The History of Mason Jars

Mason jars are everywhere, but do you know the history behind them? The Mason jar was invented by John Landis Mason, who filed his patent for “Improvement In Screw-Neck Bottles” on November 30, 1858. His invention was the first hermetically re-sealable glass jar and was intended to help improve food preservation and safety by providing an airtight storage container. Mason’s invention transformed the home canning industry, but sadly Mason himself did not profit significantly. After his patents expired in 1879, his designs became public knowledge. Many manufacturers began to create their own versions of his invention. (Some of them – such as Mason Mfg. Co., Consolidated Fruit Jar Co., Standard Union Mfg., and The Ball Corporation – licensed his designs.) In 1884, The Ball Corporation began manufacturing glass home-canning jars and quickly became one of the most well-known manufacturers of Mason jars. Today, Mason jars continue to be a popular product and are used for a variety of purposes, including as drinking glasses, as eco-friendly lunch containers, as receptacles for at-home food storage, and of course, for canning and pickling.