Ball sells them now, I use them after I open up a jar. I think I got them at Wegmans, but WalMart has a pretty good selection of canning supplies, too.

I see you're Canadian. Are you trying to find plastic storage closures for the 78mm gem lids? Unfortunately, Bernardin only manufactures plastic storage lids for jars currently in production - the 70mm and 86mm.

Even if you could find Bernardin caps in the correct size, those lids aren't tight. I still use a flat under mine so if the jar tips over in the fridge there's no leakage.

There are lots of online glass bottle and jar manufacturers (don't know which are in Canada) that sell both metal and plastic one-piece caps in a wide variety of sizes. You might try a search.

Another option is beekeeping suppliers. I bought one-piece metal canning lids from one here in the U.S. Honey sellers use both plastic and metal caps (threaded and lug) in all kinds of sizes.

I hope this helps.

Carol

Thanks momj47 for the link. Unfortunately, Carol is right, I am in Canada. I don't believe Amazon.com ship those to Canada. Even if they did, it would cost a lot more to ship than the cost of the lids alone.

Carol, thanks! I noticed that too, Bernadin only made those two sizes. I have bought some 70 mm for my 550-ml mason jars but I need some larger ones for the Improved GEM jars (made in Canada). These jars were probably made in the early 1930's and the glass lids say "79" - I assume it's 79mm. I like the glass lids but I don't like the zine caps because I use them to make milk kefir and the zine part turn greenish black and looks very yucky. I could use just the glass lid but you're right about the possibility of spillage if someone accidentally bumped into it.

I did some online search and a lot of these caps sold online come in bulk packages. I only have five of these jars... probably not worth the shipping cost to get just 5. If I can't replace the lids I might as well just retire these lovely jars as collectibles. Will have to get some new mason jars to replace them. Thanks again.

OK, that makes sense. I have some of those old zinc-and-glass capped jars. Mine are Presto brand. Fortunately, mine will also accept current Ball lids. But I can see the dilemma with things like kefir.

Some jars you just have to retire or switch to use as canister for dry foodstuffs. I have some really nice old Kerr pints (ca. 1917) with flat gold caps and clips. They're designed to work with a rubber gasket, but it's the same issue. They aren't standard wide-mouth or narrow-mouth, so even though rubber gaskets are around, none in that size.

I can either use them for jam with paraffin seals or "gift" them filled with potpourri, that sort of thing. I kind of hate to let go of them, though.

I wouldn't give up. Commercial jars come lidded in so many sizes and configurations you may find sometime that a jar you buy has a cap that works. Just keep an eye out. I needed a new uncorroded storage lid for an oddball butter churn jar and was surprised to discover Costco's mega-size Best Foods Mayonnaise cap fits perfectly.

Carol

Oh I won't give up these jars because I really like them. You don't find jars like that these days. I remember those old Kerr jars with gold clips; they are lovely! I have been fitting every single lid in our pantry to see if they fit my GEM jars. DH thinks I am crazy. I will continue to check the odd commercial containers and maybe I will get a pleasant surprise one day! I often find myself wandering down the grocery store aisles talking to myself "wonder if this lid will fit..." LOL

Althe:
Do you have a friend in the US, with the same type jar you are trying to fit with a lid. ???
If so, maybe they can find the lids for you and ship them.
Just a thought !!!
LOU

I was thinking the same thing as Lou, can one of us ship them to you, will they fit, or are Canadian canning jars a different size (please tell me they are the same). We are just to close to have different sizes.

Thanks LOU and momj47! Most of my friends think I am crazy because I make everything instead of going to the store. I doubt that if they know what a mason jar is for, let alone having one in their house! LOL

The jars made in Canada these days probably are the same size as the US made jars. But these old jars are in very odd size. I think they are a bit larger than the regular 78 mm because it's marked "79". The lid probably will still fit, but I can't be sure because I can't even find a 78mm lid to try on.

Measure the Jar Top to see if it is 79 MM.

Where are all the Canners ???
Lou

You might try emailing Bernardin to see what they can tell you about the "79" designation. I've emailed Ball here and they've been pretty quick to reply. (I didn't always like the answers, but they were quick, LOL.)

I remember when the decision to quit making flats and rings for some of those old Gem jars almost provoked a riot among Canadian canners.

You might also put the word out amongst the older people in your community. You may find someone has stashed in their basement or cellar early lids of a more suitable material that will fit your jars. Some of those sizes went through several incarnations.

Carol

The regular Ball lids are about 67mm, the large ones are about 84mm.

I checked, no lids the right size here either, and my local hardware store owner says he doesn't have or know of a supplier.

I think Carol has the best idea, ask a lot of the older people you know, maybe they have a stash of old canning supplies in an attic or basement. Or ebay, although I seldom find anything I'm actually looking for on ebay.

I remember when they stopped making those 63s, I had a bunch of those and I was so ticked. And I have a bunch of old canning jars in my basement, Elery says I'm the only person he knows that collects old canning jars. (grin) I know I'm not the only one.

I keep all my dried beans, rice, peas, panko, etc., in blue Ball jars with Zinc lids in the pantry, I just don't want to give them up and I'm always spilling a bag. Tupperware just isn't the same...

Annie

If you have volunteer fire companies there, like here,
ask them, especially the Ladies Auxillary.

They know everything that goes on, in the Community.
Lou

Thanks everyone!

Carol, emailing them is a good idea. I will dig up their email address later today. I probably won't like their answer either but what do I have to lose? LOL We don't really have an older people community here... there's only one retirement home in our area and I have been going to their garage sales but haven't found anything that fit. I will continue to look. I like going to garage sale so that gives me another excuse to do that.

Annie, I like the ideas of using the jars to keep beans and other non acidic items. I have a feeling that I may end up using them for just that. I probably will arrange the jars in a way to display the different colors of beans so they will all look pretty. :-)

Lou, I don't know anything about volunteer fire companies. Obviously, we don't have them here. We have a local buy & sell paper called the Bargain Finder. I check their postings periodically and so far haven't found anything.

Thanks again ladies. It's nice to belong to a great online community like this!

Boy, Bernardin has to have one of the most user-unfriendly sites I've encountered. They don't make contacting them easy. But, Eureka! Here it is.

Carol

Here is a link that might be useful: Contact Bernardin

Carol, you're awesome! I would have never thought Homecanning.ca was their website. Strange, isn't it? I have just sent them an email and hope to hear back from them. Will keep you posted. Thanks again! Al

Glad to help. I'm a bulldog when it comes to finding things. It's a mission.

Please do let us know how it works out. I have some Bernardin jars but none old enough to be "interesting."

Carol

I remember when Bernardin tried to discontinue the Gem jar supplies. I don't think they made any more of the jars but I picked up what I hoped was a lifetime supply of the sealer lids about 10 yrs ago. That is a really nice sized jar!