Building and pipe yard, American Plumbing, George Hill. The exterior of the American Plumbing and Steam Supply Company. The four-story brick building was built in 1911. Darmer and Cutting were the architects and the Cornell Brothers were the contractors. Walsh and Gardner Plumbing Company was the first owner. American Plumbing and Supply moved to this location in 1921 from its earlier location at 1750 Pacific Avenue. TPL-8831
Scotch boiler for catalog cuts, Mr. Kenton, Birchfield Boiler. A view of the Scotch boiler being manufactured by Birchfield Boiler showing the interior of the boiler being sealed shut with insulating bricks. Demand had grown for these high pressure boilers used in dairies, laundries, bakeries, cleaning and pressing plants and others that required large amounts of ready steam. (T.Times, 3/1/1948, p.3)
Birchfield Boiler, Inc. (Tacoma); Boilers; Boiler industry--Tacoma;
24 men at Ohmer Sales Meeting, Club Room 5, Hotel Winthrop, Mr. R.E. Barrett, Ohmer Corp., Dayton, Ohio. Ohmer Corporation were makers of the cash register displayed here among a group of business people who came to learn more about the machine.
Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ohmer Corp. (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sales personnel--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cash registers;
Caskets, Bill Gregory, Puget Sound Casket Company. A handsomely ornamented casket is shown with its lid open revealing the beautiful detailing of the fabric interior with pleating, gathers and ruffles. The metal handles along the sides are also ornamented.
Employees at Supreme Fur Storage are examining furs in the workshop which is equipped with tables and sewing machines. The company prides itself on its workmanship. Brothers Earle G. Greenfield, manager, and Gerald A. Greenfield are on the right. Earle is thoroughly trained in the care, cleaning and repair of furs. Their father, furrier Amos G. Greenfield, also works at Superior. Ordered by Mr. VanMeter, Llewellyn Advertising Agency (T.Times, 4/16/1948, p.5)
Officials at opening of new laundry office, Mr. Van Meter, Llewellyn Advertising Agency. A man in the clothing storage area of Supreme Fur Storage is evaluating the condition of one of the fur coats hung on racks. Fur stoles are also shown. The company advertised steel and concrete vaults, new scientific equipment, fumigation and demothing, refrigeration and expert craftsmanship. The facility had the capacity to store 5,000 furs and fur coats. (T.Times,4/16/1948, p.5, TNT, 4/15/1948, p.6)
When this photograph was taken in February of 1948, the venerable Bowes Building, 100 So. 9th St., was home to Tacoma Savings and Loan, one of the pioneer financial institutions on the Pacific Coast. The company had purchased the building in 1920 and added their neon sign above the entrance in 1941. The Bowes Building was designed by the architectural firm of Heath & Twichell and built of white Vermont marble. It was named after its developer Major Edward J. Bowes, who achieved national fame for his "Amateur Hour" radio program. It is on the City, State and National Registry of Historic Buildings. Photo ordered by William D. Hopping, president Tacoma Savings and Loan. (T.Times, 2/26/1948, p.29)
Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Bowes Building (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Several views of local plant at 250 East D showing tankage and general view of yard. Tide Water Associated Oil Co., M.A. Legg. The facilities are built near the waterfront on the City Waterway.
Furniture Department at Weisfield & Goldberg, Virginia Knowlen. Weisfield and Goldberg announced their Grand Opening of their newly enlarged, newly remodeled and newly redecorated, five floors of furniture values with a one-half page advertisement in the Tacoma Times. Shown here is one of the floors in their building with upholstered furniture: sofas, and armchairs; and floor lamps. (T.Times, 3/4/1948, p.2)
Furniture Department at Weisfield & Goldberg, Virginia Knowlen. This view shows the selection of rugs and carpeting available in Weisfield & Goldberg's newly remodeled rug department in February of 1948. Samples cover several of the building's support columns and several are displayed on the walls in addition to layers of rugs on raised platforms on the floor and rolls of carpeting.
Olga Maijala (later Massie), a Griffin Fuel Company office worker, is busy filing customer account information into a new lockable file cabinet in December of 1948. The cabinet was purchased from the local distributer of cabinets and safes manufactured by Diebold, Incorporated. In the pre-computer, pre-"paperless" age roll-top cabinets like this were used to keep accounts in order and under lock and key. Besides the main lock on the rolling top, each separate drawer had its own lock. Griffin Fuel was a major local fuel delivery company in business since 1889. Photo ordered by Diebold, Inc. (Additional identification provided by a reader)
Motors Insurance Co., several different views at Mueller-Harkins Motor Company, Mr. Mueller. Two men stand at the Insurance Department service window. An employee explains the plan to a customer wearing a three-piece tweed suit.
Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Insurance;
Tacoma Auto Sales, new 1949 Pontiacs, Mr. Bryson Gardner. Tacoma Auto Sales Company, Pontiac and Cadillac dealers, general view of showroom with customers admiring the 1949 Pontiacs. Tacoma Auto Sales advertised "Stream-Sweep fenders, automatic driving ease, and straight-eight or V-6 engines". (TNT, 2/13/1949, p.B-2)
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pontiac automobile; Tacoma Auto Sales Co. (Tacoma);
Industrial edition, Banks, Times, Buzz. A view of the exterior of the Bank of California built in 1928 of Wilkeson sandstone and granite. The four ionic columns, which cost $3,500 each to build, stretch three stories up the front of the building. There were numerous banks and savings and loans with their headquarters in Tacoma at this time and they played an important role in the development of industry and the construction of buildings and homes in the area. (T.Times, 2/25/1949, p.12)
Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Columns--Tacoma; Business districts--Tacoma;
Big Bear Food Store, Bud Merrell, Grocery store interiors, old "Arney's Market", Colemans. Big Bear opened its first Tacoma location January 30, 1948. They had seven distinct departments under one roof. With five check stands they hoped to give the speediest service ever offered to Tacoma shoppers. The check out stands and cash registers are lined up near the front of the store. Shelves are filled with canned goods. The whole area is well lit. (TNT, 1/29/1948, p.3 and p.28)
Big Bear Stores (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cash registers; Canned foods;
Big Bear Food Store, Bud Merrell, Grocery store interiors, old "Arney's Market", Colemans. Big Bear was opening their first store in Tacoma at the location of the first Stadium Market. Big Bear was well known in Seattle having had several locations there for 16 years. Their policy was, "to provide the foods you want at the lowest prices at which they can be sold". This view features the produce area with displays of fruits, vegetagles and fresh flowers. Dairy products are displayed in the cold cases in the back of the store. A clock hangs on the wall above the dairy cases. (TNT, 1/29/1948, p.3 and p.28)
Showroom at City Motor Company, Oldsmobile, Anson Hart. The new 1948 model Oldsmobile offered many new developments: a streamlined body design with increased front and rear visibility with curved glass, wider seats, more luxurious upholstery and interior trim. Powered by a 115 hp, 8-cylinder engine, this automobile was known as the "Futuramic" series "98" Oldsmobile. (T.Times, 2/16/1948, p.8) TPL-1653
City Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Showrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Oldsmobile automobile;
Showing of 1949 Lincolns, Robert Sconce Advertising Agency. Three of the new 1949 model Lincolns are parked in the showroom. The Lincoln Cosmopolitan and the Lincoln represented the latest concept in luxurious motoring with wider wheelbases (125" for the Cosmopolitan and 121" for the Lincoln). The automobiles were wider to provide road-hugging comfort. The paint on the new automobiles is highly reflective as well as the large amounts of chrome. A neon sign points the way to a cashier. (T.Times, 4/15/1948, p.26)
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lincoln automobile; Mercury automobile; Ray Ridge Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Tacoma Panhellenic Conference at Top of the Ocean, TNT, Frank Lockerby. The Panhellenic Association chose the theme of "Wear Your Pin" for their luncheon and bridge party on February 7, 1948. The decorations followed the sorority pin theme with large replicas of the embossed gold pins of each national sorority. A valentines motif was followed in the table decorations with red candles and heart-shaped table markers. Greek symbols are seen on the drapery behind these women. (T.Times, 2/2/1948, p11)
Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Panhellenic Conference (Tacoma); Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Candles;
On February 6, 1948 the first Tacoma Panhellenic day luncheon was held at the Top of the Ocean. The theme for the day was "Wear Your Pin", and all Tacoma alumnae of national college sororities were invited. A prize was given to the sorority having the largest attendance. At the close of the formal program, the guests were escorted to the Tacoma Athletic Commission rooms for an afternoon of bridge. (T.Times, 2/2/1948, p.11)
Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Panhellenic Conference (Tacoma); Playing cards; Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Smoking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cigarettes;
Three views of Thom McAn Shoe Store, McAn Shoe Stores, New York. This view of the new shoe store, taken from the back of the store, shows the chairs back-to-back, ready for customers to take a seat and be fitted for shoes. The boxes with different styles, colors, and sizes line the walls and make a decorative pattern. Cigarette ash trays are available close-by for the customers relaxation.
Thom McAn Shoe Store (Tacoma); Shoe stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shoes;
Interior shot at Titus Motor Co., 616-24 Broadway, with a Ford automobile up on the rack and white jacketed mechanics hard at work. (filed with Argentum)
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies; Electric signs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma);
Interior shot at Titus Motor Co., 616-24 Broadway, with a Ford automobile up on the rack and white jacketed mechanics hard at work. (filed with Argentum)
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies; Electric signs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma);
Frank Melanson and Johnny Pavolka announced the opening of their new barbershop in the bus terminal at 14th and Pacific in August of 1939. They had been barbering together off and on in Tacoma since 1915. The new shop, with its tile back bar and individual round mirror behind each chair, was the first shop of its kind on the west coast according to Mr. Melanson. (T.Times 8/11/1939 p.7)
Barbershops--Tacoma--1930-1940; Barbering; Melanson, Frank; Pavolka, John J.
Frank Melanson and Johnny Pavolka announced the opening of their new barbershop in the bus terminal at 14th and Pacific in August of 1939. They had been barbering together off and on in Tacoma since 1915. The new shop, with its tile back bar and individual round mirror behind each chair, was the first shop of its kind on the west coast according to Mr. Melanson. (T.Times 8/11/1939 p.7)
Barbershops--Tacoma--1930-1940; Barbering; Melanson, Frank; Pavolka, John J.
ca. 1939. Thomas O. and Ellen J. Johnsen and Cortland W. Johnsen house. W. Chelse Boynton, Architect, 1936. Tudor-style home of brick and wood, small garage on left. The Johnsen's owned Bone Dry Shoe Manufacturing Company on Pacific Ave. (filed with Argentum)
Grand Opening at the Broadway Food Store, 8410 South Tacoma Way, on August 10, 1939. Exterior view of new Art Deco style building, built in 1939. Orman Hoyt, Manager. (filed with Argentum)
Broadway Food Store (Lakewood); Grocery stores--Lakewood--1930-1940;
Continental Bakery Co., 703 So. Sprague, home of Wonder Bread, in June of 1939. Exterior shot of front and north side of Sprague Street. The structure was built in 1913 for Matthaei Bread Co. It was occupied by Continental Baking Co. and their Wonder Bread Bakery beginning in 1934. (filed with Argentum)
