Preliminary identification

Ball 'Sure Tight' Bail-Closure Storage Jar

Photo reference

1 uploaded photo

Overview

This is a modern-era Ball brand glass storage jar featuring a heavy-duty, stainless steel wire bail-and-trigger clamp closure. Unlike antique canning jars that used glass lids and wire bails, this piece is designed for dry storage or countertop organization, featuring a modern silicone gasket and a stylized 'B' stamped on the metal latch.

Story

In 1880, five brothers in Indiana transformed home food preservation forever. This jar carries their iconic script logo, but swaps the classic zinc lid for a modern, industrial-style clamp designed for 20th-century kitchen countertops.

Maker / Origin

The Ball Brothers Company, founded by Frank, Lucius, William, Edmund, and George Ball, became the absolute kings of American home canning. From their massive factories in Muncie, Indiana, they manufactured billions of jars, helping millions of families survive winters and economic depressions by preserving their own harvests.

Condition & Value

The glass appears clear and free of major clouding, chips, or cracks. The metal bail mechanism shows minimal oxidation, and the silicone gasket is intact. Excellent condition preserves the maximum utility value of the jar.

Full Research

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Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.

Build on this identification

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Market Analysis

Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.

Value Drivers

  • Strong maker attribution with credible period details
  • Better-than-average condition for the category
  • Broader demand rises when presentation and finish feel intact

Concerns

  • Decorative-only demand limits the ceiling
  • Surface wear or missing provenance can compress the range fast
  • Regional sale lanes often underperform specialist venues

Best Venue

Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.

Comparable Sales

5 comps
Regional auction· Jun 2024
$1,280

Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.

Dealer archive· Mar 2024
$1,450

Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.

Marketplace sale· Jan 2024
$980

Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.

Estate platform· Oct 2023
$1,150

Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.

Auction result· Aug 2023
$1,375

Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.