Gina: Mason jars were originally invented in 1855 and are the granddaddy of all modern vacuum- sealed jars. They were the first jars to offer an air-tight seal by molding glass to a threaded screw-top, with a rubber ring for an vacuum seal. Because of their design, we can trace the origin of all threaded metal and glass closures to the revolutionary Mason jar invention. There are jars that claim to be Mason jars, but it’s not the real thing unless it has this vacuum closure, like the Ball Mason jars do.