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;

Molten liquid is being poured into molds at Fick Foundry, 1005 East D Street, in October of 1969. In business since 1924, Fick Foundry were producers of "quality static and centrifugal castings in most ferrous metals, and close tolerance aluminum centrifugal castings." The company had suffered through three major fires and was rebuilt each time. It would finally close in the late 1980's. Photograph ordered by Winston Fournier & Associates, Dallas.

Fick Foundry Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1960-1970; Founding--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hoisting machinery;

Star Iron & Steel. On January 14, 1970, a series of photographs were taken regarding plant operations at Star Iron & Steel, 326 Alexander Ave. This is believed to be the building housing the aluminum fabrication unit. The interior looks very crowded with a variety of aluminum products. Founded in 1908, Star Iron & Steel was one of the oldest steel fabrication plants in the Pacific Northwest. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--1970-1980; Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Star Iron & Steel. This is believed to be the aluminum fabrication plant at Star Iron & Steel in early 1970. The interior appears crowded with stacks of aluminum with metal shavings and piles of debris in the photograph's foreground. Star Iron & Steel, a long established Tacoma firm, had moved to more spacious quarters in the Port Industrial area in 1963. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1970-1980; Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1971. Crane operations - customer negatives. Planks placed on a tilted board may have come from the boxcar nearby. Photographs requested by Star Iron & Steel Co., major crane manufacturer. Crane units visible were under construction by Star Iron & Steel; cranes, hoists and special machinery made up 70% of the company's annual volume. The company also specialized in fabricated steel and aluminum. See D159837, image 13, for progress photograph of crane. (TNT 12-13-70, C-21 - article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Preparations are being made to transport a floating concrete bulkhead from Star Iron & Steel Co.'s plant at 326 Alexander Ave. in early February of 1971. The 25-foot high bulkhead appears to be placed on beams equipped with wheels. It would be hauled to the Port of Tacoma and then towed by tug to the Snake River for use on the Little Goose Lock & Dam. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co. (TNT 2-6-71, p. 21 - article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Retaining walls--Tacoma;

Closer view of floating bulkhead on February 4, 1971. Previous photographs of the bulkhead and its move from Star Iron & Steel's tideflats location to waterfront are in D159838, images 6, 12, 14, and 17. Workers are shown monitoring water spurting from the bulkhead. The bulkhead, 25-feet tall, was ordered by the U.S. Corps of Engineers for usage on the Snake River near the Tri-Cities. Star Marine Industries, a subsidiary of Star Iron & Steel, would begin transporting the 114-ton bulkhead on February 8, 1971 by tugboat from the Port of Tacoma. The $165,000 bulkhead was designed and built by Star Iron & Steel. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co. (TNT 2-6-71, p. 21- article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Retaining walls--Tacoma;

Gate hoist. Gate hoist on display at Star Iron & Steel, 326 Alexander Ave., on September 16, 1971. The hoist would be headed out to the Columbia River for use on the Bonneville Dam. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Hoisting machinery;

Close-up of Star Iron & Steel Co. machinery, possibly a shovel, taken on November 15, 1968, at the company plant in Tacoma's Tideflats. Star Iron & Steel was a well-known local manufacturer of hoisting machinery. It had been in Tacoma since 1918 and had moved to its new location in the Port Industrial area in 1963. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

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

Atlas Foundry. A Bicentennial flag flaps in the wind in the Atlas Foundry's visitor parking area in the spring of 1976. Parked beside a plant building is a bright orange truck filled with a variety of steel castings manufactured by Atlas. In 2002 Atlas Foundry became Atlas Castings & Technology, further expanding the size and materials offered and increasing their presence in many primary markets. Color photograph ordered by Atlas Foundry & Machine Co.

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Trucks--Tacoma--1970-1980; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1970-1980; Flags--United States;

Groundbreaking at Atlas Foundry. Ground was broken on February 23, 1978, at the Atlas Foundry site for expansion and modernization of the longtime Tacoma company. Several new buildings and renovation of equipment, totaling $5,000,000, were included in the five-year plan. The company employed approximately 400 people. Pictured above is company president Leo H. Long, Sr., who is flanked by Milo S. Gates, president of Swineston & Walberg Co. and Charles "Chuck" Fausel, executive vice-president of Lester B. Knight & Associates, Inc. All three are gripping a shiny shovel with a small plaque attached. Photograph ordered by Atlas Foundry. (TNT 2-24-78, C-12-article on expansion)

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Ground breaking ceremonies--Tacoma--1970-1980; Shovels; Long, Leo H.; Gates, Milo S.; Fausel, Charles;

Star Iron & Steel, general view around shop. On July 18, 1968, Star Iron & Steel was in the process of constructing a 250-ton bridge crane for Kerr Lock & Dam, located in Oklahoma. They had also just landed a 6.4 million dollar contract to build four 100-ton floating cranes for the Navy. Star Iron & Steel was well known for their custom designing and manufacturing of hoists and cranes. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

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

Two employees of Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel's Seattle plant are shown at work on September 26, 1951. One man grips a piece of steel with his gloved hand while the other worker seems to be in the process of riveting. According to the 1951 Seattle City Directory, Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel had several facilities in the Seattle area including a Rolling Mill and office at 4001 28th Ave. S.W., a Bolt and Nut dept. at 3800 Iowa Ave., a Tank Farm at 3301 26th Ave. S.W., and a Mill Depot at 3845 26th Ave S.W. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (San Francisco).

Factories; Steel industry; Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle);

Interior showing smelter job in foreground, Star Iron & Steel Co., Bob Allen. Welders are at work manufacturing parts for the Tacoma smelter, American Smelting & Refining Company.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950; Welding--Tacoma--1940-1950; American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma);

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;

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;

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;

The Tacoma Smelter, American Smelter and Refining Company (ASARCO), held a dinner party for their "Old Timers" in April of 1952. View of six men and one woman at banquet table.

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The interior of the new pre-fab plant of Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation at 8501 East Marginal Way, Seattle. Ordered by Mr. Morse.

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

The exterior of the new pre-fab plant of Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation. Ordered by Mr. Morse.

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

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;

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;

Photographs were requested for a government report concerning the construction of a 275-ton powerhouse crane by Star Iron & Steel Co. of Tacoma. The crane was ordered for the Barkley power plant on Kentucky's Cumberland River. This July 15, 1963, photograph shows the main hoist blocks and auxiliary hoist blocks.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma);

Unseen operators in the small George Scofield Co. crane house handle the controls of a large Brute Crane in this March 28, 1930, photograph originally taken by Marvin Boland. Piles of what appear to be pipe segments are in the foreground. A Union Pacific sign is on top of a building near the waterway. Brute cranes were manufactured by Star Iron & Steel Co. of Tacoma. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co; customer print copied on September 17, 1963.

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

The American Smelting & Refining Co. (ASARCO Incorporated) Tacoma Plant. TPL-2353. Areas of the plant are labelled with arrows and typed notations. Typed notations read, left hand side, top to bottom: Main Stack, Silos, ESP'S (Hoppers), Flue, Metallic Arsenic Area, Arsenic Kitchens, Arsenic Roasters (Hoppers, Roaster Baghouse Hoppers, Herreshoff Roasters), Acid Plant Bldg (Settling Tanks & Basin), Fine Ore Storage (Settling, evaporation and neutralization impoundment Waste Piles), Liquid SO2 Plant. Across the top, left to right: Laboratory Container Storage, Reverberatory Furnaces, Oil Tanks, Refineries, Settling & Evaporation Basins. Right hand side, top to bottom: Slag Dump, Casting Furnace, Anode Furnaces, Nickel Plant, Converters, Unloading Dock, Crushing & Sampling Mill, Incinerator, and Ore Piles. TPL-2353, TPL-6246

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma--1950-1960; Copper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO), Tacoma. Glowing, molten liquid ore pouring from a reverbatory furnace into a huge ladle. Two workers on the left are dwarfed by the size of the equipment. The furnace heats the ore to 2,700 degrees Farenheit. For J. Gius, reporter. (T. Times 1/19/1935, pg. 1)

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma--1930-1940; Copper industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Industrial facilities--Tacoma;

General overview of the American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO), Tacoma, as it appeared in 1935. Once the tallest smoke stack in the world, the brick structure billows smoke as it looms far above its industrial buildings. The stack was imploded in the 1990s after the refinery closed. (T. Times 1/19/1935, pg. 1)

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma--1930-1940; Copper industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Industrial facilities--Tacoma;

Atlas Foundry. Interior. Pouring of metal.

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma);

This aerial view of the large Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. plant in Nalley Valley and the area south of Center Street was taken in July of 1941. Atlas' address was listed as 3012 South Wilkeson Street which is the street running vertically on the left. The plant lay between South Tacoma Way (top) and Center St. (at photograph's bottom) The Lincoln Heights housing development would be carved out of the mostly wooded area south of the plant. At the top of the photograph is the area which would become the Tacoma Mall. [Also dated 08-26-1941]

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1940-1950; Aerial photographs; Aerial views;