#020 - The Glass That Lasted

Episode 5 – "The Glass That Lasted"

In 1858, a tinsmith named John Landis Mason patented a humble glass jar with a screw-top lid—a design so perfect it would outlive him by centuries. The Mason jar revolutionized food preservation, empowering rural families, reducing waste, and becoming a symbol of self-reliance. But while his name became immortal, Mason himself died in obscurity, his profits lost to copycats and weak patent laws.

In this episode of Inventing America, discover how a simple invention sealed its way into pantries, pop culture, and history—even as its inventor faded from view. From spoiled peaches to Pinterest crafts, the Mason jar’s legacy is airtight.

Key Topics:

- The flawed food storage methods of the 1800s

- Mason’s ingenious (but poorly protected) patent

- How the jar shaped rural life and modern DIY culture

- Why some inventors are remembered—and others are forgotten

Subscribe to "Inventing America" for more stories of forgotten innovators. Next time: The woman who transformed laundry day—and never saw her name on the wringer.