When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
This item is a vintage Exide glass battery jar, dating back to the early 20th century (typically from the 1910s to the 1930s).Historical BackgroundBefore nationwide rural electrification grids were built out in the mid-1930s, remote farms, homesteads, and small railroad stations relied on standalone stationary power plants. These systems—often produced by companies like Delco-Light—consisted of a small generator paired with a large bank of rechargeable \"wet cell\" lead-acid batteries.
Your jar served as the outer container for one of these individual battery cells. It originally held heavy lead plates immersed in a corrosive liquid sulfuric acid electrolyte solution.Glass Characteristics• Color: The beautiful blue-green translucent tint is known as \"aqua\" glass. This shade is highly characteristic of industrial molded glassware from this era.
• Texture & Markings: The glass is exceptionally thick and heavy to support the weight of the battery plates and contain the acid. The wavy texture, uneven surfaces, and tiny trapped air bubbles inside the walls are typical factory mold artifacts rather than defects.
• Embossing: It features the stylized Exide brand name embossed on the side. The bottom specifies \"MADE IN U.S.A.\". Near the upper rim, it usually features a raised \"WATER LINE\" mark to assist owners in maintaining correct electrolyte levels.
