K.H. Kaman Company's Perma-Stone facility, owned by Karl H. Kaman, at 1938 Tacoma Avenue South shared a building with Monarch Contractors, owned by Edward F. Marshall and Karl H. Kaman, at 1934 Tacoma Avenue South. The companies announced an open house of their new offices, warehouses and display room in November 1952. (TNT, 11/1/1952, p.C-10)

K.H. Kaman Co. (Tacoma); Building materials; Monarch Specialty Contractors (Tacoma);

Five of the eight vehicles belonging to Lincoln Electric are parked outside their new home on November 26, 1952. Lincoln Electric was located at 751 South 38th Street. They installed and serviced Hotpoint appliances, wired homes, and carried a line of juvenile furniture and toys in their new and enlarged brick building. The large fleet of three service trucks, two station wagons, two pickups and a delivery truck made it possible for Lincoln Electric to offer prompt assistance to their customers. (TNT 12-10-52, B-8)

Lincoln Electric (Tacoma); Appliance stores--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Uniformed mechanics were presented with service buttons at the Allen Motor Company on South Tacoma Way Christmas Eve, 1952. Allen Motor Company were authorized Studebaker dealers. Advertising announcing new 1952 Studebakers is painted on the large plate glass windows; there is also a neon "Commander" sign on adjacent window. The man in white coveralls in the second row, second from the right, is Scotty Gordon.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Allen Motor Co. (Tacoma);

A Viking warrior, ready for battle, stands above the large neon sign for the Viking Restaurant. Apparently the restaurant offered exceptional food with dining available from 5:00 p.m. It was situated in a rectangular building with large plate glass windows; a striped awning hung over the main entrance. The word "cheese" is painted in large letters on a tall triangular column near the corner of the restaurant. The Viking Restaurant had previously been known as the Viking Smorgasbord, specializing in Scandinavian and American foods. TPL-2510

Viking Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices); Awnings--Tacoma;

Searchlights pierce the darkness of a winter evening as they beckon drivers to the new Shell Service Station at South Twenty Sixth Street and Pacific Avenue on December 6, 1952. Owned by Jesse C. McGee and Kenneth T. Baker, the gas station was actually located at 2523 Pacific Avenue. It celebrated its grand opening in early December with free giveaways. This view of the exterior of the new station was taken from across the street. The station, with the company name aglow in neon, apparently had four pumps and a small repair facility. Photograph ordered by Shell Oil. (TNT 12-4-52, D-3--ad)

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Twenty Sixth & Pacific Shell Service (Tacoma); Searchlights--Tacoma; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Shell Oil Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

The Patent Scaffolding Co., located in Seattle at 420 8th Ave. N., sold and rented Gold Medal scaffolding and hoisting towers to businesses and individuals. View of scaffolding inside the Bank of California at 1011-12 Pacific Avenue in Tacoma. A sign indicating McClelland Sons, who were professional cleaners, have been employed in this capacity is placed on one of the towers. They may have been there to clean the building's skylights.

Scaffolding; Patent Scaffolding Co., Inc. (Seattle); Signs (Notices); Skylights--Tacoma;

A display of Mobil tire products was set up at the New Yorker in early January, 1953. Specific tires for snow, truck & bus, commercial and consumer usage were labeled for easy differentiation. A poster indicating that no money down was required at the time of purchase; a customer could take up to six months to pay off the tires. At least four chairs are facing the display; presumably, there would be a presentation extolling the virtues of Mobil products. Photograph ordered by General Petroleum Corp.

Tires; Tire industry--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices); New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); General Petroleum Corp. (Tacoma);

Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. exterior, for the Condon Co. This facility was considered to be one of the most complete automotive centers in the U.S. Founded in 1916 at 8th and A, the company was still run by the Mueller family. In September of 1953, negotiations were underway to sell the family owned business to a Seattle automobile man. Effective October 1, 1953, the new owner was identified as E.H. (Gene) Brus, a prominent Seattle automobile man since 1921. (TNT 9/14/1953, pg. 1 & TNT 10/4/1953, pg. B5-B7)

Buick automobile; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Brus Buick Co. (Tacoma);

Offices at Brown & Haley Candy Co., for West Disinfecting Co. A young woman sits typing at a desk labelled "information." Surrounding her are office cubicles, separated by plate glass windows. Light fixtures are suspended from the ceiling. Brown and Haley was founded in 1913 by J.C. Haley and grew because of the company's insistence on quality. In 1948, the company underwent a 1/2 million dollar expansion. The company's most famous product was Almond Roca, but they also made the Mountain Bar, Olympic Mint and the Almond Butter Crunch Bar. The company pioneered packing in a vacuum packed tin for freshness. (TNT 9/4/1953, pg. C-15)

Confections; Candy; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Brown & Haley (Tacoma); Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; Office workers--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Although the company name "Brown & Haley" calls to mind their famous Almond Roca candies, the Brown & Haley Candy Company, 108-16 East 26th Street, has always made a variety of candy products. This photograph from September, 1953 shows seven women employees on the manufacturing line that made high quality, hand-dipped chocolates. The second woman on the line, counting from the right, has been identified as Katherine White. The last woman in the line has been identified as Mollie Tripple. TPL-8786

Confections; Candy; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Packaging; Assembly-line methods; Brown & Haley (Tacoma);

Holroyd Co.; exposure of five trucks in front of the plant at So. 52nd and Washington. Holroyd mixed concrete and manufactured concrete building units. These units were especially popular for building during the war when wood was in short supply. The large trucks are used for transporting materials. The company also had a gravel pit at Nisqually and another at Meadow Park.

Holroyd Co. (Tacoma); Concrete products industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Building materials industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

National Bank of Washington; Branch & Senior management of bank. Twenty men and one woman gather around the boardroom table. Carl L. Phillips, president of the bank, sits at the head of the table with C.T. Chandler, vice-president, to the right. The man to the right of Chandler in the chair is unidentified. The bank was known from 1913-1938 as the National Bank of Tacoma and was housed in the Italian-Renaissance building at the northeast corner of 12th and Pacific, that since 1971 has housed the Tacoma Art Museum.

Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bankers--Tacoma; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma)--People; Phillips, Carl L.; Chandler, C.T.;

Herb Satterlee Motor Company's repair shop. Several 1940s and 50s Packards in work area, signs promote services. Satterlee sold and serviced Packards and British Austins. The company was owned by Herb F. Satterlee, who served as president, with Herb Jr. as secretary-treasurer. The company did body and paint work, auto glass, mechanical servicing and tailored seat covers at this location.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Packard automobile; Herb Satterlee Motors (Tacoma);

Mueller-Harkins Buick Agency. Staff group photo on roof parking lot; building's pylon sign in background. Medical Arts, now Tacoma Municipal, building visible at far left in photo. In October of 1953, The Muellers retired and sold their company to E.H. (Gene) Brus from Seattle. The other founding owner Leo W. Harkins had retired in 1931. There was no change in personnel or policies, but the company now became Brus Buick Co. Brus would also take over the used car lot at 8th and Tacoma Ave. (TNT 10/4/1953, pg. B-6 - B-7)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Brus Buick Co. (Tacoma);

New service station at 54th & Pacific, for General Petroleum. Doug & Cliff's Mobilgas Service Station. The station was owned by Douglas E. Garrett & Clifford J. Lawson. The pair ran large ads for their Grand Opening October 23 & 24, 1953. Opening give-aways included gifts for the ladies, balloons & candy for the kiddies and twelve turkeys. (TNT 10/22/1953, pg. C-13)

Doug & Cliff's Service (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1950-1960; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Dupont Works, E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. - annual dinner and 25 year club at the New Yorker. Eight five pensioners and 25 year men were honored at the dinner at the New Yorker. C.H. Miller, service manager of the explosives department, paid tribute to the DuPont old timers. (TNT 10/30/1953, pg. 3-- see article for names)

New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Business people--Tacoma--1950-1960; E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. (Dupont)--People;

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;

No. Stevens, looking north at the intersection of No. 26th St. On the right is the Hilltop Market at 2517 No. Stevens. On the left is Pop's Service Station at 2601 No. Stevens. Safeway stores ordered these pictures. The City Council would be hearing their application to erect a store at 26th and Stevens on January 4, 1954. The application had been turned down by the City Planning Commission. The hearing was viewed by an overflowing crowd. The main argument against rezoning this area for the erection of a $525,000 Safeway store was the resulting increased traffic. Residents felt that increasing the already heavy flow of traffic would endanger neighborhood children. Safeway argued that traffic was already bad & their off street parking would make the situation better. The supermarket chain also felt that the Planning Commission was protecting the smaller businesses. (TNT 1/5/1954, pg.1) TPL-9908

Hilltop Market (Tacoma); Pop's Service Stations (Tacoma); Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery Stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

No. 26th St., looking west to the intersection of No. Stevens St. A school bus is turning next to the Hilltop Market at 2517 No. Stevens. Safeway stores ordered these pictures. The City Council was hearing an application from Safeway to erect a $525,000 supermarket at 26th and Stevens. The City Planning Commission had already turned down the application citing the dangers of increased traffic and opposition of the area's residents. The hearing was jammed to overflowing with spectators. Both sides argued their point and the hearing was adjourned without a resolution. (TNT 12/8/1953)

Hilltop Market (Tacoma); Residential streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Progress photograph of the United Pacific Insurance Co. building, ordered by James J. Barnes Construction. The clock tower of the Old City Hall can be seen in the background of this February 3, 1954 photograph. James J. Barnes was the general contractor for the planned five story home office for United Pacific. The building would be built of reinforced concrete faced with glass and designed to complement the Art Deco Medical Arts building, also owned by United Pacific. The finished product would cost over $500,000 and open for occupancy January of 1955.

United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960;

Future home office of the United Pacific Insurance Company. Plywood fencing proudly proclaims the presence of the company and surrounds the construction site. Central School building can be seen in the right background of the picture taken on February 15, 1954. The structure would provide three floors of offices for the only Tacoma based insurance company and two floors of rental space. United Pacific also owned the Medical Arts building next door.

United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960;

Remodeled departments at the Bank of California. This is a customer accessible area. It appears to be occupied by bank or loan officers. The officers occupy large wooden desks with comfortable leather chairs beside the desks for customers.

Banks--Tacoma; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interior of the trust department at the Bank of California, ordered by Botsford, Constantine and Gardner. Seated at desks on the right are Frank C. Carmody, Assistant Trust Officer- front, and Edward S. Walker, Trust Officer, at rear. On the left are Mr. McLeod, front, and Mr. Williams, at rear. To the left is a counter arrangement with three people behind it labelled Trust Department. At the right rear, the door is open to an interior office, perhaps belonging to one of the Vice Presidents of the bank.

Banks--Tacoma; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Carmody, Frank; Walker, Edward;

Winthrop Hotel, new sample furniture on display in rooms 505, 522 & 525. The room has been decorated for the discriminating traveler with a patterned embossed carpet, floral drapes, full bed with chenille bedspread, dresser, a desk/vanity and a variety of tables and chairs with numerous lamps. A bench has been placed at the end of the bed to hold an open suitcase or for sitting. A long coffee table, however, has been placed blocking a door.

Hotels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Furniture;

Employees of Briggs Manufacturing Co. are blurred as they put up wall segments for a prefabricated home. A series of progress photographs was taken in one day, March 29, 1954, showing the speed that a prefabricated house could be built by experienced workers. A clock was drawn in the corner of each picture showing the exact time of day the photo was taken. At 8:05 a.m., the floor has already been laid and plumbing marked. Plywood forms and house sections are scattered near the site.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Plywood; Progress photographs;

Prefabricated homes were becoming more common in the late 1940's and early 1950's to satisfy demand for more housing as our area's population grew. New homes were being built outside established city neighborhoods where lot sizes could be larger and land less expensive. The Briggs Manufacturing Co., located in the city's south end, specialized in prefabricated housing. In a series of photographs taken in one day, the Briggs company showed how prefabricated homes could be built quickly and with a small crew. Each photograph had a hand-drawn clock in the left corner showing the time of day it was taken; the progress of the construction could be then noted. At 9:30 a.m., several walls are already in place, with window and door openings. Because the location of the construction was not identified, it is possible that more than one home was being built on the same day.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Progress photographs;

Briggs Manufacturing Co. were specialists in prefabricated houses. Due to the expanding population in our area after World War II, housing demands increased. Prefabricated housing was one solution. A series of photographs were taken in one day, March 29, 1954, showing the speed a prefabricated home could be built. Each photograph had a hand-drawn clock in the corner showing the time of day the picture was taken. The work day seems to have begun by 8:00 a.m. as Briggs employees commence to lay the flooring. The location of the home is unknown, other than it appears to be in a heavily wooded area. This possibly could have been outside city limits as population growth was beginning to expand past the city's established neighborhoods.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Progress photographs;

Briggs Manufacturing Co. found a niche in the competitive building industry by specializing in prefabricated homes. As the population in the Puget Sound region grew steadily in the years following World War II, prefabricated housing answered the call for affordable, easily constructed housing. During the course of one day, March 29, 1954, a series of photographs was taken showing the progression in erecting a prefabricated house. The time of day the picture was taken was carefully noted by way of a clock drawn in the left corner of the photograph. Thus, the construction could be tracked with ease. View at 8:45 a.m.; the flooring is in place and some walls are up. Two men in top coats and suits examine the site while a Briggs employee finishes attaching two wall sections.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Progress photographs;

Workers on top of a prefabricated home are busy laying plywood sheets on the gently sloping roof in a photograph taken at 3:00 p.m. on March 29, 1954. The house apparently is a one-story rambler without a basement. The walls on at least one side of the house are up with window and door openings. A sign is nailed to a beam indicates this is a Cliff May home, manufactured and distributed by Briggs Manufacturing Co. This photograph is just one of a series of pictures taken during the course of one day, March 29, 1954, with clocks placed in the left hand corner so that construction progress could be tracked.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Signs (Notices); Progress photographs;

The "Auto Clinic" and its "pigeon hole" parking, for Bethlehem Steel Co. This unique parking plan, developed in Spokane, opened in Tacoma 12/7/1953. An hydraulic hoist operating on a track could move cars from level to level and side to side in the multi story parking garage in minutes. The company owned by John T. Long and Mr. Lily Schweizer also offered a full service repair shop, pump station, washing & polishing and auto accessories.

Auto Clinic (Tacoma); Automobile repair--Tacoma--1950-1960; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parking garages--Tacoma--1950-1960;