National Canner number 12

[yiddishe_mama]

Hi

A neighbor gave me an old National Canner no. 12. Now I have filled it with water and the seal seems fine, it holds 15 pounds of pressure and valves release pressure when opened. Is this thing OK to use?

I have never used a pressure canner myself and I am sure that 99% of my fear comes from when my mother and grandmother were using the pressure canner I wasn't allowed in the kitchen, but it just seems kinda scary. ;)

I did a lot of water bath canning this past summer and it was so satisfying that I would like to do more canning. If this one is too old to use what is the difference between a pressure cooker and a pressure canner? Are they the same thing or different? What should I look for if I need to purchase a new one?

Thanks for all your help.

Yiddishe mama

[lsg]

Yes, it is probably fine. *You should have the pressure gauge checked. *I think your local extension office will do that for you. I am still using my Mom's old canner. I had to replace the little safety rubber and the gasket; but it still works great. I prefer a canner with a gauge.

[MHinFox]

LOL to be honest had both an old one I had recieved from a lady for doing some work for her. and decided several years back to buy a new one. To make a long story short used the new one for a number of years till it lost its shape and made me nervious as a bow started in it.Got rid of it and went back to old one ( had used it for years and years)and it still works perfect after all these years. So old couldnt find parts for it from manufactor. Guages and such common ones fit and was able to take it to stores and try seals till I found one the right size. been using it ever since

[cubcadet]

I would bet that you could find the exact model that you have on Ebay. I happen to have a National Pressure Canner Cooker #7. It is a real antique, heavy aluminum. I needed a gage weight for it. So, I found a similar cooker on Ebay that had a gage weight on it. I emailed the guy and asked him if that if I bid on it and won, would he just send me the weight without the whole canner. I told him I really needed the weight and couldn`t afford the cost of shipping for the whole unit. He agreed. So for about $10 I got myself a proper gage weight, something which would have cost me much more in both price, and gasoline to drive around shopping for it.