Wheeler Osgood office interiors. Mr. Paul M. Smith was Secretary of the company at this time. This view shows the hallway leading from Mr. Smith's office with linoleum tile on the floor. Windows from the other offices into the hallway are made of light-diffusing glass. Paneling on the walls and the door are made of highly grained wood.
Taken in January of 1949, this photograph of N.O. Johnson was taken at Standard Brands, Inc. in Sumner where Mr. Johnson, a machinist specialist, had been employed for 36 years. N. O. Johnson was born in New York City in 1889, he came to Sumner in 1912 and decided he wanted to stay. Johnson arrived with a marine engineer's license, and spent one year at sea before settling down in Sumner. Standard Brands manufactured yeast and vinegar. Photo ordered for the Sunday Tacoma Times 25 Year Club. (T. Times, 1/6/49, p. 4).
Machinery industry--Sumner; Machinery; Equipment; Laborers--Sumner; Industrial facilities--Sumner; Johnson, N. O.; Standard Brands, Inc. (Sumner);
Tacoma's St. Regis plant has been extremely busy since the end of World War II. The pulp plant has been modernized and a paper mill has been added; these combined improvements strengthen the company's position in pulp, Kraft paper, Kraft board and multiwall bags. Aerial view of St. Regis plant, located in Tacoma's tideflats area.
Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Aerial photographs; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950;
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Company started running trains from Tacoma around 1909; this railroad company was one of the last ones to establish operations to and from the Pacific Northwest. The railroad operated daily passenger and freight trains from Tacoma; the famous streamliner, Olympian Hiawatha, offered the first streamline service between Tacoma and Chicago, and reduced this trip by fifteen hours.
Railroad cars--Tacoma; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Railroad sidings--Tacoma; Railroad companies--Tacoma; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma);
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad had a 300 acre shop and railway terminal plant; the shop area originally opened in 1906 even before railway operations had started. The Milwaukee terminals were completed in 1906 and services began in 1909. The railroad expanded their services shortly after the end of World War II and better communication with the trains and engineers was established, therefore providing higher standards of safety.
Railroad cars--Tacoma; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Railroad sidings--Tacoma; Railroad companies--Tacoma; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma);
Rainier Steel would use scrap iron as their raw resource in producing steel. The plant began producing steel on December 3, 1948, they were the first steel plant in Tacoma. The plant would employ about 50 people, when they reached full operations, which would help build the payrolls in Tacoma industries. Aerial view of Rainier Steel Corporation, located between Blair Waterway and Hylebos Waterway on Lincoln Avenue.
Rainier Steel Company had just started operating in the steel industry in Tacoma, this company was the only one of its type in this regional area. Rainier would be producing and selling their steel to automobile companies in Detroit, Michigan. Eugene Cunningham was the President of Rainier Steel Corporation, the plant facilities were located at 2201 Lincoln Avenue in Tacoma's tideflats area, between Blair Waterway and Hylebos Waterway.
Several views of Wheeler-Osgood Buildings, Wheeler-Osgood, spec. An evening view of the exterior of the Wheeler-Osgood office building with the Tacoma skyline in the distance. An automobile stands across the street under a large tree and several more automobiles are parked beside the building.
In 1949 Nalley's had been a stable part of Tacoma's industries for more than thirty years; the company had been referred to as, one of Tacoma's "payroll builders". The company's plant had modern food processing buildings; they were expanding in order to keep up with the growing demands for their products. Interior view of plant; view of machinery used in processing the Nalley's food products.
Nalley's Incorporated was founded in Tacoma in 1918, Nalley's has gained an impressive reputation in the food industry; pickles, potato chips and salad dressings are just a few of the food items they produce in their line of well known products. Nalley's maintains a high quality control with all of the products, this helps to achieve the great tastes and flavors in their products. Interior view of plant; view of containers where the food items are processed and produced.
Nalley's has always maintained a consistent building and development program; the company was expanding throughout Tacoma and the Pacific Northwest. In later years the company would acquire other food processing plants. In Tacoma, the company would begin expanding throughout the industrial area and continue operations at the company's original plant located on Puyallup Avenue. Interior view of Nalley's; view of machinery in food processing department.
In 1949 St. Regis ranked among the top companies in the paper and pulp industry. Interior view of St. Regis plant, Ederer cranes with 24 ton capacity are being used in paper mill. Photo ordered by Ederer Engineering Company, cranes, hoist and veneer machinery manufacturers based out of Seattle, Washington.
Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hoisting machinery; Pulleys; Equipment; Machinery industry--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Ederer Engineering Co. (Seattle);
Logs for the St. Regis pulp mill were originally supplied by the St. Paul and Tacoma lumber mill; these two companies established a partnership since the beginning of St. Regis' operations. In 1949 St. Regis began producing paper at the Tacoma plant. View of General Electric machinery; photo ordered by General Electric Company, machinery and equipment manufacturers.
Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Machinery; Machinery industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; General Electric Co. (Tacoma);
Interior view of St. Regis plant, paper manufacturing department; The Electric Construction Company, an engineering and contracting business, logo and information appears in the upper left corner. View of General Electric machinery; photo ordered by General Electric Company, machinery and equipment manufacturers.
Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Machinery; Machinery industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; General Electric Co. (Tacoma); Electric Construction Co. (Tacoma);
Since the 1930's St. Regis had been investing money to eliminate the offensive "odor" produced by the plant; the company would continue to address this issue and pollution questions for many years. Interior view of plant and view of General Electric machinery; photo ordered by General Electric Company, machinery and equipment manufacturers.
Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Paper--Tacoma; Machinery; Machinery industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; General Electric Co. (Tacoma);
Interior view of St. Regis, view of paper producing machinery, two unidentified laborers are working with what appears to be a large roll of kraft paper, "Ederer Engineers" crane is being used, this machine was manufactured in Seattle. Photo ordered by Pusey & Jones Corporation, a machinery manufacturer from Wilmington, Delaware.
Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Paper--Tacoma; Mechanical systems--Tacoma; Machinery; Machinery industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Pusey & Jones Corp. (Tacoma);
St. Regis has been expanding and improving their facilities and plants throughout the world based on research being conducted in their Research and Development Departments. The company's laboratories are ranked among the highest in the paper and pulp industry. View of unidentified men in research and testing area in Tacoma's St. Regis plant in this photograph dated January 21, 1949. (S4)
Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Product inspection--Tacoma; Testing--Tacoma; Research facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950;
The St. Regis laboratories were conducting various types of research related to the pulp and paper industry. In 1949, they were focusing in an extensive program connected with pulping, new paper coatings, and new paper products. The laboratories helped maintain high levels of quality control. View of unidentified men in research and testing area at Tacoma's St. Regis plant. (S5)
Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Product inspection--Tacoma; Testing--Tacoma; Research facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950;
St. Regis was able to broaden their range of products and increase production capacity by enlarging their Tacoma plant and beginning the production of kraft paper. Interior view of St. Regis plant, Ederer cranes with 24 ton capacity are being used in paper mill. Photo ordered by Ederer Engineering Company, cranes, hoist and veneer machinery manufacturers based out of Seattle, Washington.
Paper industry--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Pulleys; Equipment; Machinery industry--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Ederer Engineering Co. (Seattle);
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad was hosting a safety rally for their employees at the Odd Fellows Temple in Tacoma in January of 1949. Railroad officials from Tacoma, Seattle, Spokane, Chicago, Milwaukee and Butte would be attending the rally. Company officials stressed the importance of employee safety and would spend some time discussing accident prevention methods; H. J. McMahon is the Western District Safety Engineer, his headquarters are in Tacoma.
Railroad cars--Tacoma; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Railroad sidings--Tacoma; Railroad companies--Tacoma; Clouds; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Boat interior. The engine room of a fishing boat newly completed by Tacoma Boat Building Company, most likely the Virginia R who was completed January 29, 1949. She carried a 16 cylinder GM diesel engine and had the capacity to carry up to 250 tons of frozen tuna. TPL-9002
Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat engines; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Pacific Boat, "Dreamland" launching. "Dreamland" was launched at Pacific Boat Building Company on February 12, 1949. The 66-foot, 75 gross-ton fishing boat was christened by Kathryn Martinis (pictured above with bouquet of roses) for her dad, Paul Martinis, of Everett. "Dreamland" was powered by a 160 hp diesel engine. (TNT, 2/14/1949, p.2- alt. photograph)
Publicity for Permanente News and Times Industrial Page, Permanente Metals, Bill Gorman. Two workmen move alumina into the reduction pots before closing the corrugated cover. Permanente produced more aluminum at this time than was produced by the entire industry in 1937, the third largest producer of aluminum in the nation. The average age of their employees was 35 years. The daily uses of aluminum were multiplying as manufacturers became acquainted with its lightness, strength, corrosion resistance, formability and appearance. (T.Times, 2/25/1949, p.36)
Publicity for Permanente News and Times Industrial Page, Permanente Metals, Bill Gorman. One of the employees at Permanente Metals Corporation leans back with his feet up on a pull-out board on a desk to review a worksheet. Clip-boards, a calendar and a map hang on the wall behind him. He is wearing work boots and a hat while relaxing into this review.
Her hair in disarray, a harried phone operator at Permanente Metals listens to one of many calls to the big plant at 3400 Taylor Way on February 9, 1949. Permanente, producers of Kaiser Aluminum, ran round-the-clock operations to keep up with the heavy demand by industry and the military for aluminum. Opened in Tacoma in 1947 as one of three big plants in Washington State, the company was the third largest producer of aluminum in the nation, exceeding over 20% of national production. (T.Times 2-25-49, p. 36-article)
Columbia Powder Company was located in Frederickson, Washington, southeast of Tacoma. A massive explosion destroyed a building at the plant and killed a family of six who had lived nearby; the boom was felt throughout Tacoma and heard in a 15 mile radius throughout Pierce County. Aerial view of Columbia Powder plant site where a three story building was destroyed following a massive explosion (T. Times, 3/15/49, p. 1).
Industrial facilities--Frederickson; Nitrates; Chemical industry--Frederickson; Explosions--Frederickson; Disasters--Frederickson; Columbia Powder Co. (Frederickson);
ASARCO was one of the largest industries in Tacoma, with over 1,304 employees and a payroll of over $345,000. Last year the company smelted over 383,129 tons of ore and 106,870 tons of copper were refined. The company was a long and interesting history of ownerships, mergers and stockholders; including a time when the Guggenheim's were in control of the business. View of "Safety First" display during ASARCO's open house (T.N.T., 4/3/49, p. A-15 & 4/5/49, p. 1).
Since September 1948, ASARCO has had 30,318 stockholders, with no one person owning as much as 3% of the company, making it one of the largest companies in the United States to be owned by the public. Six ASARCO employees, including Gustav Nordberg (third from right) are pictured at the company's 50-year celebration. Mr. Nordberg would pass away less than a year after this April, 1949, photograph was taken. He died on February 1, 1950. He lived on 49th & Frace, close to the smelter, and walked to work nearly every day. (T.N.T., 4/3/49, p. A-15 & 4/5/49, p. 1). (Additional identification & information provided by a reader)
J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corporation just finished building another Tacoma built fishing boat. The beautiful tuna clipper "Mary S." was built for Captain Manuel Sousa and Associates of San Diego, California. "Mary S." is 109 feet long and has a 600 horsepower engine, the vessel cost $300,000. View of "Mary S."; Martinac boat building plant in background (T.N.T., 4/15/49, p. 29). TPL-8993
The "Mary S" slid down the ways at Martinac Shipbuilding on April 14, 1949. The , launching of the 109-foot tuna clipper drew the attendance of L. L. Livesly, partner and managing owner of Manuel Sousa and Associates of San Diego, California. Mrs. Joe Martinac Jr. and Mrs. L. L. Livesly were the launching sponsors for the "Mary S." (T.N.T., 4/15/49, p. 29). TPL-8994
