Ball Ideal jar with glass lid

Vintage canning jar collectors are a fun crowd. They are the ones that notice and appreciate small details and find themselves giddy over little differences that other may not even notice. They get excited about the differences between a Mason jar and a Ball jar, know the difference between a screw cap and bail wire and can recite the history of Atlas Glass like it was a long lost ancestor.

Not every glass jar was made exactly the same or beloved over time in the same way. There were hundreds of different companies producing their own versions of glass canning jars in the early 1900's, but one that stands out from the rest consistently is the Ball jar. Started by the five Ball Brothers in the late 1800's, ball jars came in all sorts of sizes from canning style to screw tops and were made up until 1996, when the Ball Company left the glassware industry altogether to focus on metal food and beverage containers. 

Between 1915 and 1962, Ball made their Ideal line of jars which featured a bail wire hinge closure with a star shaped glass lightening style lid. This is the time period in which this featured ball jar was made. Its raised glass lettering, adds a nice historic nod towards their early to mid- 20th century years and its working clasp offers plenty of room for possibility in our modern day world. 

Whether you are an enthusiastic collector of vintage glassware,  or simply a lover of interesting storage containers Ball jars offer the best of both worlds - historic nostalgia and functional charm.  

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- 1933-1962 logo

- Lid No 10

- What looks to be the number 36 marked on the bottom (possibly the production year) 

- The number 3 C appears under the Ideal logo

- 2 piece set includes body and lid

- Bail wire hinge

{CONDITION}

In beautiful vintage condition. No chips or scratches except for a small series of light surface chips concentrated around the inside rim of the jar on one side (this is a thin cluster of about 5 chips). Please see photos. Closure is well secured and works easily as intended.

Clear glass Ball Ideal Mason jar dated 1908, one quart size. This has a nice old glass lid with wire bail closure (no rubber seal remaining). Jar and lid are in very good condition without chips or cracks.

In 1880, the five Ball brothers used a $200 loan from their uncle to start a business manufacturing tin cans for products such as paint and kerosene. Then, in 1884, the brothers switched to glass home-canning jars and created the household name that we still know and love today. 🥰

Ball jars are classic vintage pieces that add so much class to every room! ✨ Not only are they beautiful as décor, but they are genuine pieces of history that bring so much life to a home. Each is unique in its own way!

Ball jars are one of the MOST sought-after vintage jar brands, which is why we created our Small Batch Candles. 💙 Antiques are our obsession (it IS in our name, after all!). 😉 We want to continue to repurpose beautiful, vintage, and completely one of a kind antique vessels, so we created a collection of these beauties to do just that. Many of the Ball jars available in the Small Batch Candles vary in their production dates. We even have some that are verified as 100+ years old! So, that begs the question: 

HOW DO YOU DATE YOUR BALL JAR? 🧐

To answer that, compare the logo of your jar to those on this chart: (from Minnetrista Gathering Place)

You can also use other identifying marks to help date your jar! Phrases such as “IMPROVED,” “PERFECT,” and “IDEAL,” give further clues to find the approximate year that your Ball jar was made.

Some helpful notes to keep in mind:

1. Not every jar has their manufacture date on the glass, but most have the patent date. However, this date has no relation to the year your jar was made.
2. There will be a large number on the bottom of your jar. This is the mold number, and unfortunately also has no relation to the manufacture date.
3. These charts tell you the approximate decade in which your Ball jar was made.
4. EVERY Ball jar is special, and no matter what decade yours was manufactured, it’ll still look beautiful in your home! 😍😍

SMALL BATCH CANDLES

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27 comments

• Phyllis Shoemaker Sep 15, 2022

  I have several blue ball canning jars with bails and glass lids…I used to can in them. I am curious about a pint jar with Patten date of July 1908. Kit has Ideal on it and on the bottom a mark similar to an x with a mark connecting the top points of this x. I also have several clear glass jars purchased in the early ‘50s. My mother had polio and her handicap prevented her twisting on lids but she could push down the bail to seal jars. My father purchasedthem from the manufacturer, as I believe they were used during WWII to conserve metal but we’re no longer being made. Value? Have enjoyed your info.

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• Debra Sep 17, 2022

  I have a ribbed old fashioned 6 ounce canning Anniversary jar number 10 on the bottom of jar

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• Rachel Harrison Apr 04, 2022

  What is it about canning jars that are so peaceful? Even empty.

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• Rachel Harrison Apr 04, 2022

  My friend gave me a box of his Grandma’s mason jars. Viola was a 101 when she went home. Anyway in the box where 2 quart jars marked Perfect one has a 4 and one a 10 the 10 looks older. I’m truly delighted over Viola’s jars. Rachel

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• Yvonne, CBus Ohio Feb 22, 2022

  I found a box full of Ball mason jars at a flea market which looked brand new. The Embossed “Ball” appears to be 1962-date. Still curious when they were made. The bottom has a larger 6N stamp, which I assume to be a mold number. Above though there is an “I” with the number 62 below it. Does anyone know which year these were produced? Or can anyone point me to any firm resources? Any help would be greatly appreciated. In the meanwhile, I will be using these beautiful jars for preserving my bounty. Happy canning to all.

  How old is my Ball ideal jar?

  “Ideal”: These were made between 1915 and 1962. “Square:” Jars with the word “Square” were produced in 1925. “Eclipse:” These wide-mouthed jars were made between 1926 and 1952.

  What is the value of a ball perfect mason jar?

  An antique Ball brand perfect Mason jar sold on eBay for about $80, likely because its deep olive green color is relatively rare. According to Country Living, an upside-down Ball canning jar designed to rest on its lid is relatively rare and made between 1900 and 1910. It's valued at about $1,000.

  What are the most sought after Ball Mason jars?

  The Atlas Strong Shoulder, E-Z Seal, and Improved Mason Jars are the top 3 most valuable designs.

  How do I know if my Ball jars are vintage?

  HOW DO YOU DATE YOUR BALL JAR?.

  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..