Whitall's Patent Atmospheric Jar / SOLD
A glassworks originally established at Millville, New Jersey, in 1806 was acquired by the Whitall Brothers in 1844. Whitall, Tatum & Company was formed in 1857 and operated independently until 1938.
There are two styles of this jar that survive. The earlier silhouette was a square shoulder and had a domed cap. The later style had a rounded shoulder and a flat cap. A substantial number of the later ones survive, while the earlier ones suffered loss through attrition and breakage. The finish on these jars are similar to the wax seal cap/finish but instead had a glass lid which fit into or between the circular but parallel ridges on the top of the lip, and was held down with a thumbscrew clamp. Inside these ridges was to sit a rubber gasket. The use of glass lid, instead of metal, would have been a natural evolution from the wax sealers metal cap to avoid imparting a metallic taste to the contents of the jar - a common complaint.
The reverse side of the Millville jars are embossed WHITALL'S PATENT / JUNE 18, 1861. Very nice example!
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Inventory Number: BOT 113 / ON-HOLD