In 1858, a Vineland, New Jersey tinsmith named John Landis Mason (1832–1902) invented and patented a screw threaded glass jar or bottle that became known as the Mason jar (U.S. Patent No. 22,186.) From 1857, when it was first patented, to the present, Mason jars have had hundreds of variations in shape and cap design.

What is the oldest Mason jar?

In 1858, a 26-year-old Mason patented threaded screw-top jars “such as are intended to be air and water-tight.” The earliest mason jars were made from transparent aqua glass, and are often referred to by collectors as “Crowleytown Jars,” as many believe they were first produced in the New Jersey village of Crowleytown.

Are Mason jars or balls older?

Quick Fact: Who Invented the Mason Jar? John Landis Mason invented the Mason Jar on November 30, 1858. In 1884, Ball Corporation began manufacturing glass home-canning jars, the product that established Ball as a household name and licensed Masons design.

Do mason jars contain lead?

Ball mason jars As Ive stated above, Tamara Rubin of Lead Safe America tested mason jars and found that the Ball brand mason jars were consistently the least likely to contain lead. Avoid colored ones as they tested positive for lead.