In October of 1942, the driver of a 1942 De Soto convertible stood behind the steering wheel of his car and watched in amazement as a team of nine women service attendants at the Maxwell Super Service Station at 910 Puyallup Avenue completely encircled his car. Dressed in neat white blouses and dark slacks, they filled the car's gas tank, added air in his tires, checked under the hood, and polished his headlights. One almost invisible attendant even got into the front seat and dusted off the dashboard. The war was on and many Tacoma men were either in uniform or were working in the defense industries, such as the shipyards. Women entered the work force, taking over what had traditionally been male jobs. When the Maxwell Super Service Station on Puyallup opened in February of 1941, advertised as the "nation's first all glass service station," it employed twenty men as service attendants. The 1942 De Soto had concealed headlights called "airfoil lights."

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; De Soto automobiles; Maxwell Super Service Station (Tacoma);

In October of 1942, Maxwell Super Service Station, 910 Puyallup Ave., really offered its customers super service. Nine women attendants rush out to take care of a 1942 De Soto convertible (with hide-away headlights!) that has stopped for gas. The women pump gas, check under the hood, put air in the tires and clean the headlights. As more men enlisted or went to work in the defense industries, the women took over the jobs they left behind.

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; De Soto automobiles; Maxwell Super Service Station (Tacoma);

Nine female attendants pose in front of the Maxwell Super Service Station, 910 Puyallup Ave. They wear matching sparkling white shirts and trim tailored slacks. The time was October of 1942, World War II was raging and many men were either enlisting or leaving their usual jobs to work in the defense industries. Women stepped forward to fill jobs traditionally filled by men.

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Maxwell Super Service Station (Tacoma);

Three female and two male attendants at the Maxwell Super Service Station, 910 Puyallup Ave., listen to a man in a suit extoll the virtues of Maxwell Petroleum products. Maxwell Corp. had a plant located on the Tideflats at 721 Alexander Ave.

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Maxwell Super Service Station (Tacoma);

Nine female attendants dressed in trim uniforms of white shirts and tailored pants listen to a man in a suit extoll the virtues of Maxwell petroleum products. The women are posed in October of 1942 in front of the sleek glass and steel exterior of the Maxwell Super Service Station.

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Maxwell Super Service Station (Tacoma);

Nine female attendants dressed in trim uniforms of white shirts and tailored pants listen to a man in a suit extoll the virtues of Maxwell petroleum products. The women are posed in October of 1942 in front of the sleek glass and steel exterior of the Maxwell Super Service Station.

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Maxwell Super Service Station (Tacoma);

General Petroleum exterior of 3 plants. Maxwell Petroleum Co. is well known for their modern gasoline outlets. View of the 910 Puyallup Ave. station, which ranks with the nation's most modern, and has been featured in newspapers and magazines as the only one of its kind in America.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma; General Petroleum Corp. (Tacoma); Maxwell Petroleum Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1944. Maxwell service station. Undated photograph, possibly in the mid-40's, of a ten-pump Maxwell service station on Puyallup Avenue in downtown Tacoma. Two vehicles are stopped at the pumps; one has its trunk open and the other is having gas pumped in by an attendant. Maxwell was known for its very modern gasoline outlets. TPL-8459

Automobile service stations--Tacoma; Maxwell Petroleum Co. (Tacoma);