Gregory’s Patent Aug. 17th 1869 Common Sense Jar
Gregory’s Patent
Aug. 17th 1869
Common Sense Jar
Charles A. and Allen Gregory, Stratford, Connecticut
Aquamarine Quart
Provenance: Phil Smith Collection
The Gregory’s Patent Common Sense Jar was available for a short period of time around 1870. An obscure, and possibly irrelevant 1964 newspaper reference, notes the existence of a worthless stock certificate dated 1872 that reads “Common Sense Fruit Jar Company.” We do not know if this is related. The glasshouse is unknown.
The cylindrical jar is hand blown with a tooled applied lip. The short tapered shoulder melds into a tall wide neck connecting to a graceful turned pronounced rim. The very wide mouth could accept bulkier food items like pickles. A long-stemmed glass immerser lid sets on the rim. A cast iron yoke clamp with thumbscrew holds the immerser lid in place. The base is smooth.
The faintly embossed copy, in a sans serif typestyle on the face of the jar, occurs in three lines and creates a circle in appearance. The wording ‘GREGORY’S’ occurs in a top convex arch visually connected to ‘AUG 17TH 1869’ in a concave under arch. Within the created circle is ‘PATENT’ in a horizontal straight line. The reverse side of the jar is embossed in two lines. ‘COMMON SENSE’ occurs in a top line convex arch. ‘JAR’ in centered beneath in a horizontal straight line. The lid is embossed ‘GREGORY’S PAT AUG 17TH 1869’ around the outer rim band. Most times this embossing is ground off, probably to give more clearance for a clamp. An alternate lid reading ‘GREGORY’S PAT’ in a small circle around thumbscrew receiving hole is also recorded.
The jar patentee was Charles A. Gregory of Stratford, Connecticut. The maker is unknown. The patent associated with this jar was assigned to Charles A. and Allen Gregory of Stratford, Connecticut. The Letters Patent copy is repeated below:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
CHARLES A. GREGORY, OF STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND ALLEN GREGORY, OF SAME PLACE.
IMPROVEMENT IN FRUIT-JARS.
Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 93,820, dated August 17, 1869.
To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that I, CHARLES A. GREGORY, of Stratford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Fruit-Jars; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-
Figure 1 a side view, and in Fig. 2 a vertical central section.
This invention relates to an improvement in fruit-jars, the object being to combine with the stopper or cover an auxiliary head, which, while it partially closes the neck, passes so far down into the neck as to press the fruit below the sirup, and thus insure its being covered.
To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the same, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
A is a fruit-jar of common construction; B, the cover or head proper fitted to the neck of the jar, and secured therein by means of the yoke C, or other known device. To the head B, I attach a spindle or stud, D, extending down into the neck of the jar, and there formed into an auxiliary head, E, as seen in Fig. 2, the said auxiliary head being of less diameter than the neck of the jar.
The fruit is placed in the jar in the usual manner, and the cover placed thereon. The auxiliary head E, passing down into the sirup, (or whatever it may be the fruit is preserved in,) prevents the fruit from rising to the top or above the sirup, the jar being filled with sirup above the auxiliary head E. Thus it will be seen that in whatever position the jar is placed the fruit therein will be held down in the jar. Especially is this desirable in pickles and other articles preserved in vinegar.
What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-
The combination of the auxiliary head E with the principal head or cover B, united together so as to be held in position, substantially in the manner herein set forth.
CHARLES A. GREGORY.
Witnesses:
H. T. BLAKE,
DAVID B. LOCKWOOD.
Primary Image: Gregory’s Patent Aug. 17th 1869 Common Sense Jar imaged on location by Alan DeMaison, FOHBC Virtual Museum Midwest Studio.
Support Image: Auction Lot 2960: GREGORYS PATENT 1869 COMMON SENSE JAR, Quart, Aquamarine, Closure: correct original long-stemmed immerser lid (lettering ground partly off in the making as normal) and rare correct original cast iron yoke clamp with thumbscrew, Appearance: shiny, Condition: no damage, Strength of embossing: medium, Base: unmarked, Age: c1870, Availability: very scarce to find a complete example, especially the rare clamp. – Greg Spurgeon, North American Glass, August/September 2011
Support Image: Comparison of lids embossed ‘GREGORY’S PAT AUG 17TH 1869’ around the outer rim band. Most times this embossing is ground off, probably to give more clearance for a clamp. – Dave Eifler collection.
Support: Reference to Fruit Jar Annual 2020 – The Guide to Collecting Fruit Jars by Jerome J. McCann
Support: Reference to Red Book No. 12, the Collector’s Guide to Old Fruit Jars by Douglas M. Leybourne, Jr.
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