The conical shape of this chuck allowed him to create a cap that sealed as it was tightened. The Pioneer of Preservationīefore the jar, Mason patented a “Chuck for Making Sheet Metal Screws” in March 1858 ( US 19786A). Mason was only 26 when he filed his jar patent! However, the journey to creating the ultimate jar was no simple process.

While rudimentary canning, pickling, and curing practices helped extend the lifespan of people’s food, it wasn’t until John Landis Mason invented his airtight invention, The Mason jar, that the art of food preservation was perfected. Without a thorough understanding of food preservation, foodborne illnesses such as botulism, listeria, and e. But 160 years ago, people weren’t considering(nor truly conscious of) the potential dangers of expired food or inadequately sealed vegetables. Today, food manufacturers, restaurateurs, and home canners understand the finer points of preserving food. Seeing as how “Mason jar” related searches have reached “breakout status” in Google Trends (meaning the search term has grown by more than 5000%), we thought we’d help you satiate your curiosity by giving you a pint-sized history of the Ball Mason jar. Ironically, while the Ball Mason jar is one of the more iconic products of all time, few people know the history behind the ageless invention. Perhaps it’s the timeless logo, the inexplicably comfortable weight of the vessel, or the effortless balance between elegance and utility that has secured Ball’s success for the last century. Stand it up next to the most memorable product designs of all time (e.g., Swingline Staplers, Polaroid Camera, Converse Sneakers, Swiss Army Knives, Levis Jeans, the Glass Coca-Cola Bottle, etc.), and it can hang with the best of them. There are few everyday objects more iconic than the Ball Mason jar. In 1884, Ball Corporation began manufacturing glass home-canning jars, the product that established Ball as a household name and licensed Mason’s design. John Landis Mason invented the Mason Jar on November 30, 1858.

Ball mason jars