The erection of the new Puget Sound National Bank sign has finally been completed. Taken later in the evening on June 10, 1953, the electric sign is aglow with the bank's name. In addition, there is an digital clock which would also trade off the time with the current temperature. The bank was one of the first in the country to have a double "T" sign--temperature and time. The entire sign is 96 feet from sidewalk to top. It weighs over 8000 pounds. Beneath the clock is a small plaque indicating the bank was established in 1890. View of new sign, clock and plaque shot looking upward; photograph ordered by Puget Sound National Bank. (TNT 6-26-53, p. 4 - Ad)

Progress photographs--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Clocks & watches; Plaques--Tacoma;

ca. 1959. Reno Odlin, shown with Puget Sound Bank visitor Mrs. Wesley Clark from Fox Island, and the bank's new leased computer, the IBM 305 RAMAC (Random Access Memory Accounting Computer.) In 1959, Puget Sound Bank became the first bank in Washington and the second on the west coast to use computers. The IBM 305 and, because of the computer's 3,000 heat generating tubes, a new air conditioner were installed in the bank's basement. The computer used punch cards and it was able to process about 70 checks a minute, making it too slow for the larger banks to use. The selection and integration of the computer were the project of Senior Vice president Robert Gordon. The most unique feature of the computer was its magnetic memory file which looked like a vertical stack of 50 large metal disks the size of phonograph records. The disks rotated on a steel axle at a rate of 1,200 revolutions per minute. ("Banking on Independence" Provorse, pg. 110+, TNT 7/9/1959, pg. C-3)

Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Computers--1950-1960; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979; Clark, Wesley--Family;

Puget Sound National Bank bookkeeping department on the 3rd floor of its home office. Although Puget Sound installed the first computer in 1959, much of the bookkeeping was still done by hand. A department staffed mostly by women is shown with a variety of manual equipment and customer records.

Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma)--People; Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Rain Tree. On display in the lobby of the Puget Sound National Bank's main office during the Christmas season of 1969 was the silvery "Rain Tree" created by Ghilarducci Florists. Shimmering strands of white beads dangled from the tree limbs which were also decorated with clusters of balls and velvet bows. Ghilarducci's was a well-known florist with long-term ties to downtown Tacoma. Color photograph ordered by Puget Sound National Bank.

Christmas decorations; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Ghilarducci's California Florists (Tacoma);

Informal portrait of Puget Sound National Bank Chairman of the Board Reno Odlin. Mr. Odlin had been elected president of the American Bankers Association in 1964, the first banker from the Pacific Northwest to win this office in the organization's 90-year history. He had previously served the local and national banking industry in many leadership positions, including the Washington Bankers Assn., the Federal Reserve, and U.S. Treasury. Reno Odlin spent most of 1965 traveling to nearly every state in the union to visit bankers, government and business leaders, in addition to several foreign countries to discuss international issues regarding money. (Provorse: Banking on Independence, p. 120-121)

Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979; Bankers--Tacoma;

Reno Odlin (R), president of the Puget Sound National Bank, and Don Franklin (L), district manager of Pacific Telephone & Telegraph, are pictured in this December, 1952, photograph standing before a topographical map of the United States with a sign indicating it represents a Radio Relay demonstration. Odlin holds a receiver to his ear as he points to the map. The Bell company moved their microwave display into the bank's lobby to demonstrate their new method, called Radio Relay, of sending hundreds of telephone conversations and TV programs over long distance. Interested spectators could try the radio relay themselves, simply by picking up a receiver and pressing a button. (TNT 12-16-52, p. 4)

Communication devices; Telecommunication lines--Washington; Radiophones; Maps; Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979; Franklin, Don;

ca. 1971. Color exterior view of Puget Sound National Bank. Brilliant blue skies cast a warm glow over the downtown Tacoma business district, seeking to melt the residue of snow that is still present on the sidewalks and on Pacific Avenue. The venerable Puget Sound National Bank, once the tallest building on the West Coast at a narrow 16 stories, is flanked by Peoples department store and the newly opened Tacoma Art Museum (former home of National Bank of Washington). The familiar blue and white sign with P & S entwined is attached to the skyscraper. Color photograph ordered by DeVac, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, on November 18, 1971.

Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Peoples (Tacoma); Tacoma Art Museum (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Department stores--Tacoma--1970-1980; Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1970-1980; Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Puget Sound National Bank, interior work area.

Business Enterprises - Financial Institutions - Banks - Tacoma - Puget Sound National Bank

Interior of Puget Sound National Bank, view of lobby, defense poster on column.

Business Enterprises - Financial Institutions - Banks - Tacoma - Puget Sound National Bank

Group at Puget Sound National Bank with Golden Jubilee hats. Men in western wear and women in bonnets. Bank president Reno Odlin is standing wearing dark clothing without a hat to the right of the column, in the center of the group. All employees were required to wear Jubilee garb in celebration of Pioneer Days at Puget Sound Bank. The bankers wore beaver top hats with dignified frock coats and black ties. (T. Times 7/20/1939, pg. 20)

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979;

ca. 1943. Grassi Brothers radio show. A man and a woman hold papers in front of a microphone in this circa 1943 photograph. Three other men, including Julio Grassi (second from left) look on. Julio and his brother Nello operated a used car dealership in Tacoma. They sponsored a radio program on station KTBI located in the Puget Sound Bank Building, 1117-19 Pacific Ave.

Radio stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Radio broadcasting--Tacoma--1940-1950; Grassi, Julio;

Aerial photograph of downtown Tacoma to show the spired Puget Sound National Bank building at 11th and Pacific (1119 Pacific Ave.) To the building's left is Peoples Department Store at 1101-07 Pacific and to its right is the National Bank of Washington, 1123 Pacific, the 2002 location of the Tacoma Art Museum. Behind facing A Street is the Federal Building and the Post Office at 1102 A Street. The city appears divided into a grid of large office buildings. The streets, left to right, vertically are Commerce, Pacific and A Street. They are divided by, top to bottom, by 11th Street and 12th Street. Left to right at the top of the picture are the Rust building at 950 Pacific, the Washington Building at 1019 Pacific and the Tacoma Building at 1017-21 A Street. Across 11th Street from the Tacoma Building is the Perkins building at 1101 A Street.

Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Aerial photographs;

Erection of new sign. The erection of the new Puget Sound National Bank sign on the building's exterior draws an interested group of spectators even at 7:00 in the morning. The latter part of the bank's name is already up; a worker is perched on the sign-holding bar high above the street. The Sunnen Crane is preparing to install the "Puget Sound" portion of the sign which is on the sidewalk. The large sign was built by American Sign Products of Spokane and delivered to Tacoma via a Spokane-area Transfer Line truck. Photograph taken on June 10, 1953, and ordered by Dutton Hayward, Puget Sound National Bank.

Progress photographs--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Sunnen Auto Freight & Heavy Hauling Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery; American Sign Products Co. (Spokane);

• Downtown Tacoma business district, highlighting the Tacoma, Perkins, Washington, Puget Sound Bank, (National Realty) and Trust buildings. circa 1930.
• Printed on front: The Commercial Center of Tacoma, Wash. Tacoma Bldg. Perkins Bldg. Washington Bldg. Puget Sound Bank Bldg. Trust Bldg.

Exterior view of Puget Sound National Bank Building in July of 1926. This block of Pacific Avenue was home to many prominent businesses including (L-R) the Washington Building, Peoples department store, the Bankers Trust Building, building at 1115 Pacific Ave. built as annex/addition to the National Realty Bldg., Puget Sound National Bank Building and the National Bank of Tacoma. When completed in 1910, the 16-story Puget Sound National Bank Building (then called the National Realty Building) was the tallest on the West Coast and the first built on the West Coast to withstand earthquakes. It was also the first in Tacoma to use cantilevered beam construction. Puget Sound Bank purchased the building in 1920. Some 80+ years later, Heritage Bank now occupies the structure. G61.1-041

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); National Bank of Tacoma (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Peoples (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930;

September, 1921, display of "Old Faithful" brand of canned goods and apple cider. Spread across the long customer desk located at the Puget Sound Bank & Trust is a display of canned goods and cider under the "Old Faithful" brand. "Old Faithful," according to the framed poster, put its name on pickles and vinegar, pork & beans, and canned vegetables. The Northern Pickle Co. of Tacoma manufactured "Old Faithful" products. These were part of the refreshments served at the bank's reception/housewarming on Saturday, September 24th. The bank (later Puget Sound National Bank) was celebrating its 31st anniversary where the public was invited to view the enlargement and renovation of their skyscaper's ground floor. The interior was finished in soft gray marble, Caen stone, ivory plastering and statuary bronze. G34.1-140 (TNT 9-22-21, p. 6-article; TNT 9-24-21, p. 1+)

Merchandise display--Tacoma--1920-1930; Canned foods; Puget Sound Bank & Trust (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;