RSS
Email
Facebook
TwitterThings In Cans and Jars
Had I been standing in a grocery store talking with its owner, and had that owner called me in because he was closing shop and was inquiring as to whether or not I could liquidate his stock, I wouldn’t have been taken aback by the question.
Do you sell canned goods?
As it was, I was standing in a house, the contents of which included all manner of horrendously unmarketable items, including decades old food in tin cans and jars. Yes, jars. Relics from a time when people felt it was better not to eat their food, but vacuum seal it in Mason jars* allowing it to spoil over decades instead of days.
While many estates into which I have ventured have contained old canned food in both tin and glass, no one had ever hoped that I would be willing to take it to my auction gallery. For the previously quoted query had not been asked with a nonchalant tone, but rather with the inflection of incredulous frustration after I had explained that there was nothing in the estate that was marketable. ”Do you sell canned goods?” was asked of me with the same desperation that a defeated adult may use when asking a fussy child, “Well, what do you want to eat?”
While I was tempted to make an appointment to return to this particular estate and pick up the vintage canned goods, I discovered–after consulting my abacus–that the cost of the removal far outweighed what I might make in commission. So I gently declined and took my leave.
I must note that there are certain things other than food that can be found in cans and jars that are unmarketable. Likewise, there are certain things that might be found in cans and jars that are marketable. Therefore, I have compiled the following lists, which are by no means complete, but are intended to exemplify the fact that the marketability of “canned goods” must be considered on a case by case basis:
Unmarketable Items in Cans and Jars
- Food
- Rusty Hardware (Bolts, Nuts, Nails, etc.)
- Fireflies
- Nail Clipping
- Urine
- Leftover Paint
- Hair
- Dirt
- Lint
- Souls
Marketable Items in Cans and Jars
- Gold
- Silver
- Precious and Semiprecious Gems
- Vintage Currency and Coins with Numistic Value
- Jewelry
- Vintage Fashion Buttons
- Ammunition
- Small Vintage Toys
- Genies
- Souls
You will notice that souls appears in both lists. That’s because the marketability of a soul depends upon from whom it was harvested. This fact reaffirms the need to consider every inquiry regarding canned goods on an individual basis. Indeed, any good auctioneer acknowledges the prudence of ascertaining the contents of cans and jars before marketability can be determined.
###
*NOTE: There is a common misconception that antique Mason jars are valuable. This is not the case for 99.9% of them. Most antique Mason jars are blue or clear and have absolutely no value.
There are, however, rare color variations that can command strong prices at auction. The amber Mason jar pictured on the left was sold at our gallery on March 2, 2010 and realized $170 because of its color.
Other rare colors include cobalt, lime green, and milk glass.
Facebook
Twitter
fast eddie
How about a can of worms? I once went to a house that contain several can o’ peas. They were made of canvas. Another time I went to a house and had to use the can. I’ve heard of Mason Jars but do you know if the Odd Fellows ever issued their own brand of jars? I once signed up for a canning class but when I showed up there was a very angry looking Asian fellow holding a whip. Here it was a “caning” class. What a difference an “N” makes.
J. Bear Savo
If I use my imagination, I can see and hear Groucho Marx saying all that.
Beth
“Relics from a time when people felt it was better not to eat their food, but vacuum seal it in Mason jars* allowing it to spoil over decades instead of days.”
I take offense to this statement, and your statement is also quite ignorant. People didn’t store it in jars because they didn’t want to eat it, they stored it so it would be preserved and safe to be eaten later when there was no food growing. Many of us work hard for our food, and our harvests and take pride in storing those harvests to last through the winter. Not everyone lives around the corner from a 24 hour market nor is everyone able to afford to buy all their foods from said stores.
Yes, it may not be marketable for you, and you certainly had every right to decline selling them, but you need not be so rude about it.
I hope you never see a day where you have need to store food, or actually have to grow your food, I don’t think your attitude would feed you.
J. Bear Savo
Pardon me, Beth, but I understand the purpose for canning. Many people still do it today, either out of necessity or as a hobby (jams, jellies, etc.).
You said, “Yes, it may not be marketable for you, and you certainly had every right to decline selling them, but you need not be so rude about it.”
Food that’s been in cans for 50+ years is neither sellable nor edible. This should be common sense. I found it absurd that I would be asked if I could sell food that’s decades old.
Katherine
I bet you could sell jars of nail clippings and urine on ebay! Just give it a good marketing spin and you will have a bidding war. LOL
J. Bear Savo
If it were nail clippings and urine from celebrities… Oh, the bidding would be crazy.
kathcom
So you’re saying that, if I become famous, my lifelong collection of urine and nail clippings will have been a sound business decision? If so, I hope it happens soon or I might have to ask Beth to rent me some space in her basement.
J. Bear Savo
Oh, absolutely. Set up the eBay account now so you can start selling as soon as you end up on Entertainment Tonight.
Seraphine
who stores gold and jewelry in jars?
i suppose they are the same people who bury their money in the back yard.
i’d bet a lot of people have penny jars.
i have a roll of wheat pennies somewhere. i wish i had a jar full.
don’t tell me. i already know the probable answer: wheat cents are only worth a penny.
right? right. sigh.
J. Bear Savo
Actually, Wheat Pennies are worth about 3 to 7 cents apiece, unless of course you have a key date. A key date Wheat Penny could be worth hundreds of dollars.