Not long ago I wrote an article on how fruit jars got started. The year was 1795, and the French army needed a way to feed their soldiers and offered a $4,000 reward to anyone that could solve the problem. A French chef, Nicholas Appert, experimented with the problem until 1810. After 15 years, Appert found that cooking the food and putting it in a jar would work and won the reward. The jars didn’t look like they do today, and they were sealed with a wax lid.

There are many brands of fruit jars, but one of the most common is the Ball jar. Let me tell you about Ball jars.

The Ball brothers started in business in 1880. The business was known as the Wooden Jacket Can Company in Buffalo, N.Y. In 1884, glass fruit jars were first made, and the zinc caps were made in 1885. In 1886, the Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company was incorporated. The first jars had the letters BBGM Co., the company’s initials, on the jar. These jars are very rare and are sought after by collectors.

Between 1892 and 1896, Ball put their name on the jar, but it appeared in black letters – “Ball.” Ball didn’t start writing “Ball” in script until 1893 and continued that practice through 1896. In 1894 wooden boxes that held a dozen jars were shipped to stores. In 1898, the jar caps were changed from zinc to aluminum.

In 1897, the first semi-automatic glass machine was patented by F.C. Ball.

In 1898, Ball started buying other glass companies. They bought companies in 1898 and 1901, and in 1904 they purchased about six companies.

There are several ways you can date your jars. If you are like me and look very closely at all the Ball jars, I know that you have seen a square jar instead of a round one. The reason for the square jar was the war. The United States War Board in 1942 required all glass companies to adopt the “round-square” shape. They said this shape would allow more volume and save glass. Another way to date your jars is to look for vertical lines on the jar. These vertical lines appeared on jars made from 1933 through 1934 and was called a sure-grip. Ball said this would help you to hold the jar.

The key to dating all your Ball jar collection is how the word “Ball” appears on the jar.

The Louisiana Treasures Museum has about 100 fruit jars dating from 1885 to 1975. Just pack up your jars and come visit, and I will help you date your collections of Ball fruit jars.

The museum is located on Highway 22, west of Ponchatoula. For more information or to schedule tours call 225-294-8352.

Wayne Norwood is a lieutenant with the St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s Department and owner and operator of the Louisiana Treasures Museum.