THE  LINCOLN  JAR

 

A very few of these elusive jars have turned up in West Coast collections. Some have assumed that they may have a Western origin, but the proof has been difficult to determine. Some new evidence has surfaced that may confirm this conjecture. It’s not rock solid but enough to posit that they were made for a California company. The actual manufacture of the jars is not confirmed, but it appears they were used by an orchard near San Jose, California, called Lincoln Farm, in the mid 1880’s.

It was a somewhat experimental endeavor whereas the orchard was not planted within the valley lowlands but at a slightly higher elevation in the foothills of the valley. Touted as a success, this may be questionable as the farm was relatively short lived, and very little is known about it. Just two small articles were located in reference to the farm, but of significance, one of those articles mentions the use of the jars.

A newspaper reporter noted, at the Lincoln Farm “At this place I was interested in canning in glass.  All fruit is canned in the “Lincoln Jar,” and capped with the Lincoln seal. Ah yes! The seal. There is a vulnerable spot in orchard canning for distant markets.” (Morning Press, Santa Barbara, July 31, 1884) While this quote is solid evidence of the use of the Lincoln Jar, it alludes that the jars may have been sent to distant markets, assuming the seals held. To my knowledge, there is no good description of what type of seal was used on the Lincoln Jar.

 

The top of the jar is roughly ground, much like the Mason jars of the period. (Bottle and photo from the Jerry Ikeda collection)

 Regardless, we now have a better idea of the origin of this rare jar.

Eric McGuire