Sandwich Museum Boat Salts

The quickest way to determine an old salt from new is the writing on the salts. The word on the side wheels on the reproductions is "SANDWICH" where the old ones have "LAFAYET." The rear of the reproduction has "ACORN" and the letters "SM" for Sandwich Museum, but there is also a plain backed repro. The old one has "B. & S. Glass Co." for Boston and Sandwich Glass Company. This cobalt one does not have the P in diamond mark on the glass, but only a Pairpoint sticker in it's place. Also please note that there are 2 ground areas on the bottom of this salt (only one is shown). This was sold in the gift shop this way and is not hiding and chips or damage. Most likely done so the piece would sit flat. There are to date about 5 slightly different versions made for the Sandwich Museum since 1985, both by Pairpoint and Fenton. Here is a link - Acorn Boats - to an article written by Ed Bowman about 2003.

One version of the Sandwich Museum Gift Shop boat salt is marked with a P in a diamond for Pairpoint Glass Company. This particular one has a very thick glass base, being solid glass nearly up to the halfway mark on the side wheels.

Below are two of many different variations of the old boat salt from the Neal book. "SANDWICH" is on the inside and outside bottoms of some, while others do not say Sandwich anywhere, and the bottom decorations differ.