Western Auto Supply Company and North Pacific Bank Note Company located in building at 715-17 Pacific Ave. originally designed for Dr. Bostwick by William Farrell, Architect, about 1885. Western Auto occupied the ground floor storefronts, and North Pacific occupied the 2nd floor. The sign on the roof points the way to the Interurban and Bus Terminal. For I.F. Laukes, Pacific Bank Note Company. (filed with Argentum)
Western Auto Supply Co. (Tacoma); Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies; North Pacific Bank Note Co. (Tacoma);
ca. 1938. Beacon Service Station at 84th Street and South Tacoma Way. Attendant handing customer a spark plug, display of Richfield products. For Richfield Oil Corporation of California. (T. Times) (filed with Argentum)
Beacon Service Station (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Automobile equipment & supplies;
Interior shot at Titus Motor Co., 616-24 Broadway, with a Ford automobile up on the rack and white jacketed mechanics hard at work. (filed with Argentum)
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies; Electric signs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma);
Interior shot at Titus Motor Co., 616-24 Broadway, with a Ford automobile up on the rack and white jacketed mechanics hard at work. (filed with Argentum)
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies; Electric signs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma);
Titus Motor Company, exterior of building with vehicles parked on street. Many neon and painted signs, "We give you More ..trade now" posters in windows. Elizabethan-style brick building by Roland Borhek, Architect, circa 1926. (filed with Argentum)
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies; Electric signs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma);
Titus Motor Company, exterior of building with vehicles parked on street. Many neon and painted signs, "We give you More ..trade now" posters in windows. Elizabethan-style brick building by Roland Borhek, Architect, circa 1926.
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies; Electric signs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma);
This May 1939 advertising photograph shows the wide range of Ford commercial vehicles sold by Titus Motor Co. on display in front of the Victorian style Seymour Conservatory at Wright Park. The glass conservatory, one of only three on the West Coast, was a gift to the citizens of Tacoma by Tacoman businessman William W. Seymour. The building, designed by I.J. Knapp, opened in November of 1908 and gave the average Tacoman their first glance at the foliage of the tropics. In 1938, Leon Titus, a 25 year veteran in the automotive sales business, got his foot in the door in Tacoma by being awarded the downtown dealership of Ford, Ford Mercury and Lincoln Zephyr. The dealership moved into the old Pacific Car Co. building at 618-624 Broadway, where they remained until the mid 1960's. As a boy, Leon Titus had worked for the Marmon-Nordyke Co., manufacturer of the Marmon automobile. The Titus family is still heavily involved in the automotive business today. (TNT 12/15/1938, pg. 11)
Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ford trucks; Seymour Conservatory (Tacoma); Wright Park (Tacoma); Greenhouses--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parks--Tacoma--1930-1940;
Titus Motor Company, exterior of building with parked automobiles and double-parked service truck. Many neon and painted signs, "We give you More ..trade now" posters in windows. Elizabethean style brick building by Roland Borhek, Architect, c.1926.
Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1930-1940;
This Elizabethan-style brick building at 616-24 Broadway in downtown Tacoma was designed by Roland Borhek. Built for the Pacific Car Co. in 1919, it was taken over in 1938 by the Titus Motor Co. In recent years it has been home to several car rental dealers. Roland E. Borhek was the primary architect for many Tacoma buildings including the Rialto Theater and Jason Lee Intermediate School.
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies; Electric signs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma);
Titus Motor Company staff and two State Troopers pose with a fleet of new Fords purchased by the Washington State Patrol in June 1939. The Patrol had converted the old Interurban Terminal at 702 A Street (seen at right) into their headquarters in 1937. Leon Titus is third from right.
Titus, Leon E.; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Washington State Patrol (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1930-1940;
Titus Motor Company staff and two troopers with fleet of new Washington State Patrol Fords in front of Patrol offices by old Interurban Terminal at So. 7th & A St. Leon Titus at far right. Western Auto Supply/North Pacific Bank Note Co. at rear. (filed with Argentum)
Titus, Leon E.; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Washington State Patrol (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1930-1940;
Titus Motor Company staff and two troopers with fleet of new Washington State Patrol Fords in front of Patrol offices by old Interurban Terminal at So. 7th & A St. Leon Titus at far right. Western Auto Supply/North Pacific Bank Note Co. at rear. TPL-7997
Titus, Leon E.; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Washington State Patrol (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1930-1940;
On October 2, 1939, Clara Thorsen is receiving the title from an unidentified member of the Ray Roberts Post 969 VFW for the new 1939 Studebaker Champion that she won. On winning, Miss Thorsen confided to the members that she is to be married the following month to Earl Heltsley, a driver for the Municipal Belt Bus Line. The pair will use the new vehicle to take a honeymoon trip to California. Allen Motor Co. building in background. Studebaker logo on storefront windows. Miss Thorsen is 24 years old and resides at 3623 McKinley Ave. She is a clerk at Fishers Department Store. (T. Times 10/5/1939, pg. 16)
Allen Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Studebaker automobile; Thorsen, Clara; Veterans of Foreign Wars, Ray C. Roberts Post # 969 (Tacoma);
On October 2, 1939, Clara Thorsen received her title to a new 1939 Studebaker Champion from an unidentified VFW member. She won the car at a Ray C. Roberts Post 969, VFW benefit ball. Miss Thorsen confided that she was getting married the following month and planned on using the vehicle for a honeymoon trip to California. The lucky young lady was 24 years old and a clerk at Fishers Department Store. She picked up her car at the Allen Motor Co. building, which advertised itself as being "opposite the Temple Theater". (T. Times 10/5/1939, pg. 16)
Allen Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Studebaker automobile; Thorsen, Clara; Veterans of Foreign Wars, Ray C. Roberts Post # 969 (Tacoma);
Showing of the new 1940 Fords at Titus Motor Company. Man handing a ribbon to another man across the hood of a 1940 Ford. Men, some wearing "It's Ford in '40" caps, mingle around the showroom. The new 1940 Fords were being described as big, substantial and powerful, with a modern front end design and streamlined body.
Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ford automobile;
Showing of new 1940 Fords at Titus Motor Company. Sales meeting, man in "It's Ford in '40" hat and white coat on stage, man with ribbon on coat and holding a package giving a third man an award. Over 50 men seated, many in "It's Ford in '40" hats. The meeting looks like it is being held in the service department of Titus Motor Co. (filed with Argentum)
Titus Motor Company throws a party celebrating the new 1940 Fords. A line has formed to receive free hot dogs and sodas at the celebration. Many of the attendees wear "It's a Ford in '40" caps.
Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ford automobile;
Sunshine Service, new General Petroleum Company Mobilgas station at So. 48th and Park. Night time view of quartet singing in the doorway of the MobiLubrication garage. For Smith and Drum, J.J. Miller.
Business Enterprises - Automobile Service Stations - Mobil Oil Dealers - Tacoma - Sunshine Service Station Music Ensembles - QuartetsMusic - SingingPeople - Men - Singers
Sunshine Service, new General Petroleum Company Mobilgas service station at So. 48th and Park. Night time view with several automobiles receiving service. For Smith and Drum, J.J. Miller.
Business Enterprises - Automobile Service Stations - Mobil Oil Dealers - Tacoma - Sunshine Service Station
ca. 1939. This elegant, Elizabethan style building at 618-24 Broadway was built in 1919 for the Pacific Car Company from a design by Roland Borhek, who also drew the plans for the Rialto Theater. The Titus Motor Company, dealers for Ford vehicles, took over the building in December of 1938. As Titus Motor Company, and later as Titus - Will Ford, they occupied this building until the mid-1960s when they moved from downtown Tacoma to 3606 South Sprague.
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1930-1940; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma);
Winner of Mercury Automobile Contest in front of Titus Motor Company. Man hands envelope to another man across the hood of a 1940 Mercury. Leon Titus at far right. Titus Motor Co. was offering a special prize for gasoline economy. Beginning January 27, 1940, contestants could drive a special Mercury 8 equipped with a gasoline meter. First prize in the contest, 50 gallons of gasoline, would be awarded to the driver with the best mileage. The new Mercury 8 averaged 20 miles per gallon.
Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Titus, Leon E.; Mercury automobile; Contests;
Ask us to show you how the Biggest Ford in 38 Years out-measures the 'other two'. Leon Titus, the president of the Titus Motor Company (kneeling, 3rd from left), and his sales crew used specially made "yardsticks" to measure a brand new 1941 Ford V-8 in December of 1940. The "yardsticks" are considerably more than 36 inches long. The 1941 model was claimed by Ford to be the biggest car in its price class. From left to right are Bill Holmes, Arnie Colby, Leon Titus, Harold Davies, Norm Arndt, Fred Hess, John Mamoliti, Del Sprague, Hans Malcom and Jim Will. (T. Times 12/18/1940, pg. 13)
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Ford automobile; Will, James W.; Titus, Leon E.;
