Three unidentified employees at the Carstens Packing Company plant, 1623 East J St., in Tacoma look over the sides of beef hanging in one of the Carstens' meat lockers. Carstens Packing Company was the largest independent meat packing company on the West Coast, with plants in Tacoma, Seattle and Spokane. They provided quality assured wieners, beef, bacon, ham, sausage, lamb, pork, veal and many other meat products. A copy of this photograph was ordered by the Poodle Dog Restaurant in Fife to be part of the Richard's Commercial Photography photo mural at the restaurant. The Carstens Packing Company was sold to Hygrade in 1952, and closed in 1990.

Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Meat industry--Tacoma; Meat; Meat cutting--Tacoma--1940-1950; Laborers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Poodle Dog (Fife);

Shot at Carsten's Packing Company, Hogans Market, Jones Building, Frank Herbert. Three men pose for their picture with a prize winning sheep. The three ribbons for the sheep were from the Northwest Junior Livestock Show.

Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Sheep; Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Livestock judging--Tacoma--1940-1950; Awards;

Group of kids at meat judging contest at Carstens, O'Connel, Ragan, Carstens Account, Bev Bolster. Nine men stand in one of the meat coolers in front of several sides of hung meat. The man second from the left is wearing a ribbon and the designation of "Judge". TPL-8116

Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Meat; Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

New Ford truck at Carstens' garage, Titus Motor Company, Henry Zachow. Titus Motor Company was the authorized Ford Truck distributor in the Tacoma area. Carstens had a large fleet of trucks not all of which were Fords. They had at least two refrigerated trucks built on Chevrolet chassis.

Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ford trucks;

Group of kids at meat judging contest at Carstens, O'Connel, Ragan, Carstens Account, Bev Bolster. Many students stand around a table with samples of different cuts of meat on display. Several of the students are rating the meat on forms. Older men are seen in the background and a few younger children are seen in the group.

Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Teenagers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Carstens Packing Company, American Red Cross, Mrs. Thomson. Carstens packing plant president Karl Maxwell accepts a certificate and poster from Henry Willis, chairman of the "Food" division of the current Red Cross drive. The certificate and poster represent the 100% subscription by the 475 employees of Carstens even before the campaign officially opened the following week. These individuals are standing in the meat wrapping section of Carstens with slabs of bacon and hams hanging behind them. The man at the far left is Scotty Murdock. At the far right is Daniel Mohn, foreman of the Smoked Meat Dept.(T.Times, 2/27/1948, p.7)

Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Maxwell, Karl J.; Willis, Henry; Meat; Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Awards; American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Community Service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950;

For many years Carstens Packing Company was a leader in the meat packing industry. They had the most modern packaging and shipping equipment located at their Tideflats plant. Carstens always offered their clients the highest quality products. View of Carstens employees enjoying Christmas turkey at the 1947 Carstens Christmas party held at the main office. Third from left is Jim P. Seabeck. Mr. Seabeck, now 96, resides in Spokane. Clay Lawrence has been identified as the man in the white coat seated at extreme left. He was the traffic manager at Carstens and worked there until his death in 1963. Photo ordered by O'Connell-Ragan advertising agency. (Additional identification provided by readers in 2010 and 2012)

Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Office workers--Tacoma; Eating & drinking--Tacoma; Christmas--Tacoma; Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma)--People; Seabeck, Jim P.; Lawrence, Clay; O'Connell-Ragan Co. (Tacoma);

Carstens Packing Company offered the highest quality products including: "Kimberly Beef", "T.C. Bacon", pork, lamb, "T.C. Sausage", veal, canned meats and "Sweet-N-Tender Ham". View of Carstens employees enjoying their company's Christmas party, which is being held at the main office in Tacoma, staff members are getting ready to sing Christmas carols, photo ordered by O'Connell-Ragan advertising agency.

Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Office workers--Tacoma; Christmas carols; Christmas--Tacoma; Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma)--People; O'Connell-Ragan Co. (Tacoma);

K. J. Maxwell was the President and General Manager of Carstens Packing Company, Thomas Carstens was the Vice-President and Assistant Manager, Phillip Carstens from Spokane was also a Vice-President. W. Z. Kerr, from Seattle, was the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the company. View of Carstens employees enjoying their company Christmas party at the main office, staff members appear to be singing Christmas carols, photo ordered by O'Connell-Ragan advertising agency.

Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Office workers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Christmas carols; Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma)--People; O'Connell-Ragan Co. (Tacoma);

Carstens slogan said "Only the Best in the West is Labeled --- Carstens". Carstens Packing Company were the largest independent meat packers on the West Coast. The company had three packing plants located in Tacoma, Seattle and Spokane. View of three Carstens employees enjoying the company Christmas party at the main office in Tacoma, the woman is carrying a little lamb, photo ordered by O'Connell-Ragan advertising agency.

Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Christmas--Tacoma; Office workers--Tacoma; Sheep; Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma)--People; O'Connell-Ragan Co. (Tacoma);

A group of Hawaiians visiting Carstens' plant, O'Connell Ragan Company, Chuck Denton. Twenty-two Hawaiian business people were on a good will tour of the Northwest. They were hosted by representatives of the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce. While visiting in Tacoma they discussed sound business policies such as the necessity for direct air service between the Northwest and Hawaii, statehood for Hawaii and a desire to know trade possibilities with the Northwest. (T.Times, 8/9/1947, p.1)

Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Sausages--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business enterprises--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commerce;

A group of Hawaiians visiting Carstens' plant on August 8, 1947, for O'Connell Ragan Company, Chuck Denton. A luxurious display of beef was presented by Carstens for the visiting business people from Hawaii. Four beef animals are hung and large cuts of meat are included in the display. One carcass has been sectioned and ribbons connect the cut of meat with the section of the animal it comes from. (T.Times, 8/9/1947, p1)

Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business enterprises--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commerce; Meat cutting--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meat;

A group of Hawaiians visiting Carstens' plant, O'Connell Ragan Company, Chuck Denton. Three pigs are included in the display of meat at Carstens for the visitors from Hawaii. Pork cuts from the animal are clearly connected by ribbons with the carcass. (T.Times, 8/9/1947, p.1)

Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business enterprises--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commerce; Meat cutting--Tacoma--1940-1950;

A group of Hawaiians visiting Carstens' plant, O'Connell Ragan Company, Chuck Denton. A close-up view of the lamb display Carstens presented to business people from Hawaii visiting Tacoma and other Northwest location on a good will tour to learn about trade opportunities with local companies. (T.Times, 8/9/1947, p.1)

Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business enterprises--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commerce; Meat cutting--Tacoma--1940-1950;

A group of Hawaiians visiting Carstens' plant, O'Connell Ragan Company, Chuck Denton. Carstens Packing Company put on an informational display and discussion of many cuts of meat. Their display included pork, beef and lamb. Carstens was one of four firms visited during the Hawaiian business people's visit to Tacoma. They also visited Pacific Match, Western Boat Company and The Puyallup plant of Washington Packers. (T.Times, 8/9/1947, p.1)

Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business enterprises--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commerce; Guests;

A group of Hawaiians visiting Carstens' plant, O'Connell Ragan Company, Chuck Denton. This display shows the whole animals hung and in various popular cuts of meat. Ribbons connect a specific cut of meat with the part of the animal it comes from. (T.Times, 8/9/1947, p.1)

Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business enterprises--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commerce;

A delegation of 22 business leaders from Honolulu visited the Pacific Northwest in August of 1947 to help foster trade - and support for statehood for their territory. The Tacoma Chamber of Commerce arranged a full schedule of activities for the visiting business men including a trip to the Carstens Packing Company on the tideflats where they were given a ride in Carstens' horse-drawn meat wagon. Some of the staff stood on the roof of the loading dock to get a look at the festivities. The delegation went on from Tacoma to visit Mount Rainier and Olympia. (T.Times, 8/9/1947, p.1) TPL-9602

Horse teams--Tacoma--1940-1950; Carts & wagons--Tacoma--1940-1950; Loading docks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commerce; Guests--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The oldest employees at Carstens, on spec. This group of employees pose in front of one of Carstens delivery trucks.

Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Employees--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Banquet at Carstens for retiring employee, O'Connell-Fagan, Denton. Emil T. Mortensen was retiring from Carstens Packing Company after 39 years. He started with Carstens in 1908 and served as floorman in the killing floor department. The entire department attended a steak dinner at the plant restaurant where Mr. Mortensen was presented a gold watch. Emil Mortensen is wearing the three-piece suit in the front row. His wife, Anna W., is next to him. Karl J. Maxwell, general manager of Carstens, is also in the front row with suit and bow tie. (T.Times, 8/25/1947, p.2)

Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Retirements--Tacoma--1940-1950; Employees--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mortensen, Emil T.; Mortensen, Anna W.; Maxwell, Karl J.;

O'Connell-Ragan, Carstens fleet of trucks at plant, Corey Wilbur. Carstens has added several refrigerated trucks to their fleet. They are shown lined up at the company loading platform waiting for a supply of sausage and smoked meat products. The new trucks are the first of their kind in Tacoma. They were built on Chevrolet chasis and designed by Right of Way Auto Works of Tacoma. The refrigerated units were designed by Otto Stolz and Clarence Mase at Carstens. The trucks are called "mobile sales units". ( T.Times,6/18/1947, p.7)

Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meat; Sausages--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Right of Way Auto Works (Tacoma); Stolz, Otto; Mase, Clarence;

O'Connell-Ragan, Carstens fleet of trucks at plant, Corey Wilbur. Carstens added refrigerated trucks to their fleet. Glenn Gray, supervisor of Carstens sausage sales, packs a delivery basket with sausages, ham, and other wrapped items from the air conditioned compartments to fill an order. The entire truck interior was lined with separate compartments. The temperature was maintained at 34 - 38 degrees. (T.Times, 6/18/1947, p.7)

Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meat; Sausages--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gray, Glenn;

Carstens Packing Company. Cliff Purnell (left), assistant beef man, and Morris Elyn, assistant sales manager hold up weiners. Mr. Purnell's are end-to-end while Mr. Elny's batch is wrapped with a label and side-by-side. This came about when Carstens Packing Company put a new Kartridg-Pack machine into use in mid-May 1947. (T.Times, 5/21/1947, p.7)

Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Purnell, Cliff; Elyn, Morris; Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Frankfurters--Tacoma--1940-1950; Publicity;

On May 15, 1947, employees of the Carstens Packing Company gathered around their new Kartridg-Pack machine. Some of the women were working on the sausage packing line, while other employees were admiring the end product. The new machinery packed the wieners side-by-side, bound together by paper loops instead of the usual method of stringing them tail-to-tail. The Kartridge-Pack had the ability to pack 3,200 pounds of wieners per 8 hour shift. (T.Times, 5/21/1947, p.7)

Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Frankfurters--Tacoma--1940-1950; Publicity; Bundling (Packing)--Tacoma--1940-1950;