Kirby Company of Tacoma held a banquet at the Top of the Ocean. The company handled sales and service of the well-known vacuum cleaner manufacturer. They were located at 3521 Sixth Avenue. The Tacoma franchise was owned by Mrs. Etherl M. Page.

Kirby Co. of Tacoma (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma; Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma);

The 1952 telephone yellow pages list two locations for Northwest Radio Inc., 3009 6th Avenue and 907 So. Tacoma Avenue. By March of 1952, when this photograph was taken, they were repairing both televisions and radios. This technician appears to be testing the picture tube on a television set. Testing equipment and boxes of vacuum tubes line the shelves of the shop work area.

Northwest Radio, Inc. (Tacoma); Maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Testing--Tacoma; Stores & shops--Tacoma; Televisions;

The exterior of Northwest Radio's shop and their fleet of delivery and service trucks is shown. The fleet includes Plymouth station wagons, and Dodge and Chevrolet panel trucks. The fleet of service vehicles was radio dispatched. TPL-8586

Northwest Radio, Inc. (Tacoma); Stores & shops--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Dodge trucks; Chevrolet trucks; Plymouth trucks;

Progress photographs on construction of Puget Sound National Bank's temporary Lakewood Branch. The temporary branch opened March 24, 1952, in an addition to Lakewood Center, directly south of the main shopping center, across the parking lot. Charles McCallum was to be the Lakewood Branch Manager. (TNT, 3/8/1952, p.A-3)

Puget Sound National Bank (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Banking--Lakewood;

Nalley's display at the new Safeway store at 84th and Pacific included Tang salad dressing at 49 cents per quart; shoestring potatoes, 2 cans for 31 cents; Banquet Dill pickles, 43 cents for 24 ounces; Lumberjack Syrup, and spaghetti with meat, 28 cents per can.

Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery Stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Nalleys, Inc. (Tacoma)--Products

Exterior of Max Frolic's Cafe. Owned and operated by former vaudevillian, violinist and band leader Max Frolic, the restaurant had been in business since May of 1938. It would undergo remodeling in 1958 including a new dining room and spruced-up exterior.

Restaurants--Lakewood--1950-1960; Max Frolic's Restaurant (Lakewood);

Twenty-five men from Sears pose around a luncheon table decorated with toy cars running along a banner in the middle of the tables. Small wrapped packages have been placed by each seat at the table. Mayor John Anderson is seated at the head of the table second from the right. The company would be celebrating the grand opening of the new parking garage at Market and South 13th the following day. Ordered by Sears Roebuck & Company.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A window display of gardening supplies featuring Green Spot equipment, and Scott's Weed & Feed and 4-XD at Washington Hardware.

Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma); Window displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gardening equipment & supplies

A well dressed family marches into Sears in the summer of 1951. In a photograph shot for advertising purposes, a sign denoting "New lower down payments" on household appliances is prominently displayed to attract such customers to enter the building. What appears to be a mangler with lid is selling for $124.95 and other appliances can be glimpsed close to entrances and windows. TPL-2530

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Signs (Notices); Business enterprises--Tacoma--1950-1960;

An unidentified cabinetmaker, working at the Tacoma Fixture Company, Inc., 501 Puyallup Avenue, uses a hand-held router to do finish work on a plywood kitchen cabinet door in August 1951. The Tacoma Fixture Co. was founded by Dudley Wilhelmi in 1949. It was taken over by Don and F.H. Fisher in the late 1950s, and in the mid-1960s it moved to 1902 Milwaukee Way. Photograph ordered by Tom Sias, Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Tacoma Fixture Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Cabinetmaking--Tacoma; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

An employee of Tacoma Fixture Company, Inc., carefully fits a door on custom made kitchen cabinets in the firm's workshop on August 16, 1951. Drawers and other doors still need to be inserted in the one-piece cabinet which is elevated on sawhorses. Plywood backed Masonite is being used on the kitchen cabinet doors. Photograph commissioned by Tom Sias, Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Tacoma Fixture Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Cabinetmaking--Tacoma; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

National Auto Parts opened a new store in the Fife Square in the summer of 1951. It apparently was the second National Auto Parts store in Pierce County. As the large sign painted on the building indicated, National Auto Parts carried "Everything for Your Car", including Valvoline motor oil, Wagner brake parts, and Perfect Circle piston rings. The 6000 square foot store would also feature precision built engines. According to W.C. Johnston, president of National Auto Parts, the new store would fill the needs of customers in the southern portion of Pierce County. View of storefront; appears to have been made of brick with large picture windows. Photograph ordered by Mr. Johnston, National Auto Parts, Tacoma office. (TNT 8-8-51, A-10)

Automobile equipment & supplies; Business enterprises--Fife; Storefronts--Fife--1950-1960; National Auto Parts, Inc. (Fife);

Sears Roebuck and Company Department Store, Housewares Department. Dishes and glassware in front with pots and pans next to them. Paint Department beyond.

Business Enterprises - Department Stores - Tacoma - Sears Roebuck and Company Equipment - Cooking Utensils, Tableware

Sears, Roebuck and Company Department Store, Powertool Department, as photographed on September 5, 1951. Tablesaws, jointer on left with drill presses. Next row has smaller power drills and accessories.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Equipment; Saws; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Sears Roebuck and Company Department Store, Appliance Department. Three rows of electric ranges are photographed on September 5, 1951. This was the Tacoma location of Sears, 1148 Broadway.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Stoves--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Selden's Home Furnishings. Behind-the-scenes look at Selden's, longtime Tacoma business, taken in September of 1951. Three rooms with people working. One man sewing carpet, three at work table, and one cutting flooring. Large hanging signage warning employees not to walk on carpet.

Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma); Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma)--Employees; Home furnishings stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floor coverings; Signs (Notices);

Selden's Home Furnishings. Series of behind-the-scenes operations at Selden's, prominent home furnishings store, taken in September of 1951. One woman at long table in rear cutting fabric, four at long tables pressing fabric, and three at machines sewing.

Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma); Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma)--Employees; Home furnishings stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Sewing machines; Sewing--Tacoma; Irons (Pressing);

Ship being towed under the Tacoma Narrows Bridge by tugboat from Foss Launch and Tug Company. View from above looking toward Point Fosdick as ship is towed north and approaches bridge. The "Donna Foss" is towing the much larger ship, the "Republic," on March 18, 1952. Assisting her is the "Agnes Foss" at the "Republic's" stern. On the other side of the ex-military transport but not seen is another tug, the "Wedell Foss."

Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma); Tugboats--Tacoma--1950-1960; Towing--Tacoma;

The Donna Foss tugboat from Foss Launch & Tug Co. has just towed a much larger ship, the ex-German military transport vessel, the "Republic", under the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in a photograph taken on March 18, 1952. Fellow tugboats, the Agnes Foss and the Wedell Foss, are aiding in the tow. The "Republic" has a long voyage scheduled; it is on its way to the Panama Canal and then onto the East Coast where it will be scrapped. Tugboats are powerful boats designed to guide and pull vessels many times their weight. Foss Launch & Tug is a long-time Tacoma firm, established in the late 1890's by Thea and Andrew Foss. Photograph ordered by Foss Launch & Tug Co. (TNT 3-20-52, A-11)

Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma); Tugboats--Tacoma--1950-1960; Towing--Tacoma; Government vessels; Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Suspension bridges--Tacoma;

The 590 foot ex-military transport vessel, the "Republic", is being pulled along under the Tacoma Narrows Bridge by a Foss Launch & Tug Co. tugboat, the Donna Foss, in March, 1952. The Donna Foss is being aided by two fellow tugs, the Wedell Foss and the Agnes Foss. The tugboats, although dwarfed in size by the much bigger vessel they tow, are designed to guide and pull boats despite the disparity in sizes. More powerful diesel engines, added in the early 1950's, allowed tugboats to maneuver in deep ocean waters. Photograph ordered by Foss Launch & Tug Co. (TPL-2158, TNT 3-20-52, A-11)

Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma); Tugboats--Tacoma--1950-1960; Towing--Tacoma; Government vessels; Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Suspension bridges--Tacoma;

Adding to the expansion of the Lakewood Community Center in November, 1951, was the new branch location of Fraser's. Originally a small speciality shop, Fraser's offered a wide variety of goods and services including perfumes, fine china and crystal, travel items and lingerie. Donald J. Browne was the merchandise manager for Fraser's and the manager of the 3500 square foot Lakewood branch. View of interior of Fraser's; wall cases and individual tables display variety of fine goods including handbags, blouses, costume jewelry, table decorations. Photograph ordered by Al Graham, News Tribune. (TNT 11-14-51, C-8)

Fraser's (Lakewood); Gift shops--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Mayberry Motor Parts located at 1934 Market Street. Oxygen sales and service. Two men in shop testing and weighing tanks. Both Oxygen Sales & Service and Mayberry Motor Parts were located in the same building on Market St. and owned by the Mayberry family. October 7-13, 1951 was Fire Prevention Week in Tacoma and this photograph, along with A61242, image 4, was used in a full page ad promoting the goods and services of Oxygen Sales & Service Co. and advising the public on keeping safe from fires. (TNT 10-9-1951, p. 11)

Mayberry Motor Parts, Inc. (Tacoma); Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interior of shop with man standing next to large piece of machinery. An employee of Pacific Oerlikon Co. is pictured next to a piece of equipment used in the Oerlikon plant. Pacific Oerlikon was located at 3001 No. Starr Street and was a manufacturer of electric equipment. This interior view of the plant showed various types of machinery imported from Europe by Pacific Oerlikon.

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Machinery; Equipment;

Overall exposure of the rhododendron show at the lobby of the Bank of California. A bit of the outdoors has been brought inside the bank with this display of the lush flower of the state of Washington set off by pines, a flagstone patio and bench, backed by wooden fencing. Sponsored by the Tacoma Rhododendron Society.

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Rhododendrons; American Rhododendron Society, Tacoma Chapter (Tacoma);

Exposure of new Ford trucks at Baker-U-Drive Co., rent a truck, for Mallon Motor Co. Baker-U-Drive had been serving Tacoma for over 25 years, offering panel trucks, pickups, flatbeds and vans for rent. Baker-U-Drive was owned and operated by M.J. (Mike) Gladstone. TPL-1525. alternate address: 754 Commerce

Lease & rental services--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Garages--Tacoma; Baker You-Drive Co. (Tacoma); Ford trucks;

Interior of new Fuller Paint store. Wallpaper samples on right above cupboards, cashier at rear, shelves with cans and bottles.

Business Enterprises - Paint and Wallpaper Stores - Tacoma - W.P. Fuller and Company Chemical Industry - Paint IndustryPaints and Varnishes

Display of Crescent spices at Manleys food fair at Fircrest. Crescent Manufacturing Co.

Grocery stores--Fircrest--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Fircrest; Spices; Manley's Food Fair (Fircrest);

Interior exposure of conveyor belt equipment at Jordan Bakery Co. Pictured is a large and mostly empty room with conveyor equipment between metal shelves with racks holding bakery goods. Jordan, long known for the excellence of their bread, launched a new product in 1952 "Sunbeam Bread," soon to become the lunchtime favorite of baby boomers.

Jordan Baking Co. (Tacoma); Bakeries--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Lang and Dennison Hardware, interior of store. Paint, sandpaper and other hardware items displayed. Clerk in front of counter. Ordered by National Lead Company.

Lang & Dennison Hardware (Tacoma); Hardware stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;Paints & varnishes;

Exterior night view of Northwest Radio Company. Vertical exposure of large neon "Motorola TV" sign in front and entryway. Northwest Radio had three locations, this newest and largest at 3009 Sixth Ave., their original store at 907 Tacoma Ave. So. and a repair center at 2415 So. 12th St. They advertised as the Northwest's largest television sales and service organization. They featured radio dispatched service trucks and were open til 9pm. on Monday and Friday nights. (TNT 7/19/1953, pg. A-9)

Northwest Radio, Inc. (Tacoma); Televisions--1950-1960; Stores & shops--Tacoma--1950-1960; Window displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;