Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. launched the U. S. Army B.S.P. 3135, a self propelled 88 foot long, twin diesel engine cargo barge, on Thanksgiving Day. The company received a government contract to build four cargo barges for the Army. Beverly Agen, Puget Sound Boat staff, was the launching sponsor (T. Times, 11/23/44, p. 1). TPL-5747
Barges--Tacoma; Government vessels--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. (Tacoma); Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Western Boat Building Co. was owned and operated by the Petrich family. They were working on government and commercial contracts. Interior view of ship's main engine and fuel tank. Engine control gauges are visible on right side of photo.TPL-8889
Boat engines; Fuel tanks; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);
Side view of "Hustler"at dock after launching at Western Boat in early June of 1945. Several men are aboard in the stern. The fishing vessel was owned by R. Tom Muchlinski and home port listed as Ketchikan, Alaska. Shortly after being placed in service, the "Hustler" was acquired by the U.S. government.
Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);
Pacific Boat Building Co. received a government contract to build four barges for the Army. View of U. S. Army B.S.P. 3131, an 88 foot self propelled cargo barge with double diesel powered engines. The B.S.P. 3131 is the second barge, of the order, to be completed and launched by Pacific Boat.
Government vessels--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);
Pacific Boat Building Co. received a government contract to build four barges for the Army. Side view of U. S. Army B.S.P. 3131, an 88 foot self propelled cargo barge with double diesel powered engines. The B.S.P. 3131 is the second barge, of the order, to be completed and launched by Pacific Boat.
Government vessels--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);
Puget Sound Boatbuilding Corp. had recently received an Army contract to build four ocean going tugs and self propelled barges. View of ship in Puget Sound plant, prior to launching. TPL-8876
Government vessels--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. (Tacoma);
Martinac Shipbuilding was founded by Joseph M. Martinac, he established himself as an expert boat builder in Tacoma. Martinac has built minesweepers, purse seiners, sardine and tuna boats, pleasure boats and has converted fishing vessels into Navy patrol boats. View of unidentified launching sponsor and her son standing with unidentified ship crew members.
Western Boat Building Co. was a well equipped Tacoma shipyard building vessels for the Army, Navy and Coast Guard. Western Boat was about to launch a YP627, self propelled patrol craft, for the navy, in honor of Navy Day. View of unidentified Navy ship crew, their family members and the launching sponsor, Mrs. Kenneth Jones, in center holding roses (T. Times, 10/30/44, p. 7).
Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Government vessels--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);
Avenger at Todd Pacific. The "Avenger" tank, commonly called by Marines "Water Buffalo" is visiting Tacoma for one week and can be seen at Todd Pacific Shipyards. It is technically called a LVT or landing vehicle tracked. View of two unidentified men standing in front of "Avenger" (T. Times, 8/24/44, p. 3).
Tanks (Military science)--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Tank warfare; Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc. (Tacoma);
Avenger at Todd Pacific. This amphibious tractor was caught in the crossfire with machine guns and artillery, which put it out of commission after the battle of Tarawa. View of five unidentified men standing in front of "Avenger" (T. Times, 8/24/44, p. 3).
Tanks (Military science)--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Tank warfare; Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc. (Tacoma);
Nancy Savidge, former Navy WAVE who served during World War II, is the first woman training under the GI Bill flight program at Ben Barry's Sky Harbor. Nancy will be flying a "Lucky Piper Cub" plane, and will be the first woman at the flight school to obtain a private pilot rating. Barry's Sky Harbor is reported to be the oldest flight school near Tacoma, it was established in 1937. There are 20 students currently enrolled at the school in the government approved program. The school is located on Highway 99, near the Puyallup River Bridge. (T. Times, 6/3/48, p. 4).
Champ car. Leo Dobry was a racing enthusiast. He not only had the "City of Tacoma" built to exacting specifications by the Kurtis-Kraft plant, South Gate, California, but he also had a trailer with windows to tow the race car. In May, 1948, the race car is seen hitched to a Chevy pickup truck, ready for probable transport to the Indianapolis 500 over Memorial Day. The Champ car was much larger and more powerful than a midget. It ran the 500 twice, finishing sixth in 1948 and qualifying outside the front row in 1949 before mechanical problems forced it out of the race. (T.Times, 4/27/1948, p.1) TPL-5445
Dobry, Leo; City of Tacoma (Race car); Racing automobiles--1940-1950; Automobile racing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chevrolet trucks; Trailers--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Interior view of shaft alley in the "Scarlet Queen" tuna clipper, this is a typical shaft alley produced by Tacoma Boatbuilding Company. The tuna clipper's shaft alley is the distribution center for bait water, brine circulation and refrigeration control. The electric cables, steering controls and propulsion shafting all passes through the shaft alley (Tacoma Boatbuilding Co., Inc. Catalog 1954). TPL-8963
Fishing boats--Tacoma; Control rooms--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
Scarlet Queen built by Tacoma Boatbuilding Company was the largest tuna clipper built in the world, at least 25 feet larger than any other tuna clipper. The "Scarlet Queen" would be fishing for tuna in the Pacific Ocean, it had recently gone on its trial run in Tacoma's Commencement Bay. This vessel was owned by Arne Strom, co-owner of Tacoma Boatbuilding Company and Cecil Drake of San Diego, California (T. Times, 6/14/48, p. 1). TPL-8962
Fishing boats--Tacoma; Paintings; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
Interior view of switchboard in the "Scarlet Queen" tuna clipper, the control and distribution panels are custom made to fit the needs of each individual ship. The switchboards are compact, the "Scarlet Queen" has multiple units including an A.C. unit. Tacoma Boat's electrical division works with their customers to provide the most efficient switchboards (Tacoma Boatbuilding Co., Inc. Catalog 1954). TPL-8964
Fishing boats--Tacoma; Switchboards--Tacoma; Control rooms--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
View of M. W. "Wesley" Goss holding Cammarano Brothers Trophy, the trophy will be awarded to the winner of the "Free-for-All Outboard Race" on Sunday at Gig Harbor. This race is part of the two day Washington State Championships, participants will go through a one mile course. Goss is from Seattle, he will give a musical performance on his triple-toned golden chimes prior to the races starting (T. Times, 6/22/48, p. 12).
Regattas--Tacoma; Musicians--Tacoma; Events--Tacoma; Awards; Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma; Goss, M. W.;
Publicity shots made at airfield, CAA. The Tacoma Squadron, Civil Air Patrol sponsored the Tacoma Air Show August 19, 1948, at Spanaway Sky Ranch. The exhibition was for the benefit of the cadets' treasury and funds were used for the purchase of new equipment for the unit. Major Orville French, commanding officer of the squadron, left, shows tickets to Joe Sim, College of Puget Sound student and former Air Force pilot who took an active part in the air show. (TNT, 8/22/1948, p.A-5)
For several years in the late 1940s, David Johnston owned and operated the South Side Auto Laundry at 5648 1/2 South Tacoma Way. In this photograph from August of 1948, an unidentified employee steam-cleans the whitewall tires on what appears to be a 1941 Ford Sedan, while a young boy in the front seat leans out the window to watch.
Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cleaning establishments--Tacoma; Cleaning personnel; Car washes--Tacoma; Tires; Signs (Notices); Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; South Side Auto Laundry (Tacoma);
Pacific Boat, the "Julia B." is out for her water trials. She was a 66 foot purse seiner built for owner, Spiro Babich with a 200 hp Washington engine. (Pacific Fisherman Yearbook 1949, p.82 and p.170)
Accident at South 15th Street and Tacoma Avenue, intersection. J.B. Evans, adjuster. A view of the intersection of South 15th Street and Tacoma Avenue South looking east along South 15th. The Tacoma tideflats can be seen in the distance. Pangis Grocery is on the corner at 1501 Tacoma Avenue South. A Jordan Baking Company Truck is stopped before the cross-walk. The photograph would have been taken for insurance purposes.
Washington Steel and Welding Company advertised steel ship building, tanks, ornamental work, acetylene welding, electric welding, portable welding and steel fabricating. The company had two plants, the main plant was located at 701 East D Street, their other plant was at 1601 Taylor Way. View of large "Oshkosh" truck with logging equipment at Washington Steel and Welding Company.
On July 28, 1948, this unidentified man, possibly the Bart's Drive-In airplane pilot, had landed his small plane on an ocean beach. It appears that he had made a quick stop for razor clams as his shovels and metal cans seem to indicate. Publicity photo ordered by O'Connell-Ragan advertising agency. (Additional information provided by a reader)
Birchfield Boiler company were builders of all steel welded vessels of all types and designs. Birchfield fabricated the steel used in their ship building and also specialized in ship repairs and conversions. View of Birchfield Boiler built "Situk", a 48 foot by 16 foot by 28 inch power scow built for Libby McNeill and Libby.
Barges--Tacoma; Construction industry--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Birchfield Boiler, Inc. (Tacoma);
The "Mary S." was joining a big fleet of Manuel Sousa and Associates fishing boats in San Diego, California. Manuel Sousa was visiting his native land, Portugal, therefore he was not able to attend the launching; L. L. Livesly, partner and managing owner, represented the company. View of the recently launched J. M. Martinac tuna clipper, the "Mary S." (T.N.T., 4/15/49, p. 29). TPL-8995
The "Mary E. Petrich" would be capable of fishing for tuna in Australian waters, these waters have never been fished by American coast-based vessels. The tuna clipper could travel at a speed of 13-1/2 knots. View of the large crowd gathered at Western Boat's main plant, for the launching of the "Mary E. Petrich", the largest tuna clipper ever built (T. Times, 3/16/49, p. 1). TPL-8989
Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);
The largest tuna clipper ever built, the "Mary E. Petrich" would be capable of carrying 450 tons of tuna under quick freeze refrigeration. This new vessel would be known as the queen of the tuna fleet, named after the late wife of Martin Petrich. View of Helen C. Petrich (right), wife of James F. Petrich Sr. and daughter-in-law to Martin Petrich; Helen was the "Mary E. Petrich" launching sponsor (T. Times, 3/16/49, p. 1). TPL-8990
Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);
57-foot purse seiner, interior and water shots, Birchfield Boiler, Bob Dorrer. The galley of the "Esther B." is seen on the left and the helm is straight ahead. The cabinets and the walls are gleaming white. A plaque to the right of the hall towards the helm shows the name of the "Esther B." and that she was built by Birchfield Boiler. This photograph was taken on June 14, 1949.
The Gretna Victory, which was designated the Northwest Christmas Ship for this voyage, pulled out of dock in Tacoma before dawn on January 31, 1948. The 10,000 ton vessel was carrying food and clothing donations from the four Northwest states and Alaska to Bremen, Germany. The ship's holds were jammed with thousands of tons of flour, wheat, canned vegetables and meats, canned milk, clothing and shoes for the needy of Germany and Austria. One of the many local companies to donate was Brown & Haley; they contributed 150 cases of raisins. (TNT, 1/31/1948, p.1)
View of cars parked along A Street and So. 13th, business signs are posted for the Home Electric Company, Glass and Union Commissary; building in background has a fire escape; photo ordered by L. Ray Shute Company, local insurance adjusters.
Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Traffic accidents--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Fire escapes--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Parking--Tacoma; Insurance companies--Tacoma; L. Ray Shute Co. (Tacoma);
