MASON'S 1858 - XX Base - odd whittle?

[Dogo]

Uncle Bruce called it, NO pontilled Mason jars

 

[miker]

Hi,

I've seen this kind of whittle before but can't tell you the exact cause. As for the bottom embossing "XX", I don't see a listing of such a mark. I can find a single "X" but no double. You could have an uncommon variation that need further investigation.

Dave

 

[miker]

base

 

[miker]

HII I HAVE A HALF GALLON MASONS X X ON BOTTOM OF JAR HOW OLD IS IT & HOW RARE ARE THEY IT HAS A STRONG EMBOSSING VERY THICK GLASS IT LOOKS LIKE A PONTIL MARK ON BOTTOM OF JAR BELOW THE X X IT IS VERY NICE.

 

[jarsnstuff]

HII I HAVE A HALF GALLON MASONS X X ON BOTTOM OF JAR HOW OLD IS IT & HOW RARE ARE THEY IT HAS A STRONG EMBOSSING VERY THICK GLASS IT LOOKS LIKE A PONTIL MARK ON BOTTOM OF JAR BELOW THE X X IT IS VERY NICE.

As mentioned above, there are NO pontiled mason jars. Early mason jars were blown into a mold, then the top of the jar was broken off the blowpipe and the lip ground down to make an even edge. No need for a pontil. Some OTHER early jars such as wax sealers were held on the pontil while the channel was formed, hence a pontil scar.

 

[jarsnstuff]

Additionally, the XX on the base could and should be reported to Douglas Leybourne so that it can be included in the next edition of the Redbook. Since there are several listings for roman numerals on the base, I see no reason not to include your XX as well.

 

[miker]

This jar was brought to me by someone who thought that it looked odd. I had to agree. The marks that I thought to be cold mold whittling may be something quite different. The effect is very difficult to capture with limited photographic skills but it shows up in two of my tries. The marks are small, rectangular, regular in size and are in rings that circle the entire jar, one on top of the next, from top to bottom. My guess is that these are marks made in the manufacture of the mold that were not fully polished out. The crispness of the lettering suggests that this was a new mold.
I would be interested in knowing if anyone else has a jar with this condition and if anyone has a different opinion please say so. George

 

[miker]

Additionally, the XX on the base could and should be reported to Douglas Leybourne so that it can be included in the next edition of the Redbook. Since there are several listings for roman numerals on the base, I see no reason not to include your XX as well.

 

[miker]

HI IT IS MIKER HOW OLD IS MY HALF GALLON MASONS JAR MY JAR HAS A GROUND TOP THERE ARE BUBBLES AND RIPPLES AND VERY STRONG EMBOSSING & XX ON BOTTOM OF JAR THANK YOU MIKER.

 

[jarsnstuff]

HI IT IS MIKER HOW OLD IS MY HALF GALLON MASONS JAR MY JAR HAS A GROUND TOP THERE ARE BUBBLES AND RIPPLES AND VERY STRONG EMBOSSING & XX ON BOTTOM OF JAR THANK YOU MIKER.

Somewhere between the late 1860s to about 1900. The earliest Mason's Patent jars have squared shoulders and are called "Crowleytown" jars. Then, they transitioned to jars with a fairly flat somewhat sharp cornered base. After around 1900, most glass houses had invested in machines & smooth lip Mason's Patent jars were made up until about WWI.