DEAR SUN SPOTS: You’ve been very helpful in the past. Thank you for that.

I have two 9-inch pie tins that say New England Flaky Crust Pie Table Talk. One says 5 cents deposit on it; the other does not.

I would appreciate any information on these tins and the company. Thank you. — D.N., Lewiston

ANSWER: Sun Spots is once again indebted to Doug Hodgkin of the Androscoggin Historical Society and professor emeritus at Bates College for an answer. 

Doug found records at the Benson Ford Research Center in Dearborn, Mich. The following is from www.dalnet.lib.mi.us/henryford/docs/NewEnglandPieCompanyRecords_Accession75.121.pdf:

“The New England Pie Co. of Detroit, Michigan, was incorporated April 30, 1902, with capitalized stock of $50,000. Officers of the company were William Van Sickle, President; H.J. Boerth, Secretary-Treasurer; and Harry H. Jones, Manager. Boerth had previous experience in the baking business, having operated a pie company in the 1890’s on the same site, 403 Sixteenth Street.

“In 1910 the company moved to a facility at Fourth and Beech Street. Expanding the building in 1924, the company also added ‘Wholesale Bakers’ to its name. The company continued to operate under the name of the New England Pie Co. until about 1927, although a baking establishment continued to operate at the facility for many years afterward.

“In addition to the bakery business, Henry J. Boerth and his family owned and operated Boerth’s restaurants in Detroit. The first restaurant opened on Woodward Avenue in 1894. By 1919 Boerth’s Lunch Co. operated at four locations in Detroit, but they were out of business by 1923.”

Doug also sent a link with information about collecting metal pie plates: www.whags.org/collectingmetalpiepla.htm. There are links on that page to similar topics of interest to collectors or history buffs.

As you probably know, it used to be common for containers, such as pie plates and milk bottles, to be reused. The deposits helped insure they would be returned. Obviously not everyone obeyed that rule, or there would be many fewer pie plates to collect!

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Hear ye all bakers out there. My late mother was a great baker. I, unfortunately, did not inherit this trait. I have a small supply of aluminum tartlet molds, made in Sweden, in excellent condition. A few packages are still unopened. I would love to donate them to a baker who would use them wisely (as I, unfortunately, will not). — Louise Marcotte, 782-3974

ANSWER: In the unlikely event that your phone does not ring off the hook, you could see if the Green Ladle can use them in their program for aspiring cooks. Or you could sell them on eBay.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Park Avenue Elementary School is collecting Labels for Education points to save up for fun new technology. We are also looking for donations of Box Tops. As you do your spring cleaning, think of us and please send or bring contributions to our school at 161 Park Ave., Auburn, ME 04210. Thank you! — No Name via email

NOTE TO D.J.: Sun Spots cannot address your question, as you failed to supply one of three means of contact: mailing address, email or phone. This information can be withheld, but letter writers must provide it. If you want Sun Spots to respond to your question, please forward that information.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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