A lot of new jar rings boxes have been added to the Fruit Jar Rings Album in the last couple of weeks. These include many new boxes reported by collectors as well as catalog pictures from the early 20th century. I had been debating for a while whether these catalog items should be included alongside the “real” boxes since most all of them are as yet unknown as actual boxes. Feel free to let me know what you think on the subject!
Hulman & Cox Catalog
Francis Hulman established a wholesale grocery company based in Terre Haute, IN, in 1850. He partnered with Robert Cox in 1870 and the company became known as Hulman & Cox. It appears that Hulman bought out Cox in 1879 and the company became known as Hulman & Co. after that time. If the name Hulman sounds familiar to you, this is the same Hulman that owned the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 1945 to 2019 when it was sold to Roger Penske. I don’t think this attached catalog page dates to the 1870s, That date would place graphic jar rings boxes much earlier than I had considered. I believe Hulman Co. retained usage of “HULMAN&COX” as a matter of convenience due to their established price coding system based on that name. I would love to find any one of the 3 as yet undiscovered boxes pictured. As near as I can tell, the wholesale price of jars rings ranged between 45c and 86c per gross.
Latest Revision of Rings & Things III Now Available
I am happy to announce that the 2016 revision of Rings & Things III is now available for purchase. Over 1000 full color photos, manufacturer/distributor information, estimated values – pretty much everything you see for jar rings on this website – all in one convenient and portable book. This time, sealing wax boxes have been included as well. Book comes 3-hole punched and ready for your 1″ or larger 3-ring binder. $25.00 brings it postpaid to your door. If you would like to order the book, please leave a comment to that effect under the “Rings & Things III” header and I will invoice you via Paypal. Don’t worry, I’m the only one that can see your email address! I appreciate the support!
May 2016 – New Items
New listings include A047 Amazon, C054 Club House Red, C089 Co-op Red, C099 Co-op Jar Rings, F122 Fowler’s Vacola Size 2, F123 Fowler’s Vacola Size 4, H073 Holiday Fruit Jar Rings, R276 Royal Shield War Grade, and V099 Victory Trade Mark. A couple of new sealing wax boxes have been added as well. All these will be included in the update of Rings & Things III which will go to press this month! Thank you for your support!
What’s New – Winter 2016
A few new boxes to report – just one more and the new revision of Rings & Things III can get underway. Thanks to Danny Lawson for the A093 Aster from the mysterious Brazil Rubber Co. And thanks to Russ & Roberta Shields for round box #76 – E029 “Eclat” Mason Jar Rings. Other new boxes include the T081 Top Seal and W140 Woodscraft.
Fall 2015 – What’s New
Just 3 new boxes to report: S226 Statite Fruit Jar Rubbers with no manufacturer or distributor information, V044 Viceroy Crown Fruit Jar Rings, and W135 Winfield Supreme Brand. Also, an improved color photo has added for W015 Wadhams Super Thick.
I’m happy to report that we only need for find a mere 5 new boxes for Supplement 4 of Rings & Things III to be complete. The second revision of the book will follow shortly thereafter. Happy Collecting!
Summer and New Stuff
I hope everyone is enjoying the summer sunshine! Of course, here in California we’re in the midst of a drought, while those folks further east have more water than they can handle. It may be better to stay inside, sip a glass of iced tea and admire your collection! New boxes include Q013 Quality Brand, S121 Security Fruit Jar Rings (stamped with proprietor name), and S186 Simon Pure, similar to the Tulip boxes.
Just for the record, there are now 1,027 known different jar rings boxes!
A Few New Things
Over the winter, just a few new additions: C033 Classic Brand, F013 Fairlawn Jar Rubbers, V097 Victory Brand. There’s also a new sealing wax box listed in the Fruit Jar Rings album. Thanks to Jim Sears for letting us know about the new Facebook group for all fruit jar go-withs. I will be adding some new items to the Fruit Jar Tools album as time permits.
November 2014 – Some New Stuff!
Okay, so it’s been a long time since anything new has shown up, but now it’s a bonanza. B181 The B C Co. Brand is the 75th reported round box, M076 Mason Pints and P241 Pure Gum Rings are both plain but old. All the rest are variations on Canadian boxes that haven’t been previously reported. See C091 Co-op, D119, D134, D136 Dominion variations, P092 Perfect Seal, S091 Seal-Tite and V046 Viceroy. There are also upgraded photos for C100 Co-op and J030 Jar Rubbers. I probably won’t be posting anything more until after the New Year so I wish you all happy and safe holidays.
March 2014 – A Bit of New, a Bit of Interest
It’s been a slow winter, the only new box to report is T032 Thistle Jar Rings, reported round ring box Number 74.
The catalog page pictured is from the A.S. Hopkins Co. of Sacramento CA catalog of 1904. As far as I can tell, the Ashco is the only known box that has the Hopkins Co. name on it. Of course, there are several listed that have yet to be found/reported.