Antique Zinc Mason jar lids

[Beshires1]

Actually I know what this item is but.....I have found many of these MDing around and ...I noticed something while looking at the ones I have found and found a embossed raised dot on several of the zink tops. It is in the same place on all the examples that I have found that being below the Ball embossed logo directly under the a in ball but farther towards the edge. I was wonderind if those of you who have found these type lids have noticed this raised dot on any you have found. And why some have it some do not. If no one elts has found any with a raised dot, then I'll assume that they probably belong to a blind person as a way of id-ing whats inside these jars.( cept the examples I have came from different propertys).

 

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[old digger]

Your assumption my be correct.

 

[pepperj]

Has either lid have the white glass insert? Just wondering if it had something to do with placement/securing the glass.

 

[old digger]

I have found two small cashes burried in those old zinc topped jars. This last year I thought I had found another one. After digging down nine inches I see the top of one and I am getting excited hoping that I had found another one, but after carefully digging a little larger hole around the lid, my excitement is dashed by just the lid. Luckily the opalescent glass liner is still intact. Still hoping to find another one.

 

[Beshires1]

Yes most of these I find have had the white glass liners. I'm including another photo that shows three of the raised dot lids.

 

[Beshires1]

Has either lid have the white glass insert? Just wondering if it had something to do with placement/securing the glass.

I wouldn't think it would have to do with liner placement. These particular lids would have had a rubber seal added inside the lid next to the milk glass liners, that would seal the canned product and the product wouldn't contaminate from contact inside of the zink cap. These rubber seals would seal down to the top of the jars lip. As you can see in my third photo the dots are in the exact same place in relation with the Ball logo as if done during the manufacturing of the lids. I'm trying to find out if there are more of these raised dots spread around out there and what was its purpose. Thinking that it could have a meaning in the dating of these type zinc lids that were basically made exactly alike for 60 years with no way to tell what there actual age is.. The mason jars have such differences why not the lids?

 

[lookingharder]

I have several I found in Kentucky with the "dot" in the same location. (couldn't get the picture to load) Top half are Ball.

 

[Beshires1]

This is great ! This means that the dot has a manufactured significance. I've posted this on a Ball jar collectors site and No one there has ever noticed this raised dot. It might signify the difference from when the sealing rubber was moved from the shoulder seat to inside the zink lids cap. The shoulder seal would seal product air tight, but liquid contact could still make contact with the Zink lid by going between the glass liner and glass jars rim.

The liner seal had the rubber seal inside the zink cap between the liner and the jars rim stopping liquid from leaking out between the jar rim and the glass cap liner, this was looked upon as a vast improvement and signify a more modern sealing closure. The lids all look alike and Collectors of these antique Ball jars will settle for any Rim that screws on to their collectable jars even period incorrect zink lids.

 

[Beshires1]

I guess what I'm asking is , Those of you who who have found and saved some of these old zinc lids to maybe check your stash and report to this thread if you have found any raised dot lids and maybe the state they were found in. Maybe if there were rubber gaskets inside the lids or shoulder seals. Any information that might be helpful in dating the actual time periods when these different types of zinc closures were used. We can compile information here and share what we learn. What doesn't add up to me is they say these zinc closures were made up until 1960s But I keep finding this statement puzzling this fact. STATEMENT: until World War II when the shortage of zinc forced the complete conversion to the tin plate bands still in use today.

 

[relic nut]

I find a lot of these but they are usually in bad shape. I've only kept a few and none of mine have the raised dot.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

I have around 50 Ball zinc lids with the white glass inserts. None of them have a dot on the top. I live in Rhode Island.

 

[Beshires1]

Found another Ball Zinc Dot Jar lid searching Antique Ball Mason Jars on e-bay. this one is on a 3L Ball Mason Jar 1896 - 1910 shoulder seal. This jar is being sold out of South Carolina. It says it is a estate find,


Here is 3 found in Illinois being sold on ebay, Here is a pict of 2 of them

 

[P.ALLEN]

Very interesting, I love finding lids because that means I might find the porcelain disc!

Side note: Ball makes a lot of high end optics now, they had an office near Wright Patterson Air Force Base.

 

[Beshires1]

Very interesting, I love finding lids because that means I might find the porcelain disc!

Side note: Ball makes a lot of high end optics now, they had an office near Wright Patterson Air Force Base.

Its interesting to note that of the ones I have in my possession (raised dot Ball zinc screw caps), the milk glass or porcelain liners have no embossing on the liners. And the milk glass liners were incorporated into the zinc caps. The originals cannot be removed unless you break the milk glass liner.Smaller diameter replacement liners could be bought at some point and the liner would be held into place with the rubber gasket. Ball produced their own jar lids for every Ball glass Mason Jar. Replacement liners were mostly produced by others....Boyd.

 

[hunting deer]

https://www.livinghomegrown.com/dating-old-canning-jars/ I've found this site good.

 

[Beshires1]

Was told today that this zinc raised dot cap was used in 1960. but timelines show this isn't fact. the locations where I found my lids ceased to exist in 1954. Property owners were moved out by government for water shed lake development. Also it doesn't match the timelines by 30 years.