Question:
I can’t seem to find anything on the "Red Wing Stoneware Fruit Jar" "Manufactured by the Red Wing Union Stoneware Co Red Wing, Minn." It has a different shape than the fruit jars I have seen in research. It also has no patent number or stamp on the bottom and doesn’t look like it ever had one. The jar is tan with blue script lettering on the front, no cracks, crazes or chips, has a grey Ball screw-on lid and a red rubber gasket, both in excellent condition. The inside is the same as the outside. The back of the jar says, in san serif straight type, "Before filling, warm jar by placing in hot water, then pour fruit in boiling hot. Light cannot effect (sic) or fade the contents." This wording is framed in a blue rectangle. The jar came from my husband’s mother’s home in Greybull, Wyoming. We’d like to know an approximate date it was manufactured and how much yo think it might be worth to a collector. Dee

Answer: Dee, these Red Wing fruit jars are quite rare (1916 to 1920). Red Wing was sued for using the words "Mason" on their original fruit jars and therefore changed the style and the wording to Red Wing Stoneware Fruit Jar. This all happen right before the glass fruit jars hit the markets at much lower cost and therefore they were discontinued. The came in 1 quart (value around $2500 to $3000) or 1/2 gal (valued at $2,000 to $$2500). This value is for a perfect fruit jar. So why would you want one of those other chunk change jars. Now you just need to find the size of your jar to know the value. Nice find lucky!!!!!!!!!!! Al Kohlman