Mason Jar Canning Question?

So... mason jar canning was first invented supposedly in the 1850s. Although there was a woman involved with learning how to can the vegetables, the guy came up with the jar idea. Don't think they are related.

But it occurred to me that at some point they might not have had rubber to make the rubber rings for that process.

Did they ever use pine sap or pine tar to seal the jars? Could that work if people couldn't have access to the store? This seems interesting to ask, since so many strange things are happening in economic news in various countries and rumors of wars, etc.

I'd also heard a lady who was an expert food storage person say that the canning jar lids and their rubber seals can be used more than once. But because it was an educational opportunity a number of years ago, i can't remember how many times she said people had tested that they can confirm re: the number of times those rubber seals and lids to be reused?

I do a LOT of canning. I would NEVER ever reuse a canning lid. One mght get away with it but by just looking at a lid one cannot be 100% sure that it will seal properly. Botulism can be fatal so why would one take any type of chance of getting it over the price of a lid which costs pennys. The manufactures of the lids clearly state no to reuse.

Did they ever use pine sap or pine tar to seal the jars? Could that work if people couldn't have access to the store? This seems interesting to ask, since so many strange things are happening in economic news in various countries and rumors of wars, etc.

Interesting question. I did some research and did not find any use of pine tar. However, I did find a fairly common widely used technique of hot wax seals. Early settlers poured hot wax over the top of a glass jar to create an airtight seal. Prior to that and as early as 1795 Nicolas Appert came up with a canning method sealing wide mouth glass jars with cork. The method was tested successfully with Napoleon's army on a campaign of over four months.

I find this amazing considering this all happened well before Louis Pasteur’s key experiments.

Seems to me if one were concerned about not having access to a store, they would stockpile a good number of the reusable lids. Interesting question @nao57

Do you mean to say, that the hot wax was used IN PLACE OF the rubber seals on the lids?

Thanks.

No, the hot wax was the seal. My own Mother used that method while I was growing up even though we had canning lids. Not sure why she chose that over canning lids, but it was very effective

The process went like this...the food was poured hot into the jar, melted paraffin was then poured directly onto the surface of the food forming a layer about 1/2 inch thick. As the wax cooled it hardened and adhered to the inside rim of the jar creating an airtight seal. As I recall a loose lid was placed over the wax, but the wax itself was the actual seal. She used this method a lot on fruit and jams and jellies, etc. I can still remember getting that wax to chew as it was delicious...not to mention very effective.

I guess recounting that makes me feel old. In spite of that, I hope you enjoyed reading it as I enjoyed remembering it from long ago. True story, my own actual experience not some AI generated stuff.

Thanks. This is interesting to hear about.

People now want to have independence like people used to have way back then. So to me I don't think about if its old or not. I just really like the idea of independence.

I guess you are talking to perhaps one of the more (most) independent people around today.

I grow and have grown for decades over 90% of the veggies my family consumes....all without any external inputs other than seed and even there much of my seed is saved from previous harvests. Just stating a fact...not bragging or complaining. I prefer home grown over anything and everything store bought.

People now want to have independence like people used to have way back then.

I absolutely love reading that...but I am very very skeptical about it.... but I do hope you are right about it.

I live in a very rural area and purposely do not go into towns a lot. Social media provides me insights into how people are thinking.... correct or not. What I see from social media does not support your claim that people (as in majority of people) want to have independence.

On the contrary, they seem to be going the other way in so many aspects of life.

Just talking about gardening specifically, I just don't see many people on forums like this one who really truly want independence. Some talk a good game, but when it comes to actually providing food independent of external inputs e.g. fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, etc. etc. , not so much.

The proof is in action and not talk....and unfortunately, I see more talk than action. Correct me if I'm wrong, please. I really hope I am wrong, but I fear not.

No, the hot wax was the seal. My own Mother used that method while I was growing up even though we had canning lids. Not sure why she chose that over canning lids, but it was very effective

The process went like this...the food was poured hot into the jar, melted paraffin was then poured directly onto the surface of the food forming a layer about 1/2 inch thick. As the wax cooled it hardened and adhered to the inside rim of the jar creating an airtight seal. As I recall a loose lid was placed over the wax, but the wax itself was the actual seal. She used this method a lot on fruit and jams and jellies, etc. I can still remember getting that wax to chew as it was delicious...not to mention very effective.

I guess recounting that makes me feel old. In spite of that, I hope you enjoyed reading it as I enjoyed remembering it from long ago. True story, my own actual experience not some AI generated stuff.

My Mom canned a lot of jams, mostly. She always used the hot wax method. I still have her tiny little portable electric tabletop burner she used and the pan with wax in it. Don't know why I keep it . . .