Ball

[Andy4707]

Bought a Ball at an antique store. It has a ground lip. Any info on the age and how much it is worth would be helpful.

 

[Andy4707]

(picture of the zinc cap)

genuine zinc cap
for ball jars

 

[madman]

hey andy nice jar, if the lip is ground about 1900? im guessing, any one please chime in on this as i am new to jar dating, id say 8 dollars mike

 

[bubbas dad]

andy i don't know how to creat a link to this site but try this. go to the cape may county bottle collectors web site, then go to links. there is a link "called how to date ball fruit jars". it is very informative. i was able to date a jar my grandmother give me from her kitchen to approx 1893.

 

[Andy4707]

Thanks for the info bubbas dad, my bottle is from 1888-1894. I am not sure the exact year, but that is close enough.

 

[bubbas dad]

i believe you'll find your jar dates from 1896-1910

 

[Andy4707]

the website said that they invented a machine that made ball jars with no ground lip from 1895, i belive my jar is from 1880 to 1894 somewhere in those years.

 

[bubbas dad]

the information said that the ball company began using machines to make jar ( with smooth a lip) in 1895 and phasing out the old blowing method (with a ground top). but the transition took several years. going by the chart at the bottom of the page and the embossing on your jar it dates 1896-1910. your embossing doesn't match the older styles.

 

[Andy4707]

ok, thanks for info Bubbas dad

 

[jarsnstuff]

Hi Guys - To be honest with you, I'm not a big Ball collector, BUT I've never ever seen this style jar with a ground lip. The photo shown appears to have a machine mark on the base, but it's hard to tell. Maybe you could post a photo of the mouth of the jar plus a photo of the base and answer the question once and for all. I for one would be interested. -Thanks, Tammy