HGCS- Photographic Fruit Jar Price Guide

TRULY RARE MASONS UNION LID- The first 4 photos are Pre Cleaning & Conservation. The last 4 Photos are after Conservation efforts were completed. Major difference and a WONDERFUL EXAMPLE of a Rare and Highly Prized Lid.

HEMINGRAY -Wide Mouth Version -Hand soldered Metal lid- The first three photos shown are pre-conservation of this lid-Dirty with mild corrosion and patches of rust/spotting. . The remaining four photos are Post conservation after the lid was properly cleaned and the metals were stabilized. THIS WAS NOT ACCOMPLISHED WITH A WIRE BRUSH.
Now for the important part of this post for those who read it… Wire brushes are okay to use on all common zinc lids, however, if you are dealing with any lids/caps and closures that are compromised of other types of metal there are more appropriate ways to properly clean and stabilize the metal. What we commonly call ZINC CAPS changed over time from the Earliest Crowleytown Caps having hand spun Brass as the Base Metal to the Mostly encountered and Common Caps having Steel as the Base Metal under the Zinc Finish. Using a Wire Brush is Fine to remove decades of dirt and build up on the surface to expose stamping marks, letters, patent dates and logos on those lids bearing such markings. However, it is VERY IMPORTANT to accept and understand that if there are ANY dark spots or bubbling spots which look and feel like a grain of sand atop of the surface, these are indicative of corrosion that will continue even after you brush or clean the lid.
The proper cleaning/stabilization process varies and is dependent on metal composition of the closure in hand. I have created this post so collectors who are passionate and care about the preservation of history will not damage or potentially destroy these objects by using methods found via a google search, like Vinegar, Lemon Juice, Acid Baths and other methods that DAMAGE AND DESTABILIZE THE METAL FINISH beyond a point of repair and conservation. The concept of conservation is to protect and stabilize the corrosion process that occurs in ALL Metals over time. Hope this is thought provoking and interesting to those who love and collect Antique Jars and their Closures 😀🇺🇸

Everything is FINE in Muncie! Looking forward to a GREAT TIME celebrating the 50th anniversary of the MFJABC CLUB! Just spoke with Jeff in 3127 and he said THERE IS NO HEATING ISSUE! His room is 74 degrees so the issue may be removing heat from the rooms via the Air Exchange portion of the Commercial HVAC units. Ie frozen intake, etc….

LIVE SEMINAR Friday Jan. 19 @ 11AM Muncie Fruit Jar Get Together with LIVE STREAM ON HGCS FACEBOOK HOMEPAGE........
TOPIC- Beehive and Transitional Mason's Patent Jars
Hosted and Narrated by: Joseph Merkel
If your serious about some of the early styles of Mason's Patent Nov. 30th 1858 Jars, bookmark this page for 1/19/2024

Some of the Featured Jars that will sell in our first HGCS Facebook Auction on the HGCS page. Coming Soon! Stay tuned for the date.

I just sent out about 100 invites from Jar Collectors who have purchased jars from our past facebook auctions. I am sure I missed several so if you know someone who collects and should be invited to this page for upcoming auctions. Please have them send me a request to join this page. With more updates coming to the On-Line Fruit Jar Guide, Before Muncie, and (2) Live Stream Auctions I thought it was time to get everyone on the same page to make it easier for us as well as for the buyers. Stay Tuned...... Auction Announcements coming soon. Sincerely, Joseph Merkel

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.... We are thankful for our family and friends who we fondly call JAR HEADS!!!!!!!!! Didn't want to take a nap after the Turkey Dinner so decided to come back to the office and start working on the Much Anticipated Fruit Jar Auction which will feature more wonderful examples from the Wayde Mann Collection and several other jar collectors who are letting go of some desirable jars. We will have a couple Facebook Group Auctions, BEFORE MUNCIE JAR GET TOGETHER and will be bringing some Stellar Jars to be sold in the Jar Suite to those who attend or see the pictures on Facebook and secure the jars by contacting us directly. STAY TUNED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sincerely, Joseph & Tina Merkel

WAYDE MANN FRUIT JAR COLLECTION AUCTION #2 ENDS THIS FRIDAY JUNE 30th. Go To www.historicalglasscollectorssociety.com and Click on AUCTIONS TAB at top of the homepage to register and bid on 150 Fruit Jar Lots that feature his Lightning Jar Collection and a small collection of Jelly Jars all with Original correct matching Lids. Good Luck with your bids. Sincerely, Joseph Merkel

Historical Glass Collectors Society – Fruit Jar Auctions, Value Guide, Appraisals, & Education Welcome to the Photographic Fruit Jar Encyclopedia and Value Guide. The goal is to photographically record every possible American-made fruit jar, known history of manufacturers and to provide the most updated price guide of the most collectible jars. This is a multi year project and we are committe...

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Wade Mann auction. We design the system so that as the auction closes all of your items are added to your shopping cart so your invoice will. Generate by clicking on your shopping cart, pick your payment method and shipping carrier. we have noticed some addresses in the West quoting too much for shipping charges and we are refunding the overage after the ship label is generated on our end😀

Congratulations to the First HGCS Auction Winners! To Check out Go to My Account & Subscriptions, My Wins, and click pay now on each jar now to add them to cart, then proceed to checkout. The First round of Orders will be shipping out tomorrow. Please Message Use with any Questions.
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Send a message to learn more

Tonight is the KICK OFF EVENT offering additional jars from the Wayde Mann collection to create enthusiasm and excitement for the upcoming auction at www.historicalglasscollectorssociety.com
150 Lots are now Live and Posted for the Wayde Mann Collection Auction that starts on Feb. 17th on the HGCS Website.

Historical Glass Collectors Society – Fruit Jar Auctions, Value Guide, Appraisals, & Education Welcome to the Photographic Fruit Jar Encyclopedia and Value Guide. The goal is to photographically record every possible American-made fruit jar, known history of manufacturers and to provide the most updated price guide of the most collectible jars. This is a multi year project and we are committe...

Wayde Mann - Part 1- Auction is coming along very fine and we have added color comparison photos for the Lightning and Globe Jars making it easier to tell the Quality and Depth of Colors. You can login to the site for Free to view the Auction as we continue to build it out for the Start Date Friday February 17th, 2023. Hope you enjoy as there are many wonderful jars featured from this longtime collection.

We have added several more Jars and Patents to the Patent Jar Section as well as identifying the 3 Primary Different Lightning Style Embossings found on Quarts.
We took over 600 photographs of important jars while at Muncie Jar Get Together and are in the process of adding them to the site as well.

Muncie 2023- Fruit Jar Get Together along with Midwest Fruit Jar and Bottle Club show is over.
My thoughts, experience and summary as follows. If you have never attended and have a passion for collecting and learning about Fruit Jars, Muncie 2024 is a MUST ATTEND EVENT.
The group of collectors who attended from across the United States and Canada including many hobby Icons and knowledgeable collectors who freely share their knowledge, experience and collecting stories with everyone. Free Seminars and Great discussion groups gathered on various topics about jars.
The Friday club meeting is open to everyone and starts with each family, individual or couple standing up, stating their name and where they call home. Each is encouraged and allowed to do a show and tell moment in front of the large group, this year about 100 in the conference room. The show and tell alone is worth the price it costs to travel and pay for the hotel room. By the way every year the club secures a large block of rooms at a reduced rate. At the show and tell there are ALWAYS,EVERY YEAR, Jars shown that you may never seen in person again. History, Education and Fun are at the center and theme of this 4 day long event. Room Hoping begins on Wednesday when collectors open their hotel room doors and display both show and tell items and hundreds of highly collectible jars for sale.
Even “shy” people aren’t so shy after the first day as this community of collectors are overall very inviting and down to earth. They don’t judge and only care to share their passions . This is a week where long term friends and life long bonds emerge. Great homemade foods, drinks, music and laughter are heard up and down the halls on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th floors of the hotel. AND…. If your a night owl, there is always one or two rooms that keep the conversations and laughter going till 2,3 or 4am.
Regardless of your collecting budget or Experience, you are welcomed by our group. If you enjoy fruit jars and the many collectibles associated with them plan on making the trip to Muncie in January, 2024.
To ALL of my lifelong friends and fellow collectors, Tina, Joe Jr. And myself thank you for your sincere support of our online photographic fruit jar guide and the HGCS - www.historicalglasscollectorssociety.com website. Without your help and access to photograph your lifelong collections, this project would be impossible.
For those who visit the site for the first time if you look at the Consolidated Fruit Jars page listed under Masons Manufactures, this is the level of detail that each page will have as we continue to build out the online book. You DO NOT have to join as a subscriber to use the Jar Color Page, Shop for Jars or to Register as a Buyer for our Timed Online or Facebook Auctions. My very Best wishes to each of you to a successful year ahead. Sincerely, Joseph Merkel

The Wayde Mann Collection- PART 1- Bidding Starts on Friday February 17th at 5pm(est). Spread the word inviting other jar collectors to participate. There are truly some wonderful jars in this collection of more than 1200 pieces. Thank you and Happy Bidding. Sincerely, Joseph Merkel
Collectors can register to on featured items from the Wayde Mann Collection by going to AUCTIONS-Tab and Click on TIMED AUCTIONS. You will choose your user name and set up a bidder's account. You DO NOT have to subscribe to the online photographic Fruit Jar Guide to participate in our auctions but you will have limited access to only certain pages, like the Color Guide.

Welcome to Historical Glass Collectors Society. By January 2023 this page will be linked to the Website we have been working on for more than 1 year. The website is NOT currently active. We will continue to post updates here so that collectors will be aware of what is coming.
We will be having our Facebook "LIVE FROM THE JAR CAVE" Auctions here on this page in the future. Also know that from feedback already received, we have also set up a You-Tube page that will also become active in January 2023.
We have sent out a number of invites to individuals who we know are serious about Antique Fruit Jars and Historical Glass.