New equipment at Titus Motor, Jim Will. The multiple boring bar pictured here rebores four cylinders at a time. This machine holds the engine block in such a way that it is rebored in exactly the same alignment as at the factory. After reboring, each cylinder is honed to a mirror finish. James W. Will was vice-president of the Titus Manufacturing Company at this time.
Titus Motor Company was an official Ford automobile dealership, most commercial and personal Ford automobiles in the Tacoma area came from Titus Motor. They offered their customers complete automobile maintenance and servicing, and were the authorized dealers for "Champion" car products. View of window display featuring "Champion" oil filters and spark plugs at Titus Motor.
Sanford Nash Company's annual Christmas party was a wonderful success, well attended by the company staff and their families. View of adults and children looking on, Santa was distributing Christmas gifts to the children and company employees. Advertising materials on walls, Nash accessories on display, Christmas decorations and neon signs in windows.
Lloyd Suiter Tire Company. Percy Dunlop, a representative of the National Institute of Treading Standards, visited the Lloyd Suiter Tire Company. Here he is checking the curing system of one of the large molds, a Lodi Recap Mold. L-R, Mr. Poston of Wilson Brothers Logging Company, Rudy Searle, shop foreman, Lloyd Suiter and Percy Dunlop. (T.Times, 6/6/1945, p.10), (See D19520-2 for an exterior view of building)
Lloyd Suiter Tire Company. Percy Dunlop, a representative of the National Institute of Treading Standards, and Lloyd Suiter test a tread cure on a recapped tire. The tags on the tire are attached to thermocuple wires, testing tread cuts from one to six ply depths. L-R, Lloyd Suiter and Percy Dunlop. (T.Times, 6/6/1945, p.10)
Lloyd Suiter Tire Company. Lloyd Suiter and Percy Dunlop show the findings of their test on a cross-section cut of a recapped tire. Mr. Dunlop is a representative of the National Institute of Treading Standards from Washington, D.C. (T.Times, 6/6/1945, p.10)
Rudolph L. (Bud) Abraham's Standard Oil service station in September of 1945. The station was built in 1927 for the Delin Tire Co. It was remodeled in 1934 to be a Standard Oil service station. In the photograph, it is shown next to the Home Electric Co. at 1316 A St.
Abraham's Service Station (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Rudolph L. (Bud) Abraham's Standard Oil service station in September of 1945. The station was built in 1927 for the Delin Tire Co. It was remodeled in 1934 to be a Standard Oil service station.
Abraham's Service Station (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950;
A salesman assists two soldiers who are buying a Pontiac from the dealer's large, used car inventory. Tacoma Auto Sales Co. has two locations, on Broadway and South Tacoma Way. They are ready to capture the used and new car market as automobile manufactures gear-up for new models after stopping production during the war. In an ad placed in the Tacoma News Tribune, the dealer asks that "patriotic and grateful citizens--two-car families--trade one car NOW on a new Pontiac or Cadillac, so a returned soldier will be assured of good transportation." (TNT, 9/2/1945, p. A9, ad).
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Auto Sales Co. (Tacoma); Pontiac automobile; Soldiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma;
This small Standard Oil gas station is little more than a kiosk and appears to be located in a parking lot. The location of the station is unknown but two slender smokestacks can be seen in the background.
Automobile service stations--Pierce county--1940-1950;
Camp Francis, an automobile court between Tacoma and Seattle on the Seattle Highway (99). Camp Francis offered cabins for rent, as well as gasoline and Standard Oil products.
Automobile service stations--Pierce County--1940-1950; Camp Francis (Pierce County); Tourist camps & hostels--Pierce County; Motels--Pierce County--1940-1950;
A truck prepares to fill up at an unidentified Standard Oil station in September of 1945. The station is located at an unidentified Pierce County location. There are three gasoline pumps. This is the same station as image #62.
A Standard Oil service station, location unknown. The pumping station in the front has three gasoline pumps available. The ground around the station is covered with gravel, not pavement. This is the same station as image #69.
Automobile service stations--Pierce County; Standard Oil Co. of California (Tacoma);
Side view of the Eagle Grocery, 2218 Marine View Dr. N.E.; photographed in September of 1945. The small market and automobile service station was owned by Charles Powell. He and his wife Marian lived at the same address, probably on the second floor.
Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Standard Oil service station located at Mallon Ford, 5617 South Tacoma Way. The Ford dealership structure was built in 1917 for the Edward P. Leonard Ford Agency. Tommy Mallon had the gas station added in 1938.
Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mallon Motors, Inc. (Tacoma);
The MJM Service station, 6647 South Tacoma Way; photographed in September of 1945. The station was owned by Earl M. Morrison, William J. Joyce and Fay O. Morrison and built in 1924. There are two covered areas. Several automobiles are parked in the rear of the station. Two gasoline pumps are available at the front of the service station. The station was located next to the C.H. McNeil Candy Shop at 6643 South Tacoma Way.
Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; MJM Service Station (Tacoma);
Roy A. Vaughan's Standard Service Station and the Bungalow Cabin Camp at Pacific Avenue and Sales Road. Roy Vaughan and his wife Thelma owned, operated and lived at this site. It included an automobile service and repair shop, and an automobile travel court with cabins.
Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Motels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Standard Oil Co. of California (Tacoma); Bungalow Cabin Camp (Tacoma); Tourist camps & hostels--Tacoma;
Roy A. Vaughan's Standard Service Station and the Bungalow Cabin Camp at Pacific Avenue and Sales Road. Roy Vaughan and his wife Thelma owned, operated and lived at this site, which included an automobile service and repair shop and an automobile travel court with cabins.
Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Motels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Standard Oil Co. of California (Tacoma); Bungalow Cabin Camp (Tacoma); Tourist camps & hostels--Tacoma;
Titus Motor Company, showing of 1946 automobiles. People looking at two 1946 Ford sedans. Neon signs in windows, art deco light fixtures, tile floor, double interior doors with stained glass. Plaque with names of employees who served in WWII.
Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ford automobile;
Titus Motor Company, showing of 1946 automobiles. People looking at two 1946 Ford sedans. Art deco light fixtures, tile floor, double interior doors with stained glass. WWII employees plaque, signboard on "Engineering Advancement" in background..
Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ford automobile;
Turner Garage and Towing Co., 1222 Tacoma Ave So., photographed in September of 1945. The garage offered 24 hour towing as well as Standard Oil gasoline. It was located in the building built in 1925 for the Olympic Garage. In 2007, the building, now located next to the parking lot for the Tacoma Public Library, is vacant. It was previously home to Candid Photo Service from 1964 to 1995 and later Labor Ready.
Central Motors building shots. The front of the building with at least three stories is shown. Automobiles are seen through the windows and the front garage doors are open. They advertise that their "motive is service". TPL-1759.
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Central Motors (Tacoma);
1946 General view of Ray Ridge Motors, Lincoln - Mercury dealer. A front view of the large automobile dealership building. New automobiles are seen through the showroom windows. The service entrance is seen to the right end of the building. A Model A Ford and Buick are parked at the curb.
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ray Ridge Motors, Inc. (Tacoma);
Tacoma Auto Sales Company, Pontiac and Cadillac dealers, exterior view from Commerce Street facade showing service entrance. A neon "Pontiac Cadillac Service" sign extends from the building and many automobiles are parked at the curb. The auto sales area was located at the other side of the building, 723 Broadway.
Titus Motor Company. A Ford pick-up truck with the name of Titus Motor Company painted on the cab door and a sign, "Ford" and "Best Service in Town" painted on a board over the open bed in the back. The truck has white-wall tires with the spare tire attached just in front of the back fender. The truck is parked along a boulevard strip in a residential neighborhood.
Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ford trucks; Residential streets--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Crowd admires 1949 Lincolns and Mercurys at Ray Ridge Motors. A view of the showroom featuring the 1949 Mercury automobiles. Salesmen showed customers the Mercury's voluminous trunk. The newly redesigned models had more usable space for luggage and passengers, had a 118" wheelbase, and an 110 hp, V-8 engine. Both automobiles have wide white-wall tires. An advertising banner hangs on the wall, and flowers decorate the dealership for the showing of the new models. The showroom has a terrazzo floor. (T.Times, 4/20/1948, p.3)
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mercury automobile; Ray Ridge Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Showrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sales personnel--Tacoma--1940-1950;
On June 18, 1948, a revolutionary new 1949 model Ford sedan was on display in the Titus Motor Company showroom at 618-24 Broadway. The new four door sedan was designed to be lower, wider, roomier and provide 25% more visibility. The design also eliminated a lot of the squeaks and rattles found in previous models. View of unidentified people admiring the new 1949 Ford automobile at Titus Motor Company, photo ordered by Sconce Advertising Agency (T. Times, 6/9/48, p. 2).
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Showrooms--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Ford automobile; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Sconce Advertising (Tacoma);
Titus Motor Company had the new 1949 sedan on display at the Ford showroom. Henry Ford II said, "Styling and engineering changes are as extensive as the changeover from the Model T to the Model A, a generation ago". View of Titus Motor Company employees standing outside of the authorized Ford dealership, photo ordered by Sconce Advertising Agency (T. Times, 6/9/48, p. 2).
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Window displays; Office workers--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Sconce Advertising (Tacoma);
