Finding out about our metalware

[GingerOfTheNorth]

What's the best way to find out about our tea set? We were given a pewter tea set (teapot, sugarbowl and creamer) when my husband's grandmother passed away. My mother-in-law has no idea of the age of the set, nor the value, as it came from dad-in-law's people.

It is stamped on the bottom thusly:
"Poole Silver Co" in a circle, then "guaranteed" and "Staunton, Mass." (it actually says 'Nton' fully with some faint lines before it, but searches online tell me that Poole is from Staunton)
2969
K

Mother-in-law tells me it's pewter. I do not disagree, but I don't know what horribly tarnished pewter looks like (I still haven't found a cleaner). I haven't tried to clean it for fear of ruining it.

The design is very no-nonsense. It's tall and thin, with a band of detail around the top of each piece, depicting a vaguely nautical scene: A lighthouse, three-masted ship, a couple dancing, a small stone house and covered bridge, and a person on a raft on a river. I have no hope anyone will know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, please. If you know anything at all about Poole Silver, or pewterware in general, please help!