DCHP-2

gem jar Gem jar, Gem Jar, gem-jar DCHP-2 (October 2016)

• n. — Food

  a canning and pickling jar (see Image 1).

  Type: 1. Origin — Originally Canadian-made and similar to a Mason jar (the US term), Kilner jar (UK term) or Kerr jar, gem jars have different specifications, most importantly for the size of the jar's mouth (see the 2003 quotation). Gem jars have been used throughout Canada since at least the late 19th century (see the 1893 quotation). Until about the middle of the 20th century, gem jar was a generic term for canning jar, subsequently replaced in some areas with other terms, particularly "Mason jar".
  In 1994, Bernardin, the Toronto producer of gem jars, was purchased by Alltrista Consumer Products, headquartered in the US state of Indiana. Eight years later, production of gem jar lids was discontinued, which caused international protest from home canners (Mesley et al. 2002). Since each inner lid can be used only once, canners' supplies of gem jars would be rendered useless by such move (see the 1992 and 2002 quotations). For a while, production was continued. Chart 1 shows (despite some noise from jars used to store jewellery), the term's Canadian provenance. Today, gem jar seems to be used predominantly on the Prairies, with a presence in rural Canada in general.
  See also COD-2, which labels the term "Cdn".