Mason jars were originally developed to withstand the high temperatures necessary for processing pickles. After 1879, other manufacturers, such as Brockway who made this jar, used the term “Mason” on their product. Metal tops came into play in 1881. This Brockway Mason jar was made between 1925 and 1936, during the Great Depression (1929-1939) when canning became part of the survival strategy in many American households.