Are old Mason jars worth money?
Nowadays, you can even buy a big flat of Mason jars for pretty cheap at your local craft or household goods store — but the older ones can fetch much higher prices. Typically, the smaller or more common antique jars can go for about $20 apiece, but the more rare versions can sell for as much as $300.
What Mason jars are worth money?
The most valuable mason jars are:
- Van Vliet Improved Jar – $23,500.
- Black Amber Magic Star Fruit Jar – $3,000.
- 1933 Ball Upside Down Error Jar – $1,000. There are two types of Ball upside-down Mason jars.
- The 1870 Chief Mason Jar – $800. (Photo: gregspurgeon.com)
- 1858 Willoughby Stopple Jar – $500. (Photo: hoosierjar.com)
How can you tell how old a Mason jar is?
So if you have some old jars, how do you know their true age? If you have a Ball jar, you can date most of them just by looking at the logo. Every few years, the Ball Manufacturing Co changed the logo and if you compare yours to a reliable chart, you know how old it is.
Do old Mason jars contain lead?
Ball Mason Jar (year unknown): 43 ppm lead. Conversely, almost all Kerr jars I have tested have been positive for low-levels of lead (20 to 40 ppm range) – with very few exceptions. All Weck Jars I have tested have been positive for lead in the 200 ppm range (still very low, but consistently higher.)
What do the numbers on the bottom of old Mason jars mean?
Many Ball mason jars have a number printed on the bottom of the jar, but this is a mold number that does not indicate the year of production. Rather, the mold number tells you where the jar was positioned on the glass-making machine that was used to produce it.
What can I do with old Mason jars?
Reuse Canning Jars as Vases or Decorative Jars You can paint them, tint them, wrap them or decopauge them, but you can use jars simply as decorative pieces in the house to give a beautiful flair to your home.
How can you tell how old a Kerr Mason jar is?
Check the jar from top to bottom. The Kerr name will be embossed on the glass. There are some general guidelines to approximate the date of a vintage Kerr jar between 1915 and 1930. The finish on a fruit jar can tell you roughly about the date it was made.
How old are Drey Mason jars?
Drey jars (pronounced dry) were made from about 1917 through the 1920s by the Schram Glass Mfg. Co. of St. Louis, MO and later by the Ball Brother’s company.
Why is there a Mason jar lid shortage?
It all began last year when the pandemic hit in early 2020. Stuck at home, people picked up gardening, then canning their harvest. “That led to a supply shortage of canning lids,” said Suzanne Driessen, University of Minnesota Extension food safety educator.
What stores sell Mason jars?
These jars can often be found at most big-box retailers such as Walmart, Big Lots as well as at local hardware stores, thrift stores if purchasing used and online with retailers like Amazon.com. Mason jars will often be sold individually or often in a four, 12 or 24 pack. Popular brands include Ball and Kerr.
How do you tell if a mason jar is old?
Examine the color of the jar. Most modern canning jars are clear, which allows you to see the contents of the jar. A blue, green, red, amber or yellow jar may be antique. Remove the lid and look at the mouth of the jar. Ground edges on the jar that are not perfectly smooth and machined usually indicate an older jar.
What is the value of an antique Mason Jar?
Nowadays, you can even buy a big flat of Mason jars for pretty cheap at your local craft or household goods store — but the older ones can fetch much higher prices. Typically, the smaller or more common antique jars can go for about $20 apiece, but the more rare versions can sell for as much as $300.
What is the most valuable Mason Jar?
The Universal jar is one of the most valuable Mason jars for collectors. The jar was produced around 1937, and no more than 50 were ever made. The Buffalo Jar in amber is even rarer; only four are known to exist.