The “Chesebrough / Manuf’g. Co. Cd. / New – York” marking is just one of a variety of embossing variations found on the face of earlier Vaseline (petroleum jelly) jars made of glass. Vaseline was patented in 1872 (patent #127,568) by chemist Robert Augustus Chesebrough (1837-1933), doing business as Chesebrough Manufacturing Company, which had been incorporated in about 1870. Chesebrough first discovered petroleum jelly and its beneficial medicinal properties in approximately 1858.
The first factory where Vaseline was manufactured was located in Brooklyn, New York (on Richards St. between Verona and Delavan). Later, by approximately 1880, Chesebrough also had a refinery operation located at Perth Amboy, New Jersey. For some background info on the earlier years in Brooklyn, see this webpage: http://maggieblanck.com/BrooklynRedHook/Chesebrough.html
Some of the earliest jars to contain Vaseline were not marked (i.e. there was no raised lettering embossed in the glass) but carried paper labels with the product information printed on them. Strong evidence of this can be found on page 57, of Bottles on the Western Frontier, by Rex L. Wilson (1981), in which an unmarked jar, found at an early fort site in Laramie, WY, had remnants of a Chesebrough label. The jar illustrated is of a generic style termed a “pomade” in early glass bottle makers’ catalogs.
However, most of the typically found early versions, at least those being made by the late 1880s, are marked “CHESEBROUGH MFG CO [ arched] above “VASELINE”. (This style is shown as the first example on the far left in the group photo of four jars). These jars are typically made of clear or off-clear glass, hand blown, and have tooled lips, styled for a cork closure.
(Note: Some examples may have a faint amethyst tint as a result of natural “sun purpling” if the glass contained manganese as a decolorizer. Any of these jars that are found in dark purple or strong “grape” amethyst have been artificially irradiated, as they were never produced in that color. See this page on “Artificially purpled glass“).
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Later versions of the jar, into the early decades of the 20th century, have screw-type lips, and just one of the lettering arrangements would include “TRADE MARK / VASELINE / CHESEBROUGH / NEW – YORK”. Minor variations in the exact wording is seen on different examples. These jars are extremely common and are easily one of the most frequently found utilitarian containers in bottle dumps dating throughout the 1880s-1960s period, as vast numbers of them were made.
Most early examples are in clear glass, somewhat later, amber jars were also made – to contain the “carbolated” version. The amber jars were introduced sometime in the late 1890s or very early 1900s.
Few of these containers have glass company identification marks on the base, so it is difficult, or impossible (in most cases) to be certain what glassmaking company produced any particular jar, and they are hard to date precisely. However, some of the later Vaseline jars are reported to be marked with the “H over smaller A” trademark used by Hazel-Atlas Glass Company.
Modern-era versions of the standard Vaseline salve container are made of plastic, as Chesebrough is believed to have stopped using glass jars in about 1965.
In 1987 the Chesebrough Manufacturing Company was purchased by Unilever. The Vaseline line has gradually expanded in recent years with more products being offered such as lotions and moisturizers.
Another type of salve jar that is found in very large numbers in 20th century refuse dumps would be the cobalt blue Vicks VapoRub jars. For some information on those jars, check out this webpage: Cobalt Blue Vicks VapoRub Jars .
For much more in-depth information on Chesebrough and Vaseline, with an extensive examination of bottle types and estimated dates of production, check out this great article written by Bill Lockhart: https://sha.org/bottle/pdffiles/Vaseline2015.pdf
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Vaseline started using plastic jars in 1967
Hi Jessie,
Thanks a lot for your post! Can you tell me where you found that information? That certainly sounds like it would be correct but I’m looking for more backup info to confirm.
Thanks and take care! Happy New Year!
David
We dug one out of our garden in Wales. It has a tall neck, not screw neck, has faint purplish colour and has wording Chesebrough Vaseline Manufact’G Co. I haven’t seen another online with the exact wording.
Really enjoying finding me way around the site
David, thanks for all of the work you put into providing historical glass info on the web. I recently purchased a bunch of bottles at a tag sale and there were 2 Vaseline jars, one like the left clear one and one like the left amber one. You are my go to person for identifying bottles.
Hi Mary Ann,
Thanks for the kind words about the site! Glad to be of help!
David
I just found a vaseline bottle similar to the middle two in your picture in a small dump in some woods. The metal screw top was still intact but very rusted. I carefully picked off the lid and was amazed to find a little vaseline still inside! This was near Aylesbuy in England.
Found chesebrough 13 MFG CO.CO 12 New York on bottom of jar. How old do you think it is?
I found one in our old dump in Helper, Utah. On the bottom it has “CHESEBROUGH 7 MFG. CO.CD. 24 New York” there are seams on both sides, also just below the shoulder there is also a seam. It is a twist top. And I assume it had a paper label. Any idea?
Hi Carrie,
As with others of that type, I can’t put a date on it, but would guess it is from sometime in the 1920s -1940s era.
Thanks for your post!
David
Thought you might be interested that I found a jar like the fourth on the right in the first photo. It was in our garden in Wellington, New Zealand. There is nothing on the base. Our section was developed and the house built in the 1940s so I guess it’s been here for some time! I am also interested that Robert Chesebrough’s first manufacturing business was in Red Hook, New York……a place I visited many times while visiting my son in Brooklyn.
Hi Margaret,
Thanks for your post! Yes, the Vaseline jars were sold far and wide, all around the world! Take care,
David
Please if you can tell me about this small 2 1/2 inch clear glass with a poodle on one side begging and ml markings for medical purposes on the other. I wanted to send photos just not sure how. Thank you for your help and information. Love your site!!
Hi Sherry, if you would like to email me pictures, my email address is listed in the “CONTACT INFO / NOTES” at the bottom of the webpage. If possible, please send pics one at a time in separate emails. I don’t know if I can be of help, but I will see if I recognize the item you are describing.
Thanks and take care!
David
Hi Sherry, your bottle sounds like one that I have. It’s a feeder bottle for Betsy Wetsy dolls from the 1940’s and 1950’s. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-sunruco-sunbabe-baby-bottle-414926825
Hi there, I’ve found a small bottle base while collecting seaglass. It is a complete base, about 1.5 inches in diameter reading “Chesebrough Pond’s Inc” and a “12” in a circle. any idea what the 12 is? Plant number perhaps?
Kelsey, the “12” is most likely a mold number.
David
Hi, I found one of the early Vaseline clear glass jars 2nd from left as seen in your 1st picture. This was today in a field in Ayrshire, Scotland … and even although the plough has shifted and broke many of the bottles in this victorian dump, the little Vaseline jar is still complete 🙂
Hi Fiona,
Interesting! I appreciate your writing! Take care, David
My son is 32. I have the jar of Nursery Jelly with the baby fresh scent. Still smells like powder. Has a lamb on the front
Hey David! I found one of these jars while digging in the back yard here in St. Louis and wanted to say Thank you for taking the time to share info that you knew about them!!!
on the top photo i have one that is identical to the second from the left, it is in great condition just a little dirty
I HAVE TWO LARGE 19TH C OIL PAINTINGS THAT I PURCHASED FROM THE FLEMMING FAMILY IN KINGTON ONTARIO. MR FLEMMINGS FIRST WIFE WAS A CHESEBOROUGH I BELIEVE THE PORTRAITS TO BE HER ANCESTORS PERHAPS EVEN ROBERT AND HIS WIFE
I found one the bottom of jar said chesebrough mfg2 co.cd.7 new york
I have the same thing, I was actually looking here for info on it. Mine also has a 32 on the bottom and a small 7-32 on the finish in front of one of the threads. I though maybe that represented the date of manufacture?
Hi CJ,
The “32” is probably a mold number, but I’m not sure what the “7” would mean. As far as I know, Vaseline jars did not carry date codes. More investigation is needed here! 🙂
~David
I have one that looks like the one on the far left but it is an amber color. Is this very common.
Lawrence, did you mean the very top photo, or the second photo with the amber one on the far left? The handblown clear jar on the far left in the top photo is fairly common, but I don’t know how common an equivalent amber example would be……..but I am assuming it would be MUCH harder to find than one in clear.
David
Hi David, I have just come across one of these jars in my late fathers garage here in England. The glass appears clear, I say appears as it contains an orange grease substance that I suppose has replaced the original vaseline. It has some remains of a paper label and a metal lid. The lid has the lettering ‘The leading retail Chemist in the world’ with the name ‘Boots’ in the centre, not sure if this is a replacement!
Best regards
Ade
Ade, I don’t know anything about your jars.
David
I can’t give you an exact date, but I can tell you it was the early 70s when they transitioned to plastic. I can remember my Mom coming home with the “New & Improved” plastic jar of vaseline and she exclaimed “its UNBREAKABLE!!” – and then she tossed it to me and I missed it, when it hit the floor it got a huge crack in it, because the plastic was so hard back then. I could’ve only been 6 – 8 yrs old at the most. I was born in 65.
Hi Cherie,
Thank you for your interesting post! I appreciate it!
~David
I dug the earliest version of the Vaseline bottle out in my back yard. Neat little jar. Also dug up a Hicks Capudine bottle.
I have a Vaseline jar, amber glass with a yellow lid still with the original yellow label, my husband found it under our house that was built in 1928 so we figure one of the workers probably lost it
Hi Kathy,
It is possible, but it is also possible, if the jar was found in a small cellar or ‘crawlspace’, it could have been tossed there years later by someone who lived in the house, maybe a mischievous child hiding items, or a pet such as a dog. Hard to say! Thanks for writing~
David
I have one that looks similar to the one on the far left but the neck on mine looks a bit shorter and the rim at the top a bit rounder. The bottle still has over three quarter of it’s somewhat faded paper label on it. It still has over half of its vaseline content in it and the cork has sunk to the bottom. I have placed some plastic wrap over the top to keep it from drying out. I’ve had it for over twenty five years now.
I collect vaseline jars, i have a good dump near me where i have found many assortments of these jars. i found one that could possibly be 1890s. it is very warped in shape ,it is amethyst,and it has a screw top, I also have one of the amber jars that has embossing on the bottom and a clear one that is much larger than the normal jars. Are any of these rare or old?
Hi Albert,
The one in amethyst with a screw top would probably date from sometime in the 1910s-1920s. The 1890s-era Vaseline jars have a lip made for a cork, not a screw type lid. The jars that are heavily warped may be that way from periodic burning of a dumpsite.
Most Vaseline jars are very common. I can’t date many of them precisely, but only a very broad date range.
Best regards,
David
I have a jar as well like the one on the far left, are they worth anything???
Gina, this is not intended as an appraisal site, but merely to provide background historical information on glass. However, I feel your query deserves an answer. Since the earlier hand-blown Vaseline jars were made in fairly large numbers (for their time period) and they are rather frequently found by antique bottle diggers and collectors, the values are fairly low for a typical example in good condition……perhaps in the range of 2 to 7 dollars or so. But I feel the intrinsic historical value of an item such as that which may be 100 years old or more, and made here in the United States, has more importance to me than mere monetary value. That’s just my personal opinion. In any case I haven’t scrutinized ebay auctions to get a better idea on how much they actually sell for. Ebay is the best way to get a “feel” for what old bottles actually sell for on the open resale marketplace, but you have to search the “Completed Auctions” option, NOT the “minimum bid” or “buy it now” or “asking price” which are often highly unrealistic. Also, a typical example might be priced for sale much higher in some venues such as other internet sites, at flea markets, antique malls or antique shops.
Hope this helps,
David
I found a bottle like the one 2nd from the left amongst some other jars at an honor system box after hours ( yes I paid what they asked, 2 dollars per bottle ) – pretty neat, also found a vintage 3n1 bottle, a Purex one, a Higgens ink one as well as a Dr Pitcher’s Castoria bottle, that last one dates back to 1870. Got them all for 12 bucks. Just wanted to share.
Hello Paul,
Thanks for your post! I do want to mention that although some of the Dr. Pitcher’s Castoria bottles evidently date back to the 1870s, it is hard to be sure about any particular bottle since they were made over a long period of time. Some of the Pitcher’s bottles may date from the 1880s, 1890s or even later. Thanks again and take care!
David
Hi David. My husband and I found a jar while out walking next to a river and it has a screw type lid that is mostly rusted away, and on the bottom has the chesebrough is arched, below that is has a 10, then under that mfg co. cd. And under that 2, and then New York arched below opposite of the arch on top. Any idea of the time frame in this one?
Hi Mrs. DeRosa,
The Vaseline jars are rather difficult to date. To be honest I would estimate a date range of somewhere in the 1920s-1940s but that’s about the best I can do. Perhaps someone who has delved deeply into the timeline of these jars and collects different variants would have more info for us, and can comment on this.
Thanks for writing, David
I have one of the glass ones like on far left. Did it have a cork for lid
Hello Clydean,
Yes, I assume that style did come with a cork stopper of some type. In addition, some earlier products in handblown glass bottles would have been sold with a paper or foil wrapper on top to help completely seal the product before distribution and sale. I don’t know if that is the case with the earlier Vaseline jars, however. Thanks for writing.
David
I have a large can of Vaseline made in 1912. It’s the large can that store owners would buy and put it in the bottles for customers. I bought it at a thrift store in 90’s
For what it’s worth, I have a rectangular plastic Vaseline jar which I originally purchased in August (or slightly before) 1976. The shape doesn’t match anything I’ve seen online. It has a very early UPC 10 digit bar code with only one other digit off to the left side. On the front is a remnant of a paper price tag. Apparently, not all retailers had scanners at the time. The bottom of the bottle is embossed with the name Chesebrough Pond’s Inc. with a numeral “6” off to the right side. Perhaps of significance is the ink stamping, 746A. I’m guessing it means 1974, June.
Thank you Ron.
I really don’t know exactly when the typical Vaseline containers were switched over from glass to plastic, but assume it was sometime in the 1970s. I appreciate your post.
~David
Thanks, David. I should have also mentioned that mine has a metal snap-on lid and a net wt. of 15 ozs.
My wife just found one of the the old white ones in the garden. 1st picture far right one.
Just bought my first vaseline bottle today, super glad I could find information on it here!! It’s not as old as I was hoping (just 50’s – 70’s) but still a cool but for me !!
Thank you for this incredible article! Do you happen to know where one could buy the earliest versions of the bottle? Or any sort of Vaseline bottle collector I may be able to contact?
Hello Jen,
In one word…………ebay. the Ebay.com online auction site is the most popular way that antique bottles and jars (and not-so-antique bottles and jars!) are now being bought and sold. Thousands of bottles are listed there every day by ordinary people trying to sell their misc. items, as well as experienced sellers who specialize in older glass and glassware. A keyword search will bring up various Vaseline jars. I would guess that most of them are more recent, but keyword searches over a period of time will, I am sure, bring up older versions. (Do a keyword “saved search” on ebay so you can receive automatic emails when items are listed). Vaseline jars are also found frequently at antique malls, flea markets, “junk’ and curio shops, and sometimes thrift stores and yard and garage sales. Besides being unearthed at old dumpsites. You might also try searching the Craigslist.org site for old jars and bottles for sale. I’m not in contact with anyone who specifically collects Vaseline jar variants, but I’m sure there are collectors here and there around the country who do look for them. I am posting your query here on my site, and perhaps someone will land here and contact you with leads. Best regards, David
Thank you very much for your time and help!