RESEARCH/ARCHIVES

NATIONAL NEWSLETTERS
National Newsletters have been published by Open Salt Collectors since Fall 2001 and are linked below EXCEPT those published in the past five years. The more current issues are available to subscribers only. If you would like to receive any or all of the National Newsletters issued in the past five years, or, even better, a subscription to the National Newsletter, click on the following link for a subscription form!
Subscription form for National Newsletter

Indices to National Newsletters:
Chronological Listing of Articles
Listing of Articles by Author
Listing of Articles by Subject
Listing of Articles by Category

ISSUE #1--FALL 2001
ISSUE #2--SPRING 2002
ISSUE #3--FALL 2002
ISSUE #4--SPRING 2003
ISSUE #5--FALL 2003
ISSUE #6--SPRING 2004
ISSUE #7--FALL 2004
ISSUE #8--SPRING 2005
ISSUE #9--FALL 2005
ISSUE #10--SPRING 2006
ISSUE #11--FALL 2006
ISSUE #12--SPRING 2007
ISSUE #13--FALL 2007
ISSUE #14--SPRING 2008
ISSUE #15--FALL 2008
ISSUE #16--SPRING 2009
ISSUE #17--FALL 2009
ISSUE #18--SPRING 2010
ISSUE #19--FALL 2010
ISSUE #20--SPRING 2011
ISSUE #21--FALL 2011
ISSUE #22--SPRING 2012
ISSUE #23--SUMMER 2012
ISSUE #24--FALL 2012
ISSUE #25--SPRING 2013
ISSUE #26--SUMMER 2013
ISSUE #27--WINTER 2013
ISSUE #28--SPRING 2014
ISSUE #29--FALL 2014
ISSUE #30--WINTER 2014
ISSUE #31--SPRING 2015
ISSUE #32--FALL 2015
ISSUE #33--SPRING 2016
ISSUE #34--SUMMER 2016
ISSUE #35--FALL 2016
ISSUE #36--SPRING 2017
ISSUE #37--SUMMER 2017
ISSUE #38--FALL 2017
ISSUE #39 -- SPRING 2018
ISSUE #40 -- SUMMER 2018
ISSUE #41 -- FALL 2018
ISSUE #42 -- SPRING 2019
ISSUE #43 -- SUMMER 2019
ISSUE #44 -- FALL 2019

Articles by Ed & Kay Berg

As you will see below, Mr. Ed Berg, aided by his wife Kay, was by far the most prolific author of articles related to open salts and open salt collecting. We are greatly indebted to Ed and Kay for giving us permission to include all their many articles here for all to enjoy and learn from. For more information about Ed and Kay Berg, please read the following Biography.

Biography on Ed and Kay Berg

Salty Comments:

INDEX Issue #22 Issue #45 Issue #67

Issue #1 Issue #23 Issue #46 Issue #68

Issue #1 Addendum Issue #24 Issue #47 Issue #69

Issue #2 Issue #25 Issue #48 Issue #70

Issue #3 Issue #26 Issue #49 Issue #71

Issue #4 Issue #27 Issue #50 Issue #72

Issue #5 Issue #28 Issue #51 Issue #73

Issue #6 Issue #29 Issue #52 Issue #74

Issue #7 Issue #30 Issue #53 Issue #75

Issue #8 Issue #31 Issue #54 Issue #76

Issue #9 Issue #32 Issue #55 Issue #77

Issue #10 Issue #33 Issue #56 Issue #78

Issue #11 Issue #34 Issue #57 Issue #79

Issue #12 Issue #35 Issue #58 Issue #80

Issue #13 Issue #36 Issue #59 Issue #81

Issue #14 Issue #37 Issue #60 Issue #82

Issue #15 Issue #38 Issue #61 Issue #83

Issue #16 Issue #39 Issue #62 Issue #84

Issue #17 Issue #40 Issue #63 Issue #85

Issue #18 Issue #41 Issue #64 Issue #86

Issue #19 Issue #42 Issue #65 Issue #87

Issue #20 Issue #43 Issue #66 Issue #88 Issue #21 Issue #44 Issue #67

Salty Observations:

Issue #1

Issue #2

Issue #3

MOSSY Comments:

Issue #1 Issue #7 Issue #13

Issue #2 Issue #8 Issue #14 Issue #3 Issue #9 Issue #15

Issue #4 Issue #10 Issue #16

Issue #5 Issue #11

Issue #6 Issue #12

View from the Salt Box:

Issue #1 Issue #18 Issue #35 Issue #2 Issue #19 Issue #36

Issue #3 Issue #20 Issue #37

Issue #4 Issue #21 Issue #38

Issue #5 Issue #22 Issue #39

Issue #6 Issue #23 Issue #40

Issue #7 Issue #24 Issue #41

Issue #8 Issue #25 Issue #42

Issue #9 Issue #26 Issue #43

Issue #10 Issue #27 Issue #44

Issue #11 Issue #28 Issue #45

Issue #12 Issue #29 Issue #46

Issue #13 Issue #30 Issue #47

Issue #14 Issue #31 Issue #48

Issue #15 Issue #32 Issue #49

Issue #16 Issue #33 Issue #50

Issue #17 Issue #34

On November 12, 2002 Ed Berg was a guest on the Martha Stewart Living television program. With their kind permission, we are able to include a copy of that program here:

OLD SALTS by Mr. & Mrs. Addison E. Coddington

This is one of the earliest references created specifically for open salt collectors, focusing on table salts (more commonly known as "master salts"). It was the work of Mr. & Mrs. Addison E. Coddington of Indianapolis, Indiana and "published" in 1940. Only 100 copies were made so finding an original is almost impossible. Ed and Kay Berg found one of these rare originals in 1984 in the Toledo Public Library and recognizing its importance to open salt collectors, made the effort to contact descendants of Mr. & Mrs. Coddington and receive their permission to republish the book. Ed and Kay did just that, expanding the book by adding descriptions of the salts pictured as well as cross references with other open salt reference books; and they have given their kind permission for us to include their reprint and related documents here, using the links below. Note: Also below are links to the original 'intro' to "OLD SALTS" as well as to the 'intro' and 'Notes' written by Ed and Kay Berg to their reprint. Each of these are included in the reprint itself but are worth reading separately as they show the dedication and commitment shown by both the Coddingtons and the Bergs!

Introduction to OLD SALTS by Mr. & Mrs. Coddington

Introduction by Ed & Kay Berg to reissue of OLD SALTS

OLD SALTS by Mr. & Mrs. Addison E. Coddington--reprint created by Ed & Kay Berg

OLD SALTS Cross Reference

OLD SALTS Cross Reference: Additions and Corrections

Color-Induction Effects of Gamma Radiation on Salts

This project was initially conceived in 2004 as a combined effort of the New England Society of Open Salt Collectors (NESOSC) and the Open Salt Collectors of the Atlantic Region (OSCAR). It was presented to the Board of the national Open Salt Collectors at their 9th Convention in 2005 where it was authorized and funded. The results of this project were first presented on June 9, 2007 at the 10th National Open Salt Collectors Convention which was held in Indianapolis, IN. The final report from this timely and interesting project is available using the link below.

Final Report--The Color-Induction Effects of Gamma Radiation on 19th and 20th Century American Glass

Articles Authored by Ed Bowman

Ed Bowman has been one of the more dedicated researchers and prolific authors in the past few decades and he has kindly given us his permission to incorporate the articles he has written on the OSC Website. We are very appreciative of Ed’s generosity and his willingness to share his passion and hard work with us and we would encourage all readers to start their exploration of Ed’s writings with his biography by following the link below.

Biography of Ed Bowman

Acorn Boat Salts

18th & 19th Century Open Salt Patterns

Boyd's Crystal Art Glass Open Salts

Cambridge Glass Open Salts

Central Glass Company Open Salts

Degenhart Crystal Art Glass Open Salts

Gibson Glass Company Open Salts

Guernsey Glass Company Open Salts

Heisey Glass Company Open Salts

L.G. Wright Glass Company Open Salts

Mini Hen-on-Nest Salts by E & E Collectibles

Mosser Glass Company Open Salts

Open Salts From Ed Bowman Collectibles

Open Salts From Helen & Phil Rosso Wholesale Glass Dealers

Other Molds for Open Salts

R. Wetzel Glass Company Open Salts

Search For Open Salt Colors

Summit Art Glass Open Salts

Wilkerson Glass Company Open Salts

Archive of National Open Salt Collector's
(NOSC) Convention Salts

1st Convention Salt--1988

White glass with blue feathering Jack-in-the-Pulpit shaped salt by Terry Crider. Marked '1st NOSC 88'. 206 made and originally priced at $15.

2nd Convention Salt--1991

Cut glass salt by Pepi Hermann in the 'Delaware' cutting. Marked 'Pepi NOSC 91'. 157 made at $38.

3rd Convention Salt--1993

Blown glass salt w/silver trim. Made by Unique Israel. Marked '3rd NOSC 1993'. 155 made at $38.

4th Convention Salt--1995

Blue glass salt w/gold iridescent interior. Made by Lundberg Studios and marked 'Lundberg Studios 4th NOSC '95'. 155 made.

5th Convention Salt--1997

Cranberry glass salt w/green leaves; made by David Lotton. Marked 'David Lotton 1997 5th NOSC '97'. 223 made at $50.

6th Convention Salt--1999

Majolica-like shell salts made by Matthew Brod. Single and double with branch handle. Embossed '6th NOSC 1999'. 115 singles and 55 doubles made.

6th Convention Salt--1999

Majolica-like shell salts made by Matthew Brod. Single and double with branch handle. Embossed '6th NOSC 1999'. 115 single and 55 doubles made.

7th Convention Salt

Made by Lundberg Art Glass Studio and marked 'Lundberg Studios 2001 NOSC VII'. 175 made at $60.

8th Convention Salt--2003

Stiegel-type salt by Art Reed. Marked 'Art Reed 8th NOSC 2003'. Original price $53.

9th Conventon Salt--2005

Silverplate witch salt w/spoon made by Herman Silver Co. Marked '9th NOSC 2005'. 150 made at $85.

10th Convention Salt--2007

Red glass with dark legs made by Michael Amis of Kokomo Opalescent Glass Studio. Marked 'NOSC 2007'. Original price $60.

11th Convention Salt--2009

Blue glass ribbed salt by Steven Smyers. Marked 'Smyers NOSC 2009'. Original price $65.

12th Convention Salt--2011

Light blue to purple glass salt with peacock pattern and folded rim with silver ring. Made by Jeremiah Lotton; marked 'Jeremiah Lotton NOSC 2011'. Orig. price $75.

13th Convention Salt--2013

Conch shell in white and in blue w/shell shapped spoon made by David McDermott. Marked '13th NOSC 2013'. 38 blue and 37 white made; $65.

13th Convention Salt--2013

Conch shell in white and in blue w/shell shaped spoon made by David McDermott. Marked '13th NOSC 2013'. 38 blue and 37 white made; $65.

14th Convention Salt--2015

Hyacinth-colored glass salt with optical ridges; made by Aaron Buchholz. Marked '14th NOSC 2015'. 65 made at $66.

15th Convention Salt--2017

Enameled copper salt w/Mission San Diego de Alcala bell tower & CA poppies; made by Pat Aiken. Marked 'NOSC 2017 Pat Aiken'. 100 made; $75.

16th Convention Salt--2019

Blown glass salt w/trails of red, white & blue; made by Art of Fire Glass Studio. Marked 'Art of Fire NOSC 2019'. 66 made; $75.

17th Convention Salt-2022

Blown glass individual salt made with phosphorescent powders to glow UV light. Created by Christine Volpe of CT. $60 each, 55 made. Marked NOSC 2022.

19th Convention Salt-2024

A medium size pedestal salt in amber with a clear foot featuring controlled bubbles. Created by Kenny Pieper of NC. $75 each, ___ made. Marked Pieper NOSC 2024.

Victorian Pressed Glass - Sowerby

Shared here with the kind permission of Mike Tomlin

Russian Enamel Salts by John Atzbach

Russian Enamel Salts by John Atzbach--as presented at the 2009 National Open Salt Convention, recorded at that time by Joan Wrenn and published in the 2009 Convention Report included in the Open Salt Seekers Gazette

Part 1

Part 2

Errata--errors, corrections and additions to open salt publications

5,000 OPEN SALTS: A Collectors' Guide By William Heacock & Patricia Johnson--more coming soon!
- H&J #46 Crown Milano, not Mt. Washington or Smith Brothers--Lynda LaLonde
- H&J #151 Mt. Washington--Denise Lonergan
- Czech made not French--Lynda LaLonde
- H&J #2536 is Riverside Glassworks' AMERICA Pattern; circa 1898--Lynda Lalonde
- H&J #2538--Not the HARVARD Pattern but instead the COLUMBIA Pattern by Tarentum Glass Co.--Lynda LaLonde
- H&J #2622--Not identified in book, but it is the HERMITAGE Pattern by Fostoria--Lynda LaLonde
- H&J #2626--FINE DIAMOND Pattern; what is pictured is an ashtray and not a jelly bowl as identified in the book--Lynda LaLonde
- H&J #2636/2637 MADORA Pattern--Lynda LaLonde
- H&J #2887--FLAWLESS Pattern by Duncan & Miller; pattern also called TOP NOTCH--Lynda LaLonde
- H&J #3679--Fostoria's #112 Pattern; this piece is really a sponge cup, not an open salt--Lynda LaLonde
- H&J #3737--"Novelty Log"; made by Campbell, Jones & Co. (not Portland Glass) and named RUSTIC Pattern--Lynda LaLonde
OLD SALTS By Mr. & Mrs. Addison E. Coddington
PRESSED GLASS SALT DISHES OF THE LACY PERIOD 1825-1850 By L. W. and D. B. NEAL--coming soon!
The OPEN SALT Compendium by Sandra Jzyk & Nina Robertson--coming soon!
The Handbook of Gorham Open Salt Dishes by George & Carolyn Thompkins