Hi, Steve - I will pitch in here as well. One of the issues with the really old commercial OP varieties was variable stock, loss of distinct varieties due to either crossing or sales of varieties yet to be stable, and the very common practice of renaming varieties to provide an exclusive.
Even in the case of varieties we've plucked from the USDA collection (such as Conqueror, Alpha, etc), in some cases they don't match the catalog descriptions, indicating crossing has gone on over the years.
What seems to be clear is that the really old tomatoes that are pre-Livingston tended to be quite irregular in shape and not particularly large - so in contrast to many of the large, colorful heirloom varieties we enjoy today, some of these oldies would be pretty unimpressive. I've grown Conqueror and Alpha - the former very irregular/lobed in shape (just like some of the old still like paintings that depict tomatoes!) and pretty ordinary tasting - the latter a small fruited non descript potato leaf variety. Livingston really focused on regular, smooth tomatoes that were especially good for canning and reliable yields. Again, those of us who have grown Magnus, Favorite, and Golden Queen can appreciate them for their historical significance, but none of them would knock Cherokee Purple or Stump of the World or Kellogg's Breakfast out of our gardens.
So Boston market, under that name anyway, is likely gone for good - or if it does exist, it does so under some other name that became attached over the years.
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Craig
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