ca. 1931. boys looking at ASARCO smokestack

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;

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;

Fabrication and boring mill at Star Iron & Steel. Two men shown at work at Star Iron & Steel, 326 Alexander Ave. in the Port Industrial area, on August 8, 1966. They may have been working on "B" and "A" cranes. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel.

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

Conveyor system pictured at Port of Tacoma in January, 1967. Built by Star Iron & Steel of Tacoma, the elevated conveyor equipment is set up to load and unload materials to the domed storage tank in the background. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Conveying systems--Tacoma--1960-1970; Storage tanks--Tacoma;

Another view of the giant crane shown in D153667, Image 1. Cranes manufactured by Star Iron & Steel underwent rigorous testing before they were released to buyers. The Army Corps of Engineers required that the crane be fully assembled and operable before delivery. Once performance testing was completed, the crane would be dismantled and shipped. This 100-ton crane was destined for work on the Snake River at the Little Goose Lock & Dam. Similar cranes were built by Star Iron & Steel for usage on the Hoover, Mossyrock, Mayfield, Grand Coulee, Shasta and Bonneville dams. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co. (TNT 3-17-68, C-21)

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

Scenes from the steel industry. View of crane work at Star Iron & Steel Co. Star Iron & Steel was one of the northwest's oldest fabricating companies. In February of 1969, the company was involved in manufacturing winch components for the Everett Alumina Crane. This crane may have been eventually used by the Port of Everett to move alumina ore, one of the port's chief imports. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

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

An elevated view of the huge crane being built at Star Iron and Steel Company shows the opening in the crane over which the upper trolly can move. Enormous rolls of cable on top of the crane would be used to lift heavy materials vertically and the trolly could transfer the material horizontally.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hoisting machinery; Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

A huge crane is being built at Star Iron and Steel Company to be installed from the roof of a welding shack. The Star Iron and Steel Company manufactured heavy cranes and logging machinery. They made some of the largest and heaviest cranes used by the US navy and industry. Roy N. Allen was president and manager of the company at this time.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hoisting machinery; Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Star Iron & Steel - complete engineering, structural shop and machine shop facilities. Notes from the Richards Studio indicate that their photographer took this April 13, 1963, view of the new Star Iron & Steel Co. facilities from one of the company's own overhead cranes. Several cranes and steel structures are visible as well as the waterways separating the industrial Tideflats area from downtown businesses. Star Iron had moved from its longtime E. 11th St. location to the Port Industrial area that year. The new plant was ideally located for shipment of its products by truck, rail or water. Employment at the plant had apparently more than tripled from 63 to 250 since the move to a new location. It had cost $500,000 to double the plant capacity. Star Iron & Steel was one of the oldest steel fabricating businesses in the Pacific Northwest, having been founded in 1908. It specialized in custom design and manufacture of cranes, hoists, and special machinery. Star Iron's products were shipped for installation throughout the United States and also to foreign countries. There was a total of 97,000 square feet under roof currently being used with another 54,000 square feet available for future expansion. (TNT 7-24-63, A-11; SIS booklet, c. 1965)

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

Pencil in hand, an architect at Star Iron & Steel Co. surveys a model of a steel sign and girts on April 9, 1963. His glasses rest on a large sheet holding design data. Besides being well-known for their hoisting machinery, Star Iron also built towers, fabricated structural steel for buildings, bridges, and grandstands, and equipment for the lumber industry. They moved from their longtime location on E. 11th St. to Alexander Avenue in the Port Industrial area in 1963. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Architectural models; Blueprints; Eyeglasses;

Part of a series of photographs of a 275-ton powerhouse crane constructed by Star Iron & Steel Co. of Tacoma for the Barkley Power Plant on the Cumberland River. This July 15, 1963, view is described as the general arrangement and trolley with main and auxiliary hoists.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma);

Bushnell Co. of Jacksonville, Florida, supplied crane service to this tower under construction at an unspecified harbor in this undated photograph. Customer print was copied on September 17, 1963, for Star Iron & Steel Co. of Tacoma.

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

A "Porta Tower" built by Star Iron & Steel extends at a 45 degree angle in a September 19, 1963, photograph taken outside company headquarters. Porta Towers were described as mobile steel spur trees that replaced spar trees in logging operations. A "Porta Tower" could be erected and ready to work in two hours, much less time than it would take to rig a spar tree. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel. (TNT 10-13-63, B-9)

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

Built by Star Iron & Steel, an imposing 90 foot "Porta Tower" is parked outside of company headquarters on September 19, 1963. Star Iron & Steel was well known for its crane and tower construction. The "Porta Towers" would be utilized as mobile steel spur trees. "Porta Towers" were self-erecting and ready to work in two hours. Star Iron & Steel had been founded in 1908 at 435 E. 11th St. It moved to its new quarters in the Port Industrial area in 1963. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel. (TNT 7-24-63, A-11, TNT 10-13-63, B-9)

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

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;

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;

This large hoist drum was being manufactured by Star Iron & Steel Co. for the royal government of Afghanistan in October of 1972. The local firm had built hoisting machinery, cranes and special machinery for decades. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

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

Daily operations at Atlas Foundry. An unidentified employee at Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. is seated at a workbench apparently testing a Cycon circuit board. This may have been in the foundry's tech center. Photograph ordered by Atlas Foundry & Machine Co.

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Product inspections--Tacoma--1970-1980; Testing--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1978. ASARCO plant. In the center of this early 1978 photograph of the American Smelting & Refining Co. plant located in Ruston is the Herreschoff Roaster baghouse that was brand new that year. It had been installed as part of ASARCO's modernization and served to curb industrial air pollution. The baghouse vented the roaster plant to the left. The arsenic plant is situated on the right. The gondola cars collected "calcine" from the arsenic roasters which was further processed. (Additional information provided by a reader) Photograph ordered by National Blower & Sheet Metal Co.

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1970-1980; National Blower & Sheet Metal Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1971. 1971 Richards color stock footage. View of ASARCO smelter ca. 1971. Once the tallest smokestack in the world, it was demolished in January of 1993, some eight years after the plant closed due to environmental and economic reasons. TPL-5856

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

Star Iron & Steel Co. employees. Employees of Star Iron & Steel Co. pose happily on September 28, 1970, in front of company headquarters at 326 Alexander Ave. These men were the crew responsible for the building of the 100-ton floating cranes for the U.S. Navy. Star Iron & Steel was under contract to build several of these massive cranes for the government. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

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

Star Iron & Steel Co. operations. An unidentified Star Iron & Steel worker alertly keeps his eyes on the machine before him in this March, 1971, photograph. Star Iron & Steel had a backlog of unfilled contracts totaling $14,500,000, most scheduled for completion in 1971. The plant would have been bustling as there had been a 500% increase in sales over the last five years. Employment had tripled at the plant to handle the multitude of orders. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co. (TNT 12-13-70, C-21- article)

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

The bulkhead has completed its move from Star Iron & Steel's Alexander Ave. location to the Port of Tacoma's waterfront. This February 4, 1971, photograph shows the floating bulkhead in place. Four days later, Star Marine Industries, a subsidiary of Star Iron & Steel, would begin moving the 114-ton, $165,000 bulkhead to the Little Goose Lock & Dam on the Snake River. There the concrete bulkhead with watertight compartments would be used in maintenance and repair work. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel. (TNT 2-6-71, p. 21 - article)

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

ASARCO smelter (American Smelting & Refining Co.). A large crane mounted on tracks is unloading ore from the Norwegian motorship Bronnoy. The ship carried a $600,000 cargo of gold ore from Russian mines in the Urals. The mechanical crane could carry 5 tons on each dip into the ship's hold. The Bronnoy's 8,997 ton shipment will be refined at the rate of 900 tons a day. (T. Times 9/13/1935, pg. 3 & 1/19/1935, pg. 1)

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

This is the American Smelting & Refining Company smokestack in Ruston as pictured in September of 1935. At 571 feet, the ASARCO smokestack dominated the skyline near Point Defiance from its elevated position above the waterfront. At the time of its construction in 1917, it was the tallest smokestack in the world. It lost nine feet in height after repairs in 1937. The smelter stack was demolished on January 17, 1993.

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

When the wooden Whidbey Island - Mukilteo ferry landing was damaged by a ferry in August of 1938, the Puget Sound Navigation Company contacted the Star Iron & Steel Company in Tacoma. Within five days, plans were drawn and a steel replacement was built and ready for installation. The Cooney Transfer & Storage Company transported the finished 30,000 pound, 64 foot-long structure on an extra long Becholdt trailer. (T. Times, 8/23/1938, p. 3).

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Cooney Transfer & Storage Co. (Tacoma); Bridges--Whidbey Island; Trailers; Shipping--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Star Iron & Steel Company bridge fabricated in five days for Whidbey Island-Mukilteo ferry landing. On August 23, 1938, the Cooney Transfer & Storage Company transported the 30,000 pound, 64 foot-long steel bridge on a Becholdt trailer. The original wooden ferry landing structure was ripped out by the ferry a week ago. Within five days, the plans were drawn for the steel replacement, the steel was fabricated and two coats of paint were applied. (T. Times, 8/23/1938, p.3).

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Cooney Transfer & Storage Co. (Tacoma); Bridges--Whidbey Island; Trailers; Shipping--Tacoma--1930-1940;