AN IMPROVEMENT IN FRUIT JARS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN
FRUIT JARS." A communication from abroad by Adam Dickey, of Middletown,
in the County of Butler, State of Ohio, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th April 1877.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVEMENT IN FRUIT JARS." A communication from
abroad by Adam Dickey, of Middletown, in the County of Butler, State of Ohio,
United States of America.
The object of this Invention is to provide a fruit jar better adapted for preserving
its contents, which jar, while possessing the non-corrosive qualities of glass, shall
also possess the light intercepting qualities of tin, and thus obviate the deleterious
effects of light upon the fruit. To this end the Invention consists, as a new article
of manufacture, in a jar composed of black or dark colored glass, such as will
exclude the light; the said coloring matter being mixed with the glass while under
process of preparation, in the manner well known to glass workers. I propose to
apply this color of glass to any style of jar with either tin or glass tops; but I
prefer to make the body and top of the jar with the same material, and fasten the
top with wax.
A can or jar possessing all of the desirable qualities for preserving fruits and articles
of food has always been a desideratum. Tin is extensively used for making cans for this
purpose by reason of some of its qualities; but it is objectionable on account of its
tendency to corrode and become unfit for use, which corrosion takes place to such
an extent, when the contents are characterized by acidity, as to impart to the same
a disagreeable metallic taste, which is not only unpalatable, but unwholesome
and injurious,
Transparent glass of the kind ordinarily used for fruit jars is not open to this
objection of corrosion, but by reason of its transparency light is transmitted to the

page_text: fruit, and there produces objectionable chemical re-action, in that it causes the
fruit to fade and lose its bright fresh color, and also to a great extent induces
fermentation.
Earthenware jars have also been used for putting up fruits, &c., and these, it is
truc, possess the qualities of opaqueness without the liability to corrosion, but the
earthenware is either porous or glazed; and if porous, it permits the absorption of
the fluids, and involves difficulties in cleaning and eliminating the germs of ferment
and if glazed, the glazing becomes decomposed by the action of the acids, and
produces discoloration of the fruit, and imparts to the latter a disagreeable flavor.
Earthenware moreover is heavy and clumsy, and the various objections which apply
to its use for fruit jars have led to its abandonment for this purpose.
By making the jars of black or dark colored glass, it will be seen that the color
and flavor of the fruit are completely preserved, and while the jar possesses the
quality of resisting the action of the acids, it is also free from the injurious effects
of light, thus securing all the advantages of tin earthenware and glass, as heretofore
used, with none oftheir disadvantages.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th October 1877.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVEMENT IN FRUIT JARS." A communication from
abroad by Adam Dickey, of Middletown, in the County of Butler, State of Ohio,
United States of America.
The object of this Invention is to provide a fruit jar better adapted for preserving
its contents, which jar, while possessing the non-corrosive qualities of glass, shall
also possess the light intercepting qualities of tin, and thus obviate the deleterious
effects of light upon the fruit. To this end, the Invention consists, as a new article
of manufacture, in a jar composed of black glass.
This
In the accompanying Drawing A represents a fruit jar of any ordinary con-
struction provided with a cap B attached thereto in any suitable manner.
jar is made of glass of a black or any dark color, such as will exclude the light, the
said coloring matter being mixed with the glass while under process of preparation
in the manner well known to glass workers. I propose to apply this color of glass
to any style of jar with either tin or glass tops, but I prefer to make body and top
of the jar of the same material, and fasten the top with wax.
A can or jar possessing all of the desirable qualities for preserving fruits and articles
of food has always been a desideratum. Tin is extensively used for making cans
for this purpose by reason of some of its qualities, but it is objectionable on account
of its tendency to corrode and become unfit for use, which corrosion takes place to
such an extent, when the contents are characterised by acidity, as to impart to the
same a disagreeable metallic taste, which is not only unpalatable, but unwholesome
and injurious.
Transparent glass of the kind ordinarily used for fruit jars is not open to this
objection to corrosion, but by reason of its transparency, light is transmitted to the
fruit, and thereby produces objectionable chemical re-action, in that it causes the
fruit to fade and lose its bright fresh colour, and also to a great extent induces
fermentation.
'
Earthenware jars have also been used for putting up fruits, &c., and these, it is
true, possess the qualities of opaqueness without the liability to corrosion, but the
earthenware is either porous or glazed; and if porous, it permits the absorption of
the fluids, and involves difficulties in cleaning and eliminating the germs of ferment;
and if glazed, the glazing becomes decomposed by the action of the acids, and

page_text: produces discoloration of the fruit, and imparts to the latter a disagreeable flavor
Earthenware moreover is heavy and clumsy, and the various objections, which apply
to its use for fruit jars, have led to its abandonment for this purpose.
By making the jars of black or dark colored glass, it will be seen that the color
and flavor of the fruit are completely preserved, and while the jar possesses the
quality of resisting the action of the acids, it is also free from the injurious
effects of light, thus securing all the advantages of tin, earthenware, and glass, as
heretofore used, with none of their disadvantages.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, as a new article of manufacture, a
fruit jar composed of black glass, as and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this Sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)