ca. 1925. The wheels are falling off an old pickup truck. Another truck with built-up wooden sides is parked in front of the broken down truck; it has a rope dragging behind it and it appears to have been towing something. What is attached to the rope is blocked from view by the pole. (WSHS)

Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1925. A large log has been loaded behind a truck. May possibly be the same truck as A-1451. (WSHS)

Logs; Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Four uniformed drivers stand beside their Griffin-Galbraith Fuel Co. delivery trucks outside company headquarters days before Christmas, 1965. Advertised as Tacoma's complete heating specialists, Griffin-Galbraith Fuel provided oil, coal and wood heating oils in addition to furnace sales and service. The company's radio dispatched fuel oil trucks could be utilized for speedier service. Established in 1889 as Griffin Transfer Co., and later known as Griffin Fuel Co., by 1965, the company was listed in the City Directory as Griffin-Galbraith Fuel Co. It maintained a fleet of fuel trucks and well trained service specialists. Photograph ordered by Griffin-Galbraith Fuel Co.

Griffin-Galbraith Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Fuel trade--Tacoma; Fuel--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Raudenbush Motor Co. Mrs. DesLys with Whippet. Raudenbush Motor Co. was an automobile dealer located at 314 Puyallup Ave. Mrs. Norah DesLys was the vice president of the Bon-Des-Lys Candy Makers, 2407 Pacific Ave. The Whippet automobile was manufactured from 1926-1931 by Willys Overland. On June 4, 1927, 25 year old actress and entertainer Norah Elizabeth Deslys married Tacoma candy manufacturer John T. Bond. She gave up the stage, after 18 years, to work with her husband in their recently incorporated Bon-Des-Lys (invented from the compound of both last names) candy company. Both Norah and her performance partner, her sister Essie, would maintain a home in Tacoma as well as Hollywood. (TNT 6/6/1927, pg.5) (WSHS)

Whippet automobile; Deslys, Norah;

ca. 1926. Pair of automobiles, a sedan and a touring car, perhaps Jordans, near a park. For Chamber's Auto Supply House. (filed with Argentum)

Automobiles--1920-1930; Jordan automobiles;

ca. 1926. Sedan Automobile, perhaps a Jordan, near a park. For Chamber's Auto Supply House. (filed with Argentum)

Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Jordan automobiles;

ca. 1926. Young man at wheel of a touring car parked sideways across dirt road, three teenage boys sit on running board, three younger boys sit on ground. The dirt road in the background is believed to be So. K St. For years Tacoma drivers tested the stamina of their cars and the grit of the driver by motoring up the K St. hill, from Center St. due north, straight uphill. The road was closed in 1960. For Kohl Advertising Agency. (filed with Argentum)

Automobiles--1920-1930; Dirt roads--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Powell Hauling Co., truck at commercial moving. View of a hauling truck from Powell Hauling Co., in foreground and Northern Pacific train car in background.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Wreckers (Vehicles)--Tacoma; Powell Hauling Co. (Tacoma);

Inter-city Auto Freight started up in March 1938 with just two trucks and no facilities. They primarily do hauling between Seattle and Tacoma, but they have done heavy hauling throughout the state. They have set up ideal facilities, including having their own railroad siding which facilitates unloading, storage and distribution. View of Inter-city Auto Freight 60 ft. retort on truck.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Moving & storage trade--Tacoma; Inter-City Auto Freight, Inc. (Tacoma); Tacoma GMC Truck Co. (Tacoma); Mack trucks;

On February 8, 1945, a flatbed truck with an extra long load was parked in front of Tacoma GMC Truck Co. at the corner of East C and Puyallup Ave. East. The 60 foot long retort was being moved by Inter-City Auto Freight. Inter-city Auto Freight was founded in March 1938 with just two trucks and no facilities. They primarily did hauling between Seattle and Tacoma, but they had done heavy hauling throughout the state. They had set up ideal facilities, including having their own railroad siding which facilitated unloading, storage and distribution. John H. Galbraith was president of both Inter-City Auto Freight and Tacoma GMC Truck Co. Born in So. Dakota, Mr. Galbraith was prominent in Tacoma/Pierce County in both the lumber and transportation businesses, and was mayor of Eatonville for 23 years, resigning in 1941. He died in 1960 at the age of 70.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Moving & storage trade--Tacoma; Inter-City Auto Freight, Inc. (Tacoma); Tacoma GMC Truck Co. (Tacoma); Mack trucks;

Truck and tractor, Buck & Bowers. A man wearing a soldier's uniform is driving a Ford tractor with a large blade on the front. Directly behind him is a flat bed truck with side. A sign for Ford Tractors-Ferguson System is painted on the side boards and Buck & Bowers is painted on the truck's door.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tractors--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1927. Carnival vehicles and wagons for Pacific States Shows and Levitt- Brown- Huggins Shows. For C.W. Wells Inc., Seattle. (Argentum)

Automobiles--1920-1930; Trucks--1920-1930; C.W. Wells Inc. (Seattle);

In June of 1927, Seattlite and frequent Tacoma visitor Esther Landstrom (in coat) was pictured with her new Willys-Knight 70-A coupe in front of the First Presbyterian Church at 20 Tacoma Avenue South. Her small dog stands on the running board. Her friend Dolly Wescott, a bookkeeper at Manley Motors, was at the wheel. Mrs. Landstrom had recently purchased her car from Manley Motor Company, 956-58 Fawcett Avenue, in Tacoma. Manley Motors were the authorized dealers of Overland, Willys-Knight, and Whippet automobiles. (TDL 6/19/1927, pg. G2) (WSHS)

Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Landstrom, Esther; Wescott, Dolly; Willys-Knight automobile; Dogs--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Ace Furnace & Steel Company. A truck, stacked with tanks, is parked in a warehouse. The name painted on the truck's door is Birchfield Boiler, Inc., Shipbuilding Division. Ace Furnace's major output was tanks, large and small, making 400-800 per month. It was owned and operated by Alvin T. Davies who also operated Birchfield Boiler and Tacoma Boiler Works Company. (T.Times, 9/4/1946)

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Birchfield Boiler, Inc. (Tacoma); Ace Furnace & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Storage tanks--Tacoma; Warehouses--Tacoma; Loading docks--Tacoma;

West Coast Grocery had just recently moved into their new offices on East D Street. Mutual Fruit Company was a subsidiary of West Coast Grocery. Exterior view of West Coast Grocery Company's AMOCAT, Mutual Fruit Company and Olympia Beer trucks, photo ordered by Condon Company, an advertising company T. Times, 2/26/47, p. 12-B).

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Food industry--Tacoma; West Coast Grocery Co. (Tacoma); Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Business enterprises--Tacoma--1940-1950; Storehouses--Tacoma;

West Coast Grocery was a wholesale grocery company with their large new offices and headquarters on East D Street. Charles H. Hyde was president of West Coast Grocery. Exterior view of West Coast Grocery Company's AMOCAT and Olympia Beer trucks, photo ordered by Condon Company, an advertising company (T. Times, 2/26/47, p. 12-B).

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Food industry--Tacoma; West Coast Grocery Co. (Tacoma); Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Business enterprises--Tacoma--1940-1950; Storehouses--Tacoma;

ca. 1947. Both the woman and the automobile appear tiny while compared to the towering trees in this circa 1947 photograph. Location was not identified.

Automobiles--1940-1950; Trees;

Columbia Sausage Company trucks for Irwin-Jones. The company's fleet of Dodge trucks is parked outside the company's facilities.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dodge trucks; Columbia Sausage Co. (Tacoma); Sausages--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meat; Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Coca-Cola Company in Tacoma had just purchased a new Chevrolet truck with new "Advance Design" features from South Tacoma Motor Company. The new modern truck had an "Advance Design" streamlined body, cab, fenders and hood. Chevrolet had increased the load space, which made it more efficient for commercial uses. View of Coca-Cola vending machines being delivered, possibly to a college dormitory. Photo ordered by South Tacoma Motor Co.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vending machines--Tacoma; Coca Cola Bottling Co. (Tacoma); South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma); Chevrolet trucks;

The Commercial Distributing Company at 301 E. 25th St. specialized in hauling heavy machinery, houses, boats, steel and iron between Tacoma and Seattle. The firm was founded in 1928 and was owned and operated by Joe Sunnen. The firm had a staff of twenty five men. Commercial had recently purchased four new Diamond T truck tractors from Winthrop Motors, these four new trucks joined a fleet of thirty six other pieces of equipment. Exterior view of plant and six trucks (T. Times, 10/27/47, p. 2). TPL-10054

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shipping--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Commercial Distributing Co. (Tacoma); Diamond T trucks;

Commercial Distributing Company had its own complete machine shop and they did their own rigging, painting and steam cleaning. Their hauling equipment included: semi-flat bed trucks, flat beds, semi-vans, vans and four different types of trucks with mounted cranes. Exterior view of facilities and the four trucks with the different types of hoisting machinery available through Commercial Distributing (T, Times, 10/27/47, p. 2).

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shipping--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Commercial Distributing Co. (Tacoma);

Excavating at South Tacoma Way and Chandler Street, Irwin Jones, Truck Division, Walt Dunlap. A line-up of eight Dodge dump trucks are ready to haul away extra fill from the construction site of the new Irwin Jones facility. A bulldozer stands behind the trucks and a crane is busy with its scoop, ready to fill another truck.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dodge trucks; Construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bulldozers; Steam shovels; Excavation--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Truck at plant, Standard Oil, Mr. Wiegle. A side view of the Studebaker delivery truck for Chevron Gasoline. The hood is long and the windshield has a split-glass. Rear-view mirrors are added on both sides of the cab. She has her spare tire hung from the back portion of the side panels. Painted in two tones and she is parked outside a garage for delivery trucks.

Studebaker trucks; Petroleum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gasoline--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Western Furnaces specialized in heating, insulation, fiberglass home insulation, air conditioning, furnace repairs and cleaning; they were distributors of General Electric oil heating equipment. View of Chevrolet delivery truck for Western Furnaces taken on August 19, 1949. According to a reader, this particular vehicle was a "pipe fitters" truck that had a large mechanical "pipe cutter/threader" on the back bumper. The cabinets on the sides contained the various fittings used by the mechanic during the installation of galvanized piping used in hydronic (boilers) heating systems. The employee at far right was not identified. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chevrolet trucks; Signs (Notices); Laborers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Furnaces--Tacoma; Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Western Furnaces, Inc. (Tacoma);

Kelly Furniture Company built their store building in 1924 with a warehouse added in 1940, they were located at 5428 South Tacoma Way and were owned by L. Q. Kelly and Robert D. Kelly. Kelly's advertised Hotpoint appliances, Simmons Beautyrest mattresses, Sealy mattresses, Zenith radios and many other items. View of Kelly Furniture Company employees standing in front of their new delivery truck. The two gentlemen in the dark suits are (from left to right) Robert D. Kelly and Laurence Q. Kelly, owners of the company. The gentleman in the white coverall to the right of Laurence Kelly is James Gunther, Laurence's brother-in -law. Additional information provided by patron.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Furniture stores--Tacoma; Home furnishings stores--Tacoma; Kelly Furniture Co. (Tacoma)--Employees;

Jensen Fuel Co.at 6238 South Tacoma Way and its fleet of modern oil delivery trucks. Jensen Fuel was founded in 1891 by Robert Jensen and was run in the 1950s by his son Everett Jensen, who took over management in 1934. Jensen's first delivery service was a small wagon and a single team of horses. The company first supplied wood, followed successively by coal, sawdust and fuel oil. In early 1950, the company became a pioneer in radio dispatched fuel oil delivery. (TNT 3/2/1950 pg. 33)

Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fuel supply; Jensen Fuel Co. (Tacoma);

Two loaded Chevrolet trucks at General Beer Distributing Company. Tacoma was a leading distribution center for the Pacific Northwest. Ordered by Clark Richardson Advertising Agency.

Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Chevrolet trucks; General Beer Distributing Co. (Tacoma); Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Richardson Advertising Agency (Tacoma);

ca. 1950. Front grille and driver's side of delivery van with signs on it. This Chevrolet van is a vehicle used by Don Rohan, a brewer's agent. There is a large sign promoting Schlitz beer, "The Beer That Made Milwaukee Famous", on the vehicle's side . According to the 1951 City Directory, Mr. Rohan has his office at 420 E. 25th St.

Chevrolet automobile; Rohan, Don; Alcoholic beverages;

ca. 1950. Exposure of truck at Walker Chevrolet with two men in suits by door. Sign on side says "Don Rohan - fine beverages - Schlitz."

Chevrolet automobile; Rohan, Don--Associated objects; Alcoholic beverages;

ca. 1950. Two men, one in suit, one in casual dress, standing by door of delivery van. "Don Rohan - Fine Beverages - Schlitz." A Chevrolet van, with signs advertising Schlitz beer and brewer's agent, Don Rohan, is parked in front of a grove of trees. The man in the light colored suit is leaning against the vehicle with his elbow propped inside the open window. The man in the hat has one hand behind his back and the other hand placed on the van's door.

Chevrolet automobile; Rohan, Don--Associated objects; Alcoholic beverages;