Kilner jar The company was forced to close down to convert to gas furnaces and struggled along for a 66 years despite 3,000 people losing their jobs. In 1937, there was a bankruptcy sale, in which the patent rights to the "Kilner Jar" were sold to the United Glass Bottle company along with the rights to the very similar "Mason" jar that had also been made by Kilner. In 2003, The Rayware Group purchased the design, patent and trademark of the original Kilner jar and continues to produce them today in China. A more detailed history of the companies by the Society
Thomas Kilner Thomas Kilner Thomas Pomfret Kilner was an early plastic surgeon. One of the four who continued to practice in Britain between the world wars after training at the Queen's Hospital, Sidcup with Harold Gillies. Kilner continued to practice till 1957 The others were,Harold Gillies, Rainsford Mowlem, and Archibald McIndoe. He took a special interest in repairing cleft lips and palate and was appointed in 1944 as Nuffield Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Oxford. He occupied this Chair until 1957 when he retired. Born, educated and trained in Manchester Kilner saw active service in the R.A.M.C. during the