Ball Canning Jar   Save
Ohio History Connection
Description: William Charles Ball and his five brothers began manufacturing wood jacketed tin cans in Buffalo, New York in 1880. Soon after the Ball brothers switched to making glass containers, the factory suffered a devastating fire. When the city of Muncie, Indiana offered the brothers free natural gas, a critical element for glass-making, they moved the business to Indiana. By the mid-twentieth century the Ball Corporation had become one of the most prosperous jar makers in the country. This jar measures 7.15" x 3.66" x 3.66" (18 x 10 x 10 cm). During World War II, conserving garden produce for later consumption became a vital activity to support the war effort. Canning and drying food was essential to increasing the food supply on the home front, for troops abroad, and for hungry citizens of Allied nations. The canning process prevented fruits and vegetables from spoiling. By removing oxygen from jars holding produce, undesirable bacteria would not be able to grow. Good vacuums created in canning jars formed tight seals that keep liquid in and air out. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om3332_4692194_002
Subjects: Agriculture; Daily Life; Canning and preserving; Glassware
Places: Muncie (Indiana); Ohio