Interior of new Star Iron & Steel Co. plant on Alexander Avenue. Richards Studio notes indicate these are "fixed wheel gates" in process of being assembled. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Additional view of Star Iron & Steel Co.'s "Porta Tower" in operation at the Cotten Bros. logging site located in Packwood. These towers could be moved from logging camps to other logging camps with relative ease with transport by heavy-duty trucks. "Porta Towers" were mobile steel spur trees. See A139670-4 for another view of "Porta Tower" in use. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel; Hoisting machinery; Logs;

Another view of the Brute Crane operated by the George Scofield Co. taken on March 28. 1930, by Marvin Boland; see A139500-30 for additional shot. The crane is apparently in the process of scooping up material. Brute Cranes were manufactured by Star Iron & Steel Co. of Tacoma. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.; copy made of customer print on September 17, 1963.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery;

A Brute Crane manufactured by the Star Iron & Steel Co. of Tacoma is in the process of hoisting lumber at the Seattle Export Lumber Co. There are piles of lumber on both sides of the crane. Date of original photograph is unknown; copy made on September 17, 1963.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery; Lumber; Seattle Export Lumber Co.;

Porta Tower in operation at the Cotten Bros. logging site in Packwood on October 23, 1963. Used as portable steel spur trees, "Porta Towers" were manufactured by Star Iron & Steel Co. of Tacoma for use in the logging industry. Star Iron & Steel was well known for their cranes and specialized equipment which included hydraulic presses, log barkers, radio and television towers, and chip handling buckets. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel; Hoisting machinery; Logs;

Crane under construction at Star Iron & Steel Co. The Star Iron & Steel plant was located in new quarters at 326 Alexander Ave. in the Port Industrial area. Custom designing and manufacturing special equipment, cranes, and hoists was its primary business. During July, 1964, gantry cranes weighing 50 and 350 tons were being manufactured by Star Iron & Steel. Gantry cranes were similar to overhead bridge cranes except that the bridge for carrying the trolly or trolleys was rigidly supported on two or more legs running on fixed rails or other runway. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hoisting machinery;

Interior of Star Iron & Steel Co. plant on Alexander Ave. in the Port Industrial area. this is a general view of the machine shop area which has over 15,000 square feet of well lighted, heated space. Founded in 1908, Star Iron & Steel was one of the oldest steel fabricating companies in the Pacific Northwest. Cranes, hoists and special machinery were custom designed and manufactured. In July, 1964, Star Iron & Steel were busy constructing 50 and 350 ton gantry cranes. Gantry cranes are similar to overhead cranes with the same strength and durability but are raised above the floor by support legs mounted on the end trucks. There was ample space in the machine shop area also for assembling crane trolleys, hoists, drive trucks and other mechanical equipment. TPL-9626 (SIS booklet, c. 1965)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hoisting machinery;

Dirt pours out of the opened clam shovel which is suspended by thin cables in this July 31, 1962, photograph taken at Graystone of Tacoma. The shovel is believed to have been manufactured by the Star Iron & Steel Co. of Tacoma. Star Iron built cranes and specialized equipment to handle everything from salmon to missiles; their products were used in WWll to help clear the Pearl Harbor disaster. Its crane capacities ranged to more than 350 tons. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery;

An employee of Ace Furnace & Steel Co. leans one arm against a massive steel jet propulsion fuel storage tank on company property on August 5, 1958. He appears diminutive when contrasted with the 10.6 foot diameter tank. The gas tank measures 77.5 feet in length. Ace Furnace produced steel storage tanks for oil, gasoline and water, stacks, marquees, canopies, steel heating and ventilation systems, boilers, furnaces, and marine sheet metal. The company's major output now are tanks of all sizes, approximately 400-800 tanks per month. The huge tanks pictured above were just built for McChord Air Force Base. It is estimated that these were the largest shop fabricated steel tanks ever built in Tacoma. The Northern Pacific cars in the background would make transportation of these heavy steel products easier and more efficient. Photograph ordered by Ace Furnace & Steel Co. (TNT 9-1-58, C-7)

Ace Furnace & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma; Storage tanks--Tacoma; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The George R. Marvin Co. was a steel fabrication plant located on Taylor Way in the Tideflats. Besides manufacturing cranes and other hoists, they also were involved in fabricated steel products. A model in an October 4, 1957, photograph is examining a piece of machinery manufactured by the Marvin Co. The exact use of the product is not known; it does appear to be solidly constructed and capable of containing either solids or liquids. What appears to be an Air Force fuel tank is in the background of the photograph. Photograph ordered by the George R. Marvin Co.

George R. Marvin Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Molten showers were not an unusual occurrence at the Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel works in Seattle. The steel manufactured at Bethlehem's facilities was used in many structures locally, including the Alaska Way Viaduct and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The Bay area's Carquinez Straits Bridge utilized Bethlehem Corporation's steel in the approaches to the bridge and Bethlehem's shipbuilding division in Quincy, Mass., produced the steel used in 25,000 to 106,500-ton tankers. Bethlehem plants nationwide were booming and a new basic steel research center was being built in the adjoining site to Lehigh University in Pennsylvania to carry on vital new research projects. (TNT ad, 1-2-58, B-8)

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); Steel industry--Seattle; Industrial facilities--Seattle;

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel's works were booming in the 1950's, necessitating a $25 million dollar expansion in Seattle, as well as improvements and new construction elsewhere. New electric furnaces promised to boost steelmaking capacity 70% to 420,000 tons annually. Workers are pictured on March 6, 1958, seemingly dwarfed by the size of the huge equipment used in the Seattle plant. A cascade of sparks and smoke stream from an open hearth. The men are wearing hard hats and long coats for protection.

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); Steel industry--Seattle; Industrial facilities--Seattle;

Smoke billows out of three smokestacks at one of Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel's Seattle plants on July 27, 1954; two other smokestacks are quiet. Bethlehem Steel produced much of the steel used in well-known landmarks: the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and the Alaskan Way Viaduct. They had several locations in Seattle including a Rolling Mill, Bolt & Nut Dept., Tank Farm, and Mill Depot. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp., Seattle.

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); Smokestacks--Seattle;

Ace Furnace & Steel Co. were steel fabricators whose plant was located at 3740 South Union Avenue. One of their trucks and trailers was loaded with large storage tanks when photographed in front of the company on October 16, 1954. There was plenty of advertising on the truck and trailer, and also on the tanks. The steel firm had expanded their business in the early 1930's which eventually led to including transport of their products to customers. Ace Furnace manufactured furnaces, tanks, gasoline tanks and pre-fabricated steel gas stations. According to the 1954 City Directory, Ace Furnace was owned by Alvin T. Davies; he also owned Birchfield Boiler and Tacoma Boiler Works. Photograph ordered by Ace Furnace & Steel Co.

Ace Furnace & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Storage tanks--Tacoma; Metalworking--Tacoma; Signs (Notices);

Steel pieces of a new hangar are being hoisted into place by a Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation crane on September 24, 1954. More space was becoming necessary at McChord Field to house and repair aircraft. Once completed, this new main hangar will encompass 22,000 square feet. The Seattle District Corps. of Engineers, U.S. Army, designed the hangar and supervised construction. All steel for the framework was fabricated by Bethlehem Steel 's Seattle plant and the framework itself erected by the company's steel workers. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation. (TNT 12-26-54, C-11)

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); Building construction; Progress photographs; Steel; Hangars;

Aluminum panels nearly cover the entire roof of a new steel hangar at McChord Field on November 18, 1954. Two workers are in the process of marking and drilling nails into the panels. Aluminum and other steel products were seen as an alternative to wood design. Hangars were used to house and repair jet aircraft; McChord was finding it necessary to construct more of them because of the growing number of military aircraft stationed there. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation.

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); Building construction; Progress photographs; Steel; Hangars;

Workers appear to be trudging uphill on top of a new hangar in a November 18, 1954, photograph. They had been working for months on constructing new steel hangars for the military on McChord Field. These hangars would be used to house and repair jets. The two men shown here are carrying sections of aluminum to be used to cover the roof of the new hangar. The Seattle District Corps. of Engineers, U.S. Army, designed the hangar and supervised its construction. All steel for the framework was fabricated by the Seattle plant of Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel and the framework itself had been erected by the company's steelworkers. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation. (TNT 12-26-54, C-11)

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); Building construction; Progress photographs; Steel; Hangars;

Workmen balance high atop the roof of a new hangar at McChord Field on September 24, 1954. They are in the process of inserting steel sections. One of the building's sides is already in place. The hangars were used to house and repair aircraft and were apparently made basically out of steel components rather than wood. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation.

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); Building construction; Progress photographs; Steel; Hangars;

A Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation crane is in the process of lifting another piece of steel roof truss as work continues on the construction of new hangars on McChord Field in September, 1954. Hangars were used to house and repair aircraft. It appears that instead of being constructed of wood, they were built using steel components. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation.

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); Steel; Hoisting machinery; Hangars; Building construction; Progress photographs;

Another view of construction of a new hangar on McChord Field was taken approximately September, 1954. Roof trusses and basic frame of the hangar appear to be in place at this time. A crane from Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation carefully hoists steel components used in the building construction. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation.

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); Building construction; Progress photographs; Steel; Hangars;

ca. 1888. Tacoma smelter. This smelter on Ruston's waterfront was established as the Ryan Smelter in 1887 by Dennis Ryan. It was sold to William R. Rust in 1889 who then changed its name to the Tacoma Smelting & Refining Co. This photograph was taken around 1888 when the smelter was still in its early stages. Pilings jut out into the water at the right, tree stumps are abundantly scattered on the grounds, and the chimney in the photo's center was the first of three succeedingly larger smokestacks. The smelter would be sold to the American Smelting & Refining Co. (ASARCO) in 1905. (Print owned by Thomas Martin. Copy on file)

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Smelters--Tacoma;

Employees of Star Iron Works posed aboard their patriotic "float" for the 1918 Labor Day Parade. The float was stopped just south of the Union Station at 1717 Pacific Avenue. They were part of the nearly 20,000 representatives of organized labor who marched in the largest Labor Day parade the city of Tacoma had seen to that date. There were eight large divisions of labor, 12 bands including two from Camp Lewis, floats and pretty girls on display. Working men and women, from boiler makers to cigar makers to cooks, all marched in countless lines during the hour-long parade which ended at Wright Park. Industries were booming during the war years as noted by the increase of shipworkers marching in the parade - 4,700 compared to the 47 the year before. G38.1-041 (TDL 9-2-18, p. 1-article; TDL 9-3-18, p. 1-article; TNT 9-2-18, p. 1-article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1910-1920; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1910-1920;

Interior of a section of the Tacoma Smelter taken in March of 1919. This was the copper refinery. Copper anodes from the smelter were inserted between copper cathodes in a copper-sulfuric acid bath. Copper was transferred from the anode to the cathode. The two raised frameworks in the photograph's middle were stands for "slapping copper starter sheets" before they were inserted into the bath as cathodes. The American Smelting & Refining Co., better known by its acronym, ASARCO, was a major employer in Ruston for nearly a hundred years. G32.1-023 (Additional information provided by a reader)

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma;

ca. 1920. Smelter operations at ASARCO. Steam rises as ore is poured via hoisted ladle onto giant cylinders at the American Smelting & Refining Co.'s plant in Ruston circa 1920. Other large ladles are on the floor waiting to be filled with ore. TPL-899; G37.1-184

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma--1920-1930; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1920. Smelter operations at ASARCO. These employees of the American Smelting & Refining Co. (ASARCO) are carefully monitoring what may be the pouring of molten ore in this circa 1920 photograph. It seems to have caught the attention of several other workers in the area. TPL-2351; G37.1-191

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma--1920-1930; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Feed belts at Tacoma Smelter. The belts were located under the ore dock where concentrates and ore were received from ships. View of smelter operations taken in November of 1923. G37.1-193 (Additional information provided by a reader)

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma--1920-1930;

These ornamental iron light poles, manufactured by Atlas Foundry, will be placed along Commence St. in downtown Tacoma in the fall of 1926. Atlas had been in business in Tacoma since 1899.

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1920-1930; Lampposts--Tacoma;

Steel plate girder manufactured by Star Iron & Steel for the Masonic Temple at 47 Saint Helens Ave, Tacoma.

Industries; Star Iron & Steel; Construction; Masonic Temple;

Pierce County Airport, Lakewiew (now Lakewood) Wa. Steel hangar designed and developed by Star Iron & Steel.

Industries; Star Iron & Steel; Airports; Construction;

Machinery at Star Iron & Steel foundry at 435 E 11th St, Tacoma

Industries; Star Iron & Steel; Machinery; Tideflats