I found a couple crates of preserving jars at the local dump. For over a century this town has been burying rubbish in big holes in a nearby piece of land and if you're quick you can find treasures. These are Fowler's Vacola jars which is an Australian standard preserving system. Unlike Ball jars the lids have a rim that goes over the lip of the jar. The rubber seal is a band that fits in a groove and the lid is held on during preserving with a spring clip.
@mspong Deceased estate executors assuming gran just hoarded rubbish, I would guess.
@metaning I think you're right, especially because they were covered in nicotine. Most likely they sat in a shed for years where some old codger smoked himself to death.
@mspong going to be a fun cleaning job.