What are blue canning jars used for?

Table of Contents

They have been repurposed for hanging lamps, drinking glasses, vases and soap dispensers. Not many people can with the old jars (there can be problems getting a good seal with modern lids) which is another reason why Ball’s reissue is so exciting.

Why are old jars blue?

Feeling Blue Those blue mason jars were mass produced until 1937 using sand from around Lake Michigan. It was that sand that gave the glass its blue hue. Those blue jars are not rare. However, if you find a mason jar that reads BBGMCo.

What old jars are valuable?

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)

Are blue canning jars valuable?

Fruit jars were produced primarily in clear and “Ball blue” (aqua), but some amber, cobalt, and even milk glass examples can be found out there in the wild, and they are likely worth upwards of several hundred dollars.

What does the number on the bottom of blue 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.

When did they stop making blue canning jars?

1937
Blue glass Ball jars were produced in the late 1890s and early 1900s, but the company stopped producing these in 1937. There were also some brown amber jars produced in the 1950s, but most of the jars produced after the 1940s were made of clear glass.

How do you date a blue Mason jar?

Some helpful notes to keep in mind:

Not every jar has their manufacture date on the glass, but most have the patent date.
There will be a large number on the bottom of your jar.
These charts tell you the approximate decade in which your Ball jar was made.

What do the numbers on the bottom of blue Mason jars mean?

What do the numbers mean on the bottom of blue Mason jars?