Topic: Please Help Date John Kilner 1800s Jar

[shenanigans]

Hi Experts.  Thank you for being willing to help people figure out their jars (glass).  I've spent quite a bit of time on the internet attempting to determine an age & value for what I have but have not been successful about finding another like it.  I know the bottle is quite old, I'm guessing mid to late 1800s.  I'm attaching a picture.  The jar stands almost 6" tall.  The top is about 9 1/2" around.  The bottom is about 11 1/2" around.  It is a two-seam jar with an applied top/lip.  The botom has embossed letters that say "JOHN KILNER WAKEFIELD".  In the middle is a number "120" with a mark after it or possible a "1204".  It may be "120" with an arrow pointing right.  Or it may be something else, it's not real clear.  There is one small, about 1/8" around bump in the middle of the bottom protruding out.  The jar is green.  It has bubbles and sand & stuff in it.  It's in great shape.  This is probably because it came up from the bottom of Lake Geneva Wisconsin maybe 40 years ago.  My father used to scuba dive and he found it there.  - Mary

[Frank]

John Kilner were at Wakefield 1847-1857 but it is possible that moulds were not changed when they changed address, they may also have continued to use the Wakefield plant. So your guess was very good.

[Heidimin]

You might want to look at Angela's post summarising the history of the Kilner jar: http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,91.0.html. Various other snippets too if you search this board - including a link to Jeremy Clarkson...

My family used to go diving too, in the rivers in Nigeria. My father has an amazing collection of old (C19th) Dutch gin bottles, all emptied and then thrown overboard by passengers on the river steamers.

[KevinH]

In the wonderful world of paperweights Kilner green bottle glass weights and "dumps" are known with base stamps for "J. Kilner Maker Wakefield" and "J. Kilner & Sons Makers Wakefield". Although this hints at a "discrepancy" with the details Angela posted for Kilner company names and dates (John Kilner & Co, Castleford ...), I suspect that a jar stamped without "& Sons" would therefore have been made before 1847.

[lwjars]

I think the John Kilner Wakefield may refer to the younger John Kilner who ran the Wakefield plant 1857-1900.