Hunt and Mottet Company, a wholesale sporting goods and hardware company, had just purchased a new Ford truck from Titus Motor Company. This new truck would allow for them to efficiently deliver to hardware stores throughout Western Washington. Interior view of truck; fishing gear and other sporting goods are organized in the many compartments.
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ford trucks; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hardware; Fishing & hunting gear; Sporting goods; Sporting goods industry--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Hunt & Mottet Co. (Tacoma);
Trader Vic and his wife would be hosting the grand opening celebration at the new Sabre Room in the Winthrop Hotel. View of Mayor C. Val Fawcett (second from left) with Trader Vic (second from right) and two unidentified men standing below the sign for the new restaurant, the Sabre room, located in the Winthrop Hotel (T.N.T., 9/21/49, p. 2).
Hotels--Tacoma; Restaurants--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Events--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Sabre Room (Tacoma); Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Bergeron, Victor J.;
The exterior of Mulligan Pontiac Cadillac Company recently opened by Andrew E. Mulligan shows their new car showroom on the left and used car sales area on the right. The service area for the dealership was entered from Commerce Street, one block below, in the same building. Andrew E. Mulligan purchased the interests of E.A. Riebe in the Tacoma Auto Sales Company, Pontiac and Cadillac dealership, in September 1952. Neon signs advertise "Pontiac Cadillac" and "Used Cars" from signs perpendicular to the building with other signs painted on the building facade and attached flat to the building. The City Hall tower can be seen over the building. (TNT, 9/28/1952, p.B-16)
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mulligan Pontiac-Cadillac Co. (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Mulligan Pontiac-Cadillac Company sales floor and office. 1952 Cadillac convertible is on view in the showroom. Pontiac assessories are on display, and banners and signs proclaim Cadillac's 50th anniversary, V-8 engines and 1952 Pontiacs. Glassed-in offices are seen in the far corner.
Mulligan Pontiac-Cadillac's service department where Pontiacs and Cadillacs are being serviced. The mechanics' work stations have signs bearing their names with Earl Jansen at the right. A Sun Motor Tester stands between the first two cars. A Green Cross safety banner and advertising signs have been posted and the cashier's counter is in the rear.
An unidentified account clerk with the Brown & Haley Candy Company was photographed in October of 1952 transferring sales data from ledger sheets to punch cards using a Remington Rand key punch machine. As Brown & Haley's business grew, they adopted computer technology to keep track of their clients' orders. Remington Rand, which was a competitor of IBM, offered a punch card that contained 90 columns; these cards were incompatible with IBM machines.
Kelly Furniture Company . New maple furniture display room at their 5428 South Tacoma Way location. Maple furniture of colonial style, dominated the 1950s marketplace. Features living room furniture: couches, chairs, tables, magazine rack, rockers, and various lamps.
Kelly Furniture Co. (Tacoma); Merchandise display--Tacoma--1950-1960; Chairs;
The Washington State Tavern Association hosted a luncheon for women of the association and members' wives at the Top of the Ocean during the three day convention held in Tacoma. The large group of women are seen in front of and on the covered ramp up to the unique restaurant built in the shape of a ship. A sign advertises: "Smorgasbord Daily". (TNT, 10/21/1952, p.2)
Restaurants--Tacoma; Nightclubs--Tacoma; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Washington State Tavern Association (Tacoma); Women--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Two enlisted men are shopping for a good deal in a used car at Mulligan Pontiac-Cadillac Company. Mulligan's advertised $1 million in cars for returned veterans. TPL-943
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mulligan Pontiac-Cadillac Co. (Tacoma); Shopping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Military personnel--Tacoma;
K.H. Kaman Company provided a display of two versions of Perma-Stone's exterior coverings in their new facilities. The company was owned by Karl H. Kaman.
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)
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)
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
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)
