Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company of Washington celebrated its parent firm's 100th anniversary. Information about the company's processes was presented on large display boards. (TNT 8-6-50, A-9) TPL-6576

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Little girls, dressed in their finery, stroll into the Pennsalt open house on August 8, 1950. They are accompanied by Marie Wood, in black, who is the wife of chief Pennsalt chemist, Davis M. Wood. The Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company of Washington is helping to celebrate its parent company's 100th anniversary.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennsalt (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company of Washington held an open house on August 8, 1950, to help celebrate Pennsalt, its parent firm's, 100th anniversary. Visitors could walk through the 40 acre plant and view displays of Pennsalt's history and product development. This photograph shows notebooks indicating new products developed through Pennsalt's research and development laboratories which include complex fluorides and sulfur hexafluorides. Despite its name, Pennsalt does not manufacture common salt; it produces a multitude of chemical products from raw salt.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennsalt (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Fred H. Gillmaster is flanked by Marijane Argue, office secretary, on the left and an unidentified woman on the right, at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company of Washington's open house on August 8, 1950. Mr. Gillmaster has a white flower clasped in his hands while the two women wear small corsages. While the Tacoma plant has been in operation since 1929, its parent company is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees; Pennsalt (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gillmaster, Fred H.; Argue, Marijane;

Eight men stand outdoors at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company of Washington's open house on August 8, 1950. The open house, held at Pennsalt's Taylor Way location, drew a large crowd of interested visitors and employees. It was all in celebration of its parent firm's 100 anniversary. (TNT 8-6-50, p. A-9)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennsalt (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A large crowd awaits entry to the open house at the Pennsalt plant on August 8, 1950. They are listening to a welcoming speech by the gentleman standing next to the large American flag. Pennsalt, headquartered in Pennsylvania, has been in the chemicals business for 100 years. In that time, the firm has grown into a nationwide chain of eight manufacturing plants, including Tacoma's tideflats location, and research laboratories. (TNT 8-6-50, p. A-9)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennsalt (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company of Washington held an open house on August 8, 1950, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its parent firm. The Tacoma plant is located at on the tideflats at 2901 Taylor Way. Domestic salt is brought in from California and Tacoma's cheap electrical power and abundant clean water are used to produce caustic soda and chlorine. The industrial chemicals can then be transported easily back to California and other locations due to Tacoma's efficient shipping facilities. (TNT 8-9-50, p. 10)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennsalt (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

An open house and tour occurred at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company of Washington's Taylor Way plant on August 8, 1950, as the plant helped celebrate its parent firm's 100th anniversary. This long distance shot shows several women relaxing at a table in front of a brick building. The open house drew large crowds of interested visitors.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennsalt (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A small group of visitors stand in front of the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company of Washington's Taylor Way plant. Nearby is a tank used to contain liquid chlorine, one of Pennsalt's many chemical products. The company opened its doors for a celebration of its parent firm's 100th anniversary which included tours, demonstrations, and refreshments. (TNT 8-6-50, p. A-9)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennsalt (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A Pennsalt guide explains to interested visitors how caustic-chlorine is created during Pennsalt's 100th anniversary open house. Despite its name, Pennsalt does not produce ordinary table salt. It does, however, produce caustic and chlorine from coarse gray California salt for pulp mills. Brine flows into cylinders and caustic soda drains off at the bottom with chlorine gas emerging from the top. These chemical products are then shipped back to California by tanker for a profit. (TNT 8-6-50, p.A-9, Seattle Times, 7-4-54, p.2)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennsalt (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A large display of drawings was exhibited at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company of Washington's open house held at its tideflats plant on August 8, 1950. The display commemorates the 100th anniversary of the firm's parent company, Pennsalt, and shows a series of illustrations regarding its history.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennsalt (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Example of General American Evaporators in place at Pennsylvania Salt. Ordered by General American Transport Corp., NY, NY, Harold Jacoby. Capacity of the Tacoma plant for production of chlorine and caustic soda was being increased 30%. Pennsalt had been granted a federal certificate of necessity for $445,450. As of March 1951, power hearings brought out the fact that chlorine and caustic sodas were ranked among the top poriority defense items, being used in aircraft manufacture and at the Hanford A-bomb plant, as well as suppllying local chemical plants and domestic needs. (TNT, 3/30/1951; 4/26/1951)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960;

General American Evaporators shown in evaporator room at Pennsylvania Salt. Penn Salt began a $172,000 plant expansion program in March 1951. The biggest investment was to be in new equipment in the plant's chlorine and caustic soda departments. Some building modification was also included. The expansion was necessitated by both increased normal demands and those spurred by war production. (TNT, 3/30/1951)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The display of seven canisters of Flake Caustic Soda produced by the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company was taken on August 27, 1951. Flake Caustic Soda apparently was sold in several different size metal cans; only the smallest can has a handle for easy carrying. Caustic soda, also known as sodium hydroxide, is a white brittle solid used especially in making soap, oils, rayon and paper. It can also be in liquid or flake format, as in this particular display.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Containers; Minerals--Tacoma;

This photograph of six cans of caustic soda manufactured by Pennsalt was taken on September 15, 1951. The black metallic cans are of various sizes; five of them contain flake caustic soda while the remaining container is labeled solid caustic soda. Caustic soda, also known as sodium hydroxide, is a white brittle solid used especially in making soap, rayon and paper. It can be in liquid, solid or flake form. The Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. had a large chemical plant in the Tideflats which manufactured basic chemicals from salt for pulp mills and then onto other products.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennsalt (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Containers; Minerals--Tacoma;

Workers at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington's Taylor Way plant appear to be positioning barrels to be filled with Pennsalt chemical products in a photograph taken on October 10, 1951. Rollers are set in the floor to then move the filled barrels to the next point in the assembly line. Enormous pipes seem to hang from the ceiling; large scales can be spotted behind the barrels.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennsalt (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Barrels--Tacoma; Pipes; Scales;

Interior exposure of Pennsylvania Salt plant. Two employees of the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company of Washington appear to be preparing to fill the large tanker car full of liquid chlorine in a photograph taken in October, 1951. Pennsylvania Salt (Pennsalt) was one of Tacoma's largest chemical plants, beginning operations on the Tideflats in the late 1920's. Major products were caustic soda and chlorine; in liquid form, chlorine was especially valued as sterilizing agents for water purification and sewage treatment. TPL-10066

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennsalt (Tacoma); Railroad tank cars--Tacoma--1950-1960; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington began operations in their Taylor Way plant in June, 1929. Then known as Tacoma Electrochemical Company, they produced liquid chlorine, caustic soda and sodium hypochlorite for the area's pulp mills. Previously, mills had to import these products from the East. A plentiful supply of low-cost electricity, pure water, moderate climate, and good supply of labor provided incentive for Pennsalt and other chemical plants to locate in Tacoma. View of Pennsalt worker turning bolt with a wrench; photograph was taken in October, 1951.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennsalt (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Machinery; Pipes;

A Pennsalt employee carefully monitors a pressure gauge at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington's tideflats plant in October, 1951. He has one hand on a handle and stares directly at the gauge. Two tanks of liquid chlorine flank a Toledo scale nearby.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennsalt (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Storage tanks--Tacoma; Scales; Pipes;

A "Sreen", a high bias installation at Penn Salt.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960;

This is the office of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. (commonly known as Pennsalt), located in Tacoma's tideflats area, in January of 1952. The big chemical plant covered 40 acres on the Hylebos Waterway. The Ionic columns are believed to have been manufactured by the (Washington) Mutual Fir Column Co. who were neighbors of Pennsalt.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A view of the exterior of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company's facilities showing the proximity of the railroad spur to one of the buildings. A stack is seen over the building. Pennsalt's expansion program begun in 1951 was to include four structures, the largest of which was to be an 80 x 120-foot section of the primary production room. (TNT, 7/29/1951)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad tank cars--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad sidings--Tacoma;

Tall tanks are shown in the interior of the Tacoma Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company. Penn Salt began a $172,000 plant expansion program in 1951 where the biggest investment was in new equipment in the plant's chlorine and caustic soda departments. Some building modification was also included. Ordered by Penn Salt for their annual report. (TNT, 3/30/1951)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Transport tanks are shown loaded on railroad cars at the Tacoma Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company's spur. President Fred C. Shanaman announced in April 1951 that the capacity of the Tacoma plant for production of chlorine and caustic soda was being increased 30 percent. (TNT, 4/26/1951)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad tank cars--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad sidings--Tacoma;

Tanks are placed in lines in one of the buildings of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company's Tacoma plant. A workman is seen attaching parts to the tanks between the rows.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The exterior of one of the many buildings at Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company's Tacoma plant

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Two men are seen working on the railroad tank cars at the Tacoma Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company's spur. It was reported at the company's annual shareholders' meeting in April 1951 that Pennsalt of Washington was expanding its production of DDT at Portland by about 70 per cent. (TNT, 4/26/1951)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad tank cars--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad sidings--Tacoma;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington had its headquarters in Tacoma. Despite its name, Pennsalt did not produce table salt but instead was a basic manufacturer of chemicals from salt. It, along with Hooker Electrochemical, supplied caustic soda and chlorine to the Pacific Northwest's pulp and paper industry. View of some of the machinery used by Pennsalt in their Tideflats plant; these are believed to be rotary converters used to convert AC power to direct current. Photograph ordered by Edwin Cliffe, supt. of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Machinery;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington had long been established in Tacoma; it was to celebrate its 25th anniversary locally in 1954. It started with a 40 acre tract of land on the Hylebos Waterway and has steadily expanded, adding new buildings and machinery, to fill the needs of the pulp and paper industry. View of machinery in Pennsalt plant; this may be a large burner. Photograph ordered by Edwin Cliffe.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Machinery;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. Family Day; employees' picnic and open house. Photograph labelled, left to right, Sgt. Bob Marshall, Mr. Fred Shanaman & Ed Sorger. Sgt. Marshall was the head of the Tacoma Police Department's Safety Division, Fred Shanaman was president and general manager of the company and Ed Sorger was Washington State's Safety Supervisor. The trio stand in front of a display case containing a trophy, certificates and memorabilia of the company's safety record. In 1950 & 52, Pennsalt won the National Safety Council's Award of Merit for no "lost time accidents" and the Pennsalt national award for best yearly safety record. Pennsalt opened on the Tideflats in June of 1929. The 40 acre plant manufactured industrial chemicals. (TNT 9/6/1953, pg. A-12)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960; Marshall, Bob; Sorger, Ed; Shanaman, Frederick Charles, 1901-1982;