Henry Mill and Timber Company along the Tacoma waterfront. Henry Mill began operations at this site in 1925. Prefabricated trusses can be seen in the foreground. During the World War II, the company specialized in prefabricated bridges and hangars for the military.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Henry Mill & Timber Co. (Tacoma); Mills--Tacoma--1940-1950; Waterfronts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Henry Mill, box girder at end of new dock. Side-view detail of boards. Large nail-shaped spikes are shown near the edges may be spacers. Sign on one of the buildings in background says "Drifted Snow Flour".

Girders--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Structural frames--Tacoma; Henry Mill & Timber Co. (Tacoma);

Aerial view of Tacoma Lumber Fabricating Co. on Old Town waterfront. This is an August, 1948, view of the Tacoma Lumber Fabricating Co. including stacks of lumber. Tacoma Lumber was situated on the former site of Henry Mill & Timber Co. on No. Starr St. It had taken over the business in August, 1945. Realizing the need for more affordable, quicker construction of new homes after WWII, Tacoma Lumber expanded its structural beam business to include the creation of panels for entire prefabricated houses. By the early 1950's, Tacoma Lumber was gone from No. Starr St., replaced by Pacific Oerlikon Co., manufacturers of electric equipment.

Aerial photographs; Tacoma Lumber Fabricating Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Interior of shop with man standing next to large piece of machinery. An employee of Pacific Oerlikon Co. is pictured next to a piece of equipment used in the Oerlikon plant. Pacific Oerlikon was located at 3001 No. Starr Street and was a manufacturer of electric equipment. This interior view of the plant showed various types of machinery imported from Europe by Pacific Oerlikon.

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Machinery; Equipment;

Interior exposure of large breakers assembled at Pacific Oerlikon Co., 3001 Starr street. Six in foreground, other equipment on left side. The company was a subsidiary of Oerlikon Engineering of Zurich, Switzerland and manufactured porcelain clad low oil content circuit breakers. In 1952, the company has 110 employees working 3 shifts per day, 5 days a week, with a monthly outlay for wages and salaries of $40,000. Plans were to expand the company to 500 skilled workers. (TNT 9/7/1952, pg. C-15)

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Machinery; Equipment; Electrical apparatus; Electrical apparatus industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electronic industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interior exposure at Pacific Oerlikon Co. Metal shelves hold a variety of electrical parts. Pacific Oerlikon, the Northwest subsidiary of Oerlikon Engineering Co. of Zurich, Switzerland, manufactured power-system equipment. The parent company was a 75 year old world wide leader in manufacturing high quality products. Its only offspring Pacific Oerlikon originated from $2,000,000 investment that used raw materials and parts made in the U. S. to manufacture components for the Northwest's power grid. (TNT 9/7/1952, pg. C-15)

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Machinery; Equipment; Electrical apparatus; Electrical apparatus industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electronic industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Switch gear equipment at Pacific Oerlikon Co. The worker eyes suspiciously the hook used to lift this product packaged for transport. Although the hook reads Yale five ton, the worker looks doubtful that it will hold. The product is labelled "porcelain, handle with care, fragile." Pacific Oerlikon manufactured large breakers and equipment used in the transmission of electric power.

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Machinery; Equipment;

On June 15, 1942, the sawmill at the Henry Mill and Timber Co. caught fire, the result of electrical problems. Quick action by the fire department managed to save the planer plant, warehouse and offices, but the sawmill was completely wiped out. Monetary loss was in excess of $200,000. No lives were lost; the sawmill was not operating due to a shortage of logs. (T.Times 6/16/1942, pg. 1)

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Henry Mill & Timber Co. (Tacoma); Fires--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1943. Built in 1924, the Henry Mill & Timber Company occupied the site on Ruston Way just south of North Starr St. for almost 20 years. Originally a sawmill, they started fabricating structures when they built the caisson panels for the first Narrows Bridge. Their expertise in designing and building prefabricated structures from heavy timber won them contracts during WWII for giant store houses and hangers that could be broken down into small sections, shipped, and re-assembled with a minimum of effort. After the war they were taken over by the Tacoma Lumber Fabricating Co. which closed in the early 1950s.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lumberyards--Tacoma; Prefabricated buildings--Tacoma; Henry Mill & Timber Co. (Tacoma);

Henry Mill showing salt treatment of wood. Henry Mill & Timber Co. was very busy with the construction industry throughout Tacoma. They were leaders in prefabricated materials which were needed for the development of housing and businesses in Pierce County. View of unidentified laborer directing the hoisting of lumber during salt treatment of wood.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Laborers--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Henry Mill & Timber Co. (Tacoma);

Henry Mill was busy filling orders for commercial and government contracts. They were a leader in prefabricated materials which allowed for orders to be filled rapidly. Exterior view of west end of yard at the Henry Mill & Timber Co. plant and parking lot; photo ordered by the Condon Company, an advertising company based out of Tacoma.

Mills--Tacoma; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Henry Mill & Timber Co. (Tacoma);

Henry Mill, construction of trusses. Henry Mill & Timber Co. was located at the foot of Starr St., near the water. During World War II, they held a number of government contracts for prefabricated structures. This photo shows company officials standing in and around a wooden truss that is being built.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trusses--Tacoma; Structural frames--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma; Henry Mill & Timber Co. (Tacoma);

Henry Mill Lumber, patterns and men. A group of men, some standing and and some sitting on a wooden workhorse, in a workroom. Large windows are behind them. TPL-6660

Group portraits--1940-1950; Henry Mill & Timber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Henry Mill & Timber Company was working on many commercial and government contracts. As a leader in the prefabricated lumber products, they were able to fill orders very rapidly, therefore helping to aid the war effort. View of Peter B. Solberg working on a barge model for Henry Mill & Timber Co. Mr. Solberg worked at the company during WW II. After the war, he founded and operated the Timber Fabrication Company until his death in February 1964. TPL-6662 (Photo identification provided by a family member)

Barges--Tacoma; Laborers--Tacoma; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Henry Mill & Timber Co. (Tacoma); Solberg, Peter B.;

Interior exposure of worker with equipment. An employee of Pacific Oerlikon Co. stands with one hand extended to touch an extremely tall piece of machinery which is transported on a wheeled dolly. He is standing between two similar pieces of machinery which are both loaded onto dollies. The Pacific Oerlikon plant was located at 3001 No. Starr St. and manufactured power system equipment. Photograph ordered by Pacific Oerlikon Co.

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Machinery; Equipment;

Outdoor exposure of Pacific Oerlikon plant. The Pacific Oerlikon Co., located at 3001 No. Starr, manufactured electric equipment. Lloyd Morgan was listed as manager according to the 1951 and 1953 City Directories. View of three story wooden building with large Oerlikon sign on top close to additional Oerlikon structure and next to railroad tracks. The Oerlikon plant was built on the site of the former Henry Mill Co. and Tacoma Lumber Fabricating Co. They changed their name to United Power Control in 1956 and then changed to United Products Company upon merging with Meridian Corp. of Chicago in 1958. Photograph ordered by Pacific Oerlikon Co.

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Close up exposure of 3 assembled breakers at Pacific Oerlikon Co. Pacific Oerlikon, a subsidiary of Oerlikon Engineering Co. of Zurich, Switzerland, manufactured power-system equipment. The parent company invested $2,000,000 in remodeling the former Henry Mill and Timber Co. and in importing machine tools from Europe. Tacoma was chosen because a suitable site was available and the labor market (machine tool operators) was plentiful. The only addition to the site was the erection of a sheet metal, concrete and glass building that housed a 24,000 sq. ft. machine shop and a 6,000 sq. ft. assembly area. (TNT 9/7/1952, pg. C-15)

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Machinery; Equipment; Electrical apparatus; Electrical apparatus industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electronic industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Pacific Oerlikon Co., interior of large building with large breaker disassembled and others assembled. Oerlikon Engineering of Zurich, Switzerland chose the Northwest for its subsidiary for two reasons- the large market for its circuit breakers and the absence of power system manufacturing companies in this area. The company manufactures circuit breakers and instrument transformers in the range of 34.5 to 138 kilovolts and having up to 3 1/2 million kilovolt amperes interrupting capacity. The finished product- the 34.5 power circuit breaker costs approximately $8,000 and the 138 power circuit breaker $29,000. (TNT 9/7/1952, pg. C-15)

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Machinery; Equipment; Electrical apparatus; Electrical apparatus industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electronic industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Several operations in plant, Tacoma Lumber Fabricating, Mr. Patterson. Stacks of completed trusses have been loaded on a freight car and two workmen are using straps to secure the load during shipping. Active management of the company was under Frank Grabbs. G.E. Karlen was president and Lee C. Monahan was vice-president. (T.Times, 1/16/1949, p.18)

Tacoma Lumber Fabricating Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Building materials industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma; Laborers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1955. Two young women in summer attire, short sleeves and sandals, seem to be measuring on tippy-toes the height of this gigantic circuit breaker at Pacific Oerlikon. Pacific Oerlikon manufactured electrical components in powerful sizes for use on the power grid.

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Electrical apparatus; Electrical apparatus industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electronic industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1955. Pacific Oerlikon Co. Two men work on drilling machinery, manufacturing electrical parts. The company was a subsidiary of Oerlikon Engineering of Zurich, Switzerland and manufactured porcelain clad low oil content circuit breakers. In 1956, the company changed its name to United Power Control. In a 1958 merger with Meridian Corporation of Chicago, the name again changed, this time to United Products Co.

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Electrical apparatus; Electrical apparatus industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electronic industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Machinery; Equipment;

ca. 1955. Pacific Oerlikon Co. An employee works on a large piece of machinery. The company manufactured large electrical components and employed over 100 skilled workers. Pacific Oerlikon was a subsidiary of 75 year old Oerlikon Engineering Co. of Zurich, Switzerland.The Northwest was chosen as the site of Oerlikon's offspring because of the market for large power grid equipment and the lack of any other manufacturers in the area. Tacoma was chosen as the site due to the availability of a location (the former Henry Mill and Timber Co.) and the abundance of skilled labor.

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Electrical apparatus; Electrical apparatus industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electronic industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Machinery; Equipment;

The Pacific Oerlikon Co. were electric equipment manufacturers. According to the 1951 City Directory, they were located at 3001 No. Starr and Lloyd Morgan was listed as manager. View of machinery manufactured by Pacific Oerlikon in photograph taken on September 18, 1951. It possibly could be a type of drill. Photograph ordered by Pacific Oerlikon.

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Machinery;

Henry Mill, construction of prefabricated trusses. Photograph shows piles of timber and a wood form that is being constructed at the Mill, located at the foot of Starr St., near the water. During the war, Henry Mill was active in lumber prefabrication.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trusses--Tacoma; Structural frames--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma; Henry Mill & Timber Co. (Tacoma);

Henry Mill pictures for National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Henry Mill & Timber Co., a leader in the pre-fabricated lumber industry, is working on a contract to build an airplane hangar and shop. Interior view of plant with four unidentified men and one unidentified woman reviewing work plan.

Blueprints; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Henry Mill & Timber Co. (Tacoma);

Henry Mill test assembly of truss. Henry Mill & Timber Co. specialized in pre-fabricated lumber products. They were a leader in the industry and received many government contracts. Exterior view of group examining assembly of truss. TPL-6661

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;Trusses--Tacoma; Henry Mill & Timber Co. (Tacoma);

Built in 1924, the Henry Mill & Timber Company occupied the site on Ruston Way just south of North Starr St. for almost 20 years. Originally a sawmill, they started fabricating structures when they built the caisson panels for the first Narrows Bridge. Their expertise in designing and building prefabricated structures from heavy timber won them contracts during WWII for giant store houses and hangers that could be broken down into small sections, shipped, and re-assembled with a minimum of effort. After the war they were taken over by the Tacoma Lumber Fabricating Co. which closed in the early 1950s. (Henry Mill west end of yard for Condon Co.)

Mills--Tacoma; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Henry Mill & Timber Co. (Tacoma);

Henry Mill pictures for National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. The Henry Mill & Timber Co. is working on a contract for the N.A.C.A. They will build a airplane hangar and shop out of pre-fabricated lumber products. View of work plans being used for this project.

Blueprints; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Henry Mill & Timber Co. (Tacoma);

Henry Mill test assembly of J. O. 240. Henry Mill & Timber Co. is a leader in pre-fabricated lumber materials. They have several Army and Navy job contracts and through their well established assmbly line they are able to speed up the needed materials for the war effort. View of assembly line for pre-fabricated lumber orders.

Assembly-line methods--Tacoma; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Henry Mill & Timber Co. (Tacoma);

Henry Mill test assembly of J. O. 240. All lumber was cut, trimmed, bored and grooved if need be. The large open space allowed for job orders to be filled at a fast pace. View of laborer working on assembly line at Henry Mill Co. TPL-6515

Assembly-line methods--Tacoma; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Henry Mill & Timber Co. (Tacoma);