Bountiful Boontonware bonanza! (Status:Hometown score)

Just a few days prior to last Sundays Summer Flea, I drove to my hometown to deliver a desk to my father and to pick-up the Richardson Brother table, chairs and buffet (from the Peabody collection designed by Larry Peabody).  While there, I hit the Salvation Army store and found this huge 42 piece Boontonware set in the showcase; oh, it was also Wednesday, which means 50% off day!  Yea for me!

Boontonware was manufactured in Boonton New Jersey beginning in 1946 but, as of 2001, has been made in Ashtabula Ohio.  Yep, they still make Boontonware and it still all says "Made in Boonton N..J.; how can you tell if you have new Boontonware?  They currently only make six colors: white, almond, pastel green, blue, confetti green and confetti blue, any other color (like pink, for instance) should be vintage.  Apparently it is very popular with the Amish who appreciate it's sturdiness and inexpensive price.

 Anyway, I've often found random Boontonware pieces, even a few sets of plates, saucers and cups or the odd serving bowl but never such a complete set!  Look at all the serving pieces!

 A bread platter, a small covered bowl, salt and pepper

 Two different size gravy boats, three different size platters

 A covered sugar, open creamer, a covered butter dish

A divided serving bowl, a regular serving bowl and a lid that fits either!

All of those lovely pink serving pieces coordinate with the cool, jaunty flowered plates

and the white coffee cups (with handles in a different shape then I have ever seen on Boontonware cups) and pink saucers

plus, salad/ berry bowls and soup bowls

These have been used, some of the plates have a little staining and the platters have a few utensil marks, but they are still serviceable and should remain so for many years.
In the early 1950s, the use of plastic dinnerware was so widespread that Consumer Reports Magazine tested and rated the workmanship, construction and design in its January 1951 issue. Of the 12 brands tested, Boontware was “judged superior to all others,” edging out competition from Texas Ware, Arrowhead Ever Ware and Watertown Lifetime Ware. The engineers at Consumers Union noted Boontonware’s “excellent resistance to chipping and breaking” along with its “excellent durability in washing.”
(info pulled from: http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/10/bonntonware_still_popular_even.html)