ca. 1931. An automobile drives down the road in front of the Bar-B-Q Inn and Kennedy's Garage, probably in Tillicum (Lakewood), circa 1931.

Bar-B-Q Inn (Lakewood); Kennedy's Garage (Lakewood); Automobile service stations--Lakewood--1930-1940; Automobiles--1930-1940;

South 38th and Pacific, showing gas station at 3800 Pacific Ave. with two boys on bicycles at pumps. The 1937 City Directory lists this location as vacant; in 1938, it is listed as Bert & Ray Service Station, owned by Bert Nielson & Rayfield Pierantozzi. Light snow on ground, large Victorian house and smaller one. Directional signs put up by AAA point to "National Park 54" (Mount Rainier Nat'l. Park 54 miles) and Tacoma "City Center 2."

Bert & Ray Service Station (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Gasoline pumps--1930-1940;

West side of Pacific Avenue near South Seventeenth Street and Jefferson Avenue. General Petroleum Company's Depot Service Station on triangle lot, Carlton Hotel in and Commerce Street buildings in background. (Argentum)

Depot Service Station (Tacoma); Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1930-1940; Carlton Hotel (Tacoma);

West side of Pacific Avenue near South 17th Street and Jefferson Avenue. General Petroleum Company's Depot Service Station on triangle lot with Buick billboard at extreme right. Commerce Street buildings, Hotel Lewis, 1522 Pacific Ave., in background. (Argentum)

Depot Service Station (Tacoma); Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotel Lewis (Tacoma);

This photograph from 1935 shows the triangle shaped block on the west side of Pacific Avenue that is bounded by South 17th and Jefferson. The General Petroleum Corporation had recently purchased the Depot Service Station that had occupied the block since 1919. They remodeled the building, and put in new pumps - but they kept the name. The Depot Station went through the hands of a number of owners over the years, but it remained standing from 1919 until 2002. This photograph also shows the Carlton and Massasoit Hotels on Jefferson.

Depot Service Station (Tacoma); Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1930-1940; Carlton Hotel (Tacoma);

Standard Oil; opening of new service station. Richards appointment book gives the station's address as 9821 South Tacoma Way. Three gas station employees in sparkling white uniforms and caps kneel in front of five men in suits. The Standard Oil neon sign is emblazoned over all.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Standard Oil Co. of California (Tacoma);

Sunshine Service, new General Petroleum Company Mobilgas station at So. 48th and Park. Night time view of quartet singing in the doorway of the MobiLubrication garage. For Smith and Drum, J.J. Miller.

Business Enterprises - Automobile Service Stations - Mobil Oil Dealers - Tacoma - Sunshine Service Station Music Ensembles - QuartetsMusic - SingingPeople - Men - Singers

Sunshine Service, new General Petroleum Company Mobilgas service station at So. 48th and Park. Night time view with several automobiles receiving service. For Smith and Drum, J.J. Miller.

Business Enterprises - Automobile Service Stations - Mobil Oil Dealers - Tacoma - Sunshine Service Station

Triangular flags flap in the wind at the site of a Shell Service Station in a March, 1954, photograph. Two mechanics are inspecting an elevated car inside the garage. There are at least four gas pumps at this station. Tires and other auto accessories can be purchased here as well as gasoline.

Automobile service stations; Gasoline pumps;

Richfield oil men and Stadium High School students servicing cars on "Stadium Day," November 25, 1953, at a local Richfield gas station. "Let's Hit the 3000 Mark!" banner on service station with an accompanying tally board nearby. "Richfield Day" was a successful project of the Stadium Student Council, according to a brief mention in the 1954 Tahoma yearbook. (Tahoma yearbook, p. 132)

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banners; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A woman bends over to look under her car as one of the mechanics at the Shell station at Division and Yakima lubricates it while the car is up on the rack. Tires, belts and other supplies are stored along the back line.

Shell Oil Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma--1950-1960;

On February 11, 1952 two of the mechanics at Big 6 Service Station were photographed while lubricating a Cadillac while it was up on the hoist in the garage at Sixth and Proctor. The mechanic at the far right has been identified as Paul Eaton. TPL-7181

Big Six Service (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Cadillac automobile; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Eaton, Paul;

ca. 1951. Self-service gas stations, although relatively rare in the early 1950's, were starting to make their mark in the Puget Sound area. This photograph, taken probably in the late summer of 1951, announced the grand opening of a Serve-Ur-Self type of service station. Four uncovered gas pumps wait for the incoming motorist. Quaker State Motor Oil and Miller tires could be purchased as well. Free gifts were also promised to all who stopped by during the grand opening.

Automobile service stations; Automobile equipment & supplies; Gasoline pumps;

An elevated view of the large service area at the 72nd Street Serve & Save gasoline station. Attendants are busy with three automobiles at the two gasoline pump islands while many more automobiles and their drivers wait their turn. Ordered by Time Oil.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1940-1950; Time Oil Co. (Tacoma); Seventy-Second Street Serve & Save (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Five workers from the 72nd Street Serve & Save gasoline station pose for their portrait. A Conoco sign is seen to the left of the gasoline pump and a rack of Valvoline oil is below the sign. Ordered by Time Oil.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1940-1950; Time Oil Co. (Tacoma); Seventy-Second Street Serve & Save (Tacoma);

Exterior of new Maxwell station at Lakewood Center, Maxwell Petroleum, 520 E. D St.

Automobile service stations--Lakewood--1950-1960; Gasoline pumps--Lakewood--1950-1950;

Exterior of new Maxwell station at Lakewood Center, Maxwell Petroleum, 520 E. D St.

Automobile service stations--Lakewood--1950-1960; Gasoline pumps--Lakewood--1950-1950;

Grand opening of the Shell Oil station at Center and Union, Earl Moon's Shell Service, 3520 Center St. Three employees service a car in the right foreground, checking under the hood and cleaning windows. Another employee gases up a car at the pumps. The Shell oil delivery truck can be seen beside the station. A paneled station wagon is at the other side of the station. The skyline of residential Tacoma can be seen in the background. Owner Earl J. Moon ran an ad in the January 25, 1951 News Tribune the grand opening of his Shell Service Station. The ad promoted Goodyear tires and batteries, Shell gas and "Shellubrication." Free balloons and candy would be available for the kids and one prize of four free tires for adults. (TNT 1-25-1951, p. 28-advertisement)

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1950-1960; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Earl Moon's Shell Service (Tacoma);

Exterior exposure Porter-Griffith Shell Oil Station.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A few self-service stations were starting to appear in the early 1950's in the Puget Sound area; however, it was still an unusual sight. A customer would pump his own gas rather than waiting patiently in his car for an attendant to do so. As this gas station's large sign advertised, you could "save $$" by doing the work yourself. Photograph ordered by Fletcher Oil Company.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Fletcher Oil Co. (Tacoma);

An unusual sight in the early 1950's was a self-service gas station. Instead of having an attendant come out and pump the gas, the customer would do the work himself. As the large sign on the light pole proclaims, it would be possible to "save" money if you were willing to "serve-ur-self". Photograph ordered by Fletcher Oil Company.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Fletcher Oil Co. (Tacoma);

George Irey's Signal service station and Tacoma Radiator and Fender Works. Service station attendant standing at three-pump gasoline service island. Building in background was later remodeled into Mueller-Harkins Buick.

Business Enterprises - Automobile Service Stations - Signal Dealers - Tacoma - George Irey's Signal Service Station

Exterior view of George Irey's Signal service station and Tacoma Radiator and Fender Works. Building was later remodled into Mueller-Harkins Buick.

Business Enterprises - Automobile Service Stations - Signal Dealers - Tacoma - George Irey's Signal Service Station

View of Shell station #982. This photograph of Shell Oil station #982 in Auburn was taken on August 2, 1950. According to the White River Historical Society, Louie's Shell Service was located at 103 Auburn Avenue, at the corner of Auburn Avenue and 1st Street N.E. Drivers in the small town could choose to gas up at either the Mobil, Louie's, or the Richfield stations on Auburn Avenue, as they were all in a row. The flat roofed building next to the large tree towards the rear of the Louie's Shell was the Auburn General Hospital.

Shell Oil Co. (Auburn); Automobile service stations--Auburn; Louie's Shell Service (Auburn);

Shell Oil station at 37th & Pacific. Fred's Shell Service station, owned by Fred Styf, was located at 3640 Pacific Avenue. Mr. Styf also owned another Shell station at 2523 Pacific Avenue. Pierce County Hospital (later Puget Sound General Hospital) is shown a block away.

Shell Oil Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Fred's Shell Service (Tacoma); Styf, Fred; Automobile service stations--Tacoma;

This photograph from August of 1950 shows the west side of Tacoma Avenue South looking north from South 10th Street. Bill Leedom's Shell Service station was located on the corner, at 922 Tacoma Avenue South. In November of 1952 the voters approved the construction of a new County-City Building on this block. All the buildings on the west side of Tacoma Avenue South from South 9th to South 11th were demolished and South 10th Street was closed to traffic. The Tacoma School District's Central School can be seen further up the road at 601 South 8th Street.

Shell Oil Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma; Central School (Tacoma); Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Shell Oil station at Sixth & Sprague. This photograph of Wolford & Brazeau's Shell station was taken on August 2, 1950. The gas station, located at 1720 Sixth Avenue, was owned by A.H. Wolford and E.F. Brazeau. It competed for business with Les Knutsen's Associated Service located across the street. TPL-9907

Shell Oil Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma;

Smith's Shell Station is shown with a separate building for automobile repairs. Gasoline pumps stand in front of the sales booth. A gasoline service station had been at this location since 1929. A billboard advertising Shell products stands along the property line on the right. Ordered by Shell Oil Company, Mr. Holms.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Smith's Shell Station (Tacoma); Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1940-1950; Billboards--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

J.F. Shank's Shell station at South 38th and Thompson Avenue is shown with a separate building for automobile repairs. Gasoline pumps stand in front of the sales booth where tires have been hung in the windows. A very small, square-backed vehicle is parked by the sales booth. Ordered by Shell Oil Company, Mr. Holms.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; J.F. Shank's Shell Station (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Nez DuCharme & Sons Depot Service Station at its new location 1548 Pacific Avenue. A gas station attendant services a car in the driveway; filling the car with gas, checking under the hood, and cleaning the windows. The station was large and had a repair shop and oil change location to the right. A weathervane checks the direction of the wind from atop the gable of this unique building. (Ad TNT 4/14/1950, pg. 27)

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1950-1960; Nez DuCharme & Sons Depot Service Station (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960;