<P> A Mason jar, named after John Landis Mason who first invented and patented it in 1858, is a molded glass jar used in home canning to preserve food . The jar's mouth has a screw thread on its outer perimeter to accept a metal ring (or "band"). The band, when screwed down, presses a separate stamped tin - plated steel disc - shaped lid against the jar's rim . An integral rubber ring on the underside of the lid creates a hermetic seal . The bands and lids usually come with new jars, but they are also sold separately . While the bands are reusable, the lids are intended for single use when canning . Largely supplanted by other products and methods for commercial canning, such as tin cans and plastic containers, glass jars and metal lids are still commonly used in home canning . Mason jars are also called Ball jars, in reference to the Ball Corporation, an early and prolific manufacturer of glass canning jars; fruit jars for a common content; and glass canning jars a generic term reflecting their material and purpose . Lightning fruit jars, another type of Mason jar, were not as common as the screw - thread version, but they were popular for home canning in the late nineteenth (19th) and early twentieth (20th) centuries . </P> <P> In the United States, standard - size Mason jars are made of soda - lime glass and come in two sizes: regular mouth, 2 ⁄ in (60 mm) inner and 2 ⁄ in (70 mm) outer diameter, and wide mouth, 3 in (76 mm) inner and 3 ⁄ in (86 mm) outer diameter, versions . They are also produced in a variety of volumes, including cup (half - pint), pint, quart, and half - gallon . </P> <P> Among the most common U.S. brands of Mason jars are Ball, Kerr, and Golden Harvest . Jarden Corporation, based in Boca Raton, Florida, retains the license to use the Ball and Kerr registered trademarks on home - canning products as a part of its branded consumables business . At one time, Jarden also may have had a license to use the Golden Harvest brand; however, Jarden's website did not list Golden Harvest as one of its brands as of March 2016 . In Canada, Bernardin, which is another division of Jarden, is the most common brand; Golden Harvest is also available . Jarden offers its Canadian jars in metric volumes of 125ml, 250ml, 500ml and 1 litre . </P>

How many ounces in an average mason jar
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