total yield of that hind quarter:

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Might not want to can in that Jumbo peanut butter one as it has a little more collector value than some.

I highly recommend anyone that has interest go to a library and check out "The Collectors Guide to Old Fruit Jars" by Leybourne. Should be available through ILL if not in local catalog.

Probably more than a 1,000 brands over the years. Multiple that by designs, sizes, and colors and 10,000 still wouldn't be close.

I actively collected as others on here did as well. Lightning brand jars are some of my more valuable ones.

My furthest purchase came from New Zealand but was cheaper for an amber than U.S. sources. Also have a fair number from Canada, typically Queen and King brand. Shipping costs escalated a few years ago so that put an end to my active collecting. I still like to look when in antique shops but rarely find anything I don't already have.

Since Haines is a family lineage name I would give a decent dollar for a "Haines" jar, however not what it could be sold for on the open market. Some sell for over $1,000.

On Ebay I used to shop for canning jars whereas most listings were for fruit jars. Most collectors didn't think of using the canning term since most collecting is thought of as fruit jars instead of canning jars. Got some good bargains that way.

Great for displaying and storing staples in. Red hots are a favorite to store since they are so colorful.

Great information on this thread

I love old jars. Have close to a dozen blues (pints and quarts), a Drey, a couple of PINE, several Atlas and one pint KNOX, plus the bicentenials. Inherited most, bought only a few. Love the meat and pickle jars!

I only use my blues for storage and I use the old rubber rings with the zinc lids. They look really nice.

Lily Grace

We have a nice yellow lightening jar w/glass lid. You might look for a Flacus Fruit jar. It has an embossed cow on it. Lots of history in jars. Wish you were close, I have a basket full of zinc lids. We had an antique business for years and found jars in some unusual places. As I understand, housewives were reluctant to use the blue jars as it made their food look discolored. A collection of blue jars from half-gallon to pints and if lucky a half-pint, really looks nice in a vintage kitchen. Never had a problem with blue jars breaking during canning. And I have done my share of canning. There are all shapes of Jumbo Peanut Butter jars. Keep an eye out. They make a nice collection. Older than dirt? Who knows??

Wow, I had no idea there were so many types. Thanks for the info.

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