Saturday, January 23, 2016

Victory Jar



Here is a great western jar that comes in many colors. I have seen cornflower blue and green examples, but have also heard rumors of an amber example known to exist. Is that true ? Based on the below ad it looks like the Pacific Glass works could have began producing the Victory Jar some time in 1870. How long of a run did these jars have ? The below article does not mention any Victory Jars being made in 1876 after the merger, but it does note Gems, Masons, and wax sealers. Did the SF&PGW continue to produce these jars after the 1876 merger, or are these jars strictly 1870 to 1876 ? They often come out of 1880s or later holes, but if anything would have sat in the cupboard for 10 or 20 years, a fruit jar would be it. 
 
Which variant is the rarest ?
 
Does anyone have any photos of a blue example ?


Pacific Rural Press, May 25 1872




Sacramento Daily Union, April 20 1872



Sacramento Daily Union, May 18 1872



Pacific Rural Press, September 23 1876









13 comments:

  1. I believe these jars began production in 1870, as that advertisement states that they are in their third year of production. Their is no evidence to conclude whether these jars were discontinued after the merger of the two glass works. It is a logical assumption that these jars may not have continued to be used much after PGW was dismantled and the company name incorporated into the new company.I don't know that we will ever know the answer.

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  2. I have never seen or heard of one of these jars in amber, and all examples I have dug were in aqua to green. I also have a theory on why mint jars were thrown in to privies. I firmly believe that in most cases, fruit jars were "used" as chamber pots and this accounts for perfect jars being tossed in to a privy pit. In the days before refrigeration, it seems odd that a jar being used for preservation of food would be discarded in to a pit otherwise. maybe spoiled contents were dropped in the pit to avoid disease, but rarely are fruit jars dug sealed with contents. I think large pickle jars were used in this way also. The Victory jars are great pieces, and I have always wondered why some are embossed "Work" with the missing "S".

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  4. Several years ago, we dug an outer here in town that had a Pacific / Victory jar in it; nearly sapphire blue in coloration. Sadly, it was damaged and we never could locate the closure. It was dug in context with an E. C. Brooks Druggist / Jacksonville bottle which can be dated to a narrow three year window in the mid eighties. Not sure when the Victory jar was blown though.

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  5. Bruce, I have a similar story. We dug a light blue half gallon example down here in the Bay Area with a very small hole and large crack in the base. Even though it was damaged, it was a great bottle to keep and display for a color run. Apparently my digging partner didn't agree with me and the bottle ended in in the recycling bin before I had a chance to run over to his house and check it out the following week after the dig !

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  6. I've got the sole "amber" version which is described in the RB as puce and it definitely has a bit of the puce color to it - not that we fruit jar folk are experts in puce. As for which color is rarest, I guess I'd have to say puce. They come in nice cornflowers also which are fairly rare. Aqua is the usual color. The green you're displaying there is a great one - don't remember seeing one in that color. Never seen one in clear but never say never.

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  7. Wow, is there any way you could share a photo of the "amber" example you have ? Is it an SF or San Francisco variant ? What size is it ?

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  8. Well, I got a little ahead of myself - sorry 'bout that. It's a Victory Jar but WITHOUT the Pacific Glass Works on the other side. It would be cool to have one of those in amber, but as far as I know no such thing exists. That said, the picture of mine is here:

    https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/37016670/Puce%20Victory.jpg

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  9. I am not very well versed on fruit jars, but have dug several of the Victory jars without any Pacific Glass Work(s) on the reverse. Are these western? They look identical otherwise...same closure.

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  10. John Taylor had made arrangements for PGW to manufacture some of the Victory Jars, otherwise they are not of western origin.

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  11. There "CANNING JARS" They held veggies ,meat ,fish.

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  12. Point well taken.so do any of you advanced collectors out there,happen to have a mint example of a ( CUTTING & CO SAN FRANCISCO) OR ( SAN FRANCISCO GLASS WORKS) OR ( M SELLER & CO PORTLAND O) CHAMBER POT for sale?

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  13. Ok...cute snarkyness.
    Really? You think I indicated that fruit jars were made and intended to be used as chamber pots? Seriously? My point was that after their intended use for fish, meat, and pears or whatever, they had a second use as impromptu chamber pots. I have dug MANY fruit jars of all types full of truly disgusting human matter that may have STARTED out as fish, meat, or pears...even corn, but that was not what the jar contained...and I know the difference between decomposed fruit, meat, salami, and S++T. Passed my employer urine test with a sample from one jar dug in Portland. Of course Portland and my local area are OCD about recycling, and apparently were then also:) By the way, I have each of those jars in mint condition, but not for sale, as I may need them if my home plumbing backs up. You guys are real cards.

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