There's nothing wrong with this chest, it's been x-rayed says Dave Schrader to Bill Courtney, employees at Permanente Metals Corp. As part of a U.S. Public Health Service campaign, all the employees at the Kaiser Aluminum plant in Tacoma received chest x-rays in 1949. In February of 1949, Permanente employed over 3,600 men in their three Washington plants with a combined payroll exceeding $12 million. (Publicity for Permanente News, and Times Industrial Page, Permanente Metals, Bill Gorman) (T.Times, 2/25/1949, p.37) TPL-3686

Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma)--Employees; Schrader, David A.; Courtney, William E.; Radiography; Health care--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Boat Building Company.The Virginia R, a new tuna clipper built by the Tacoma Boat Building Company for Captain Manuel Ribiero, was completed January 29, 1949. This elevated view shows the 108' x 26' x 13.6" fishing boat on her sea trials. A covered bait deck is shown on her stern. Tacoma Boat advertised as of 1954 that they had wooden "sticks" for keels up to 16" x 18" x 108'. (TNT, 2/15/1949, p. B-5) TPL-9001

Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Interior views at Columbia Breweries, Griffith, Pick, Phillips and Coughlin, James Bull. A view of the bottling line. A man is seated along the bottling line at Columbia Breweries. The bottles pass in front of a lighted panel and the man is able to detect any flaws in the bottle, the filling, or the cap. In 1946 Heidelberg was brought back on the market in long-neck, 12 oz. brown bottles. In 1947, when machinery became more readily available, the brewery converted to stubby containers.

Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Brewing industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bottles;

Left end of bridge and trolley, Harry S. Pearson and R.E. Morgan. Large rolls of paper are lying on the floor of a storage room while a man moves one of the rolls using a hoist maneuvered from a control booth near the ceiling.

Paper--Tacoma--1940-1950; Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hoisting machinery;

St. Regis had started producing kraft paper in January 1949, the tacoma plant had been remodeled over a long period of time and was operating at full capacity. View of St. Regis Paper Company Kraft Pulp Division; new mill on left, new laboratory is currently under construction; building contractor is Howard S. Wright and Company (T. Times, 3/13/49, p. 19).

Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Remodeling--Tacoma; Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Building construction--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

In March of 1949, 57 children from the morning and afternoon kindergarten classes of the Fern Hill school took a 40 mile roundtrip train ride from Tacoma's Union Station to Auburn. Ninety percent of the children had never been on a train before. After the ride, they were given a tour of the station by the stationmaster, and all 57 children climbed onto a giant scale in the baggage room. The entire group weighed 2,880 lbs. (T.N.T., 3/27/49, p. A-7). TPL-8804

Railroad stations--Tacoma; Children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Railroads--Tacoma; Railroad companies--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

St. Regis consistently worked on intensive product development and sales promotion activities, not only to improve the penetration into existing markets, but to open up entirely new fields. Tacoma's St.Regis plant would have their own research laboratory within the industrial site. Interior view of plant, paper roll is being moved by a large "Ederer" crane.

Paper--Tacoma; Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Laborers--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Ederer Engineering Co. (Seattle);

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding, sea trials of the Mary S. Three men stand beside the new tuna clipper, the Mary S. TPL-629

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The brand "Douglas Fir" plywood is known as the "wood of 1,000 uses." This plywood undergoes a series of laboratory and field tests. The Douglas Fir Plywood Association has helped establish and maintain Tacoma as the plywood center of the world, by setting up a industry maintained quality control laboratory here. View of U. S. Senator, Harry P. Cain (right) with a DFPA representative at the annual DFPA conference, being held at the Winthrop Hotel on May 13, 1949.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Plywood; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Legislators--Washington--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979;

Engine round house at Northern Pacific Railway, Elwin Barker. The Northern Pacific Railroad was created by Congress on July 2, 1864. Actual construction got underway in 1870 near Carlton, Minnesota. The railroad closely followed the route of Lewis and Clark. Then, after 13 years, the last spike was driven at Gold Creek, Montana, on September 8, 1893. (Pacific Northwest Railroads of McGee and Nixon, Richard Green)

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad roundhouses--Tacoma;

Northern Pacific locomotive No. 1783 rested on the turntable at the Northern Pacific Railway round house at 2211 East D St. in May of 1949. The round house was built in the late 1890s to service Northern Pacific's fleet of steam locomotives. Over the years, as the railroad companies switched from steam to diesel-electric engines, work at the round house dropped off. In the early 1970s the round house was closed down, and eventually demolished. The Reliance Lumber Company at 323 Puyallup Avenue can be seen behind the railroad facilities.. (TNT 11/30/1971 p.1) TPL-4421, TPL-3728

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad roundhouses--Tacoma;

Crust breaking machine at Permanente, Bill Gorman. Workmen are using a new machine to break the crust that developed on the molten aluminum in the reduction pots at the Permanente aluminum plant. This had been a manual process before development of the specialized machine.

Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma)--Employees; Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Laborers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Machinery;

Milwaukee Road engine E-3 left Tacoma in early June, 1949 for Chicago to take part in a Railroad Fair that was scheduled to begin on June 25. The mammoth engine, known as "the world's mightiest electric locomotive" was stationed in Tacoma and pulled passenger trains through Seattle and over the Cascades. She was 67 feet in length, weighed 521,200 pounds and had 24 drive wheels. In the 1920's the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad pioneered the modern application of clean, quiet, electricity to power heavy trains. In 1949 and the 1950's the company purchased new electric locomotives. For electrification, the Milwaukee originally intended to generate their own power, but the railroad decided to purchase commercial alternating current and convert it on their own property to direct current. (TNT, 6/2/1949, p.6; Pacific Northwest Railroads of McGee and Nixon, Richard Green) TPL-9426

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Ordered by Charles F.A. Mann. Mrs. Art De Fever, carrying a bouquet of long stem roses, was the sponsor of the 105-foot "Yolande Bertin" tuna clipper built by Tacoma Boat Building Co. She was the wife of a San Pedro naval architect. Others in the group were not identified. The fishing boat was launched at Tacoma Boat Building on Thursday evening, June 9, 1949. (TNT 6-10-1949, p. 22-alt. photo)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. (Tacoma); De Fever, Art--Family;

Roadside fireworks stand, DFPA, Hal Dixon. Two men are erecting a temporary stand for selling fireworks in June of 1949. The walls are made of sheets of plywood. A small, permanent structure is behind them with large signs advertising wholesale fireworks, Zebra and Boa brands. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Fireworks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Plywood; Construction--Tacoma--1940-1950;

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding. An aerial view of the Acania, a recently restored yacht of prewar days. Four medium sized fishing skiffs can be seen on the top deck which could be used by passengers on the chartered yacht to take out after salmon. Owners of the yacht, Fred Borovich, captain, Ted Ultsch, chief engineer, and J.S. Martinac, were offering the yacht for charter. (TNT, 7/3/1949, p.A-16)

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

New machinery at Titus Manufacturing Company, Mr. Leon Titus. Workmen are rebuilding carburetors. Three young men stand around a large work table while another stands by open tanks of solvents.

Machine Shops--Tacoma--1940-1950; Titus Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Engines; Automobile equipment & supplies; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

New machinery at Titus Manufacturing Company, Mr. Leon Titus. A workman is bench testing rebuilt carburetors.

Machine Shops--Tacoma--1940-1950; Titus Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Engines; Automobile equipment & supplies; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma--1940-1950;

New machinery at Titus Manufacturing Company, Mr. Leon Titus. Workmen are inspecting stripped down Ford "flathead" V8 engine blocks for defects prior to rebuilding.

Machine Shops--Tacoma--1940-1950; Titus Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Engines; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Assembly-line methods--Tacoma--1940-1950;

New machinery at Titus Manufacturing Company, Mr. Leon Ritus. Workmen are assembling rebuilt Ford "flathead" V8 engines. A counter made up of rollers moves the engines easily from one work station to the next.

Machine Shops--Tacoma--1940-1950; Titus Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Engines; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Assembly-line methods--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Maxwell-Runacres. A June 24, 1949, view of two bridges over the rushing Spokane River in downtown Spokane, Washington. A railroad train is crossing the river on the upper bridge. A reader has identified the arched bridge closest to the foreground as the Monroe Bridge in Spokane. This was the third Monroe (Street) Bridge. At the time of its November 23, 1911, opening, it was considered the largest concrete-arch bridge in the United States. The steel viaduct running diagonally across it was built by the Union Pacific Railroad three years later in 1914 and not removed until 1973 in time for Expo '74. The historic bridge gradually deteriorated and was dismantled with a new bridge, nearly identical to the old, opening in September of 2005. (www.historylink.org) (Identification provided by reader)

Railroad bridges--Spokane; Railroads--Spokane; Bridges--Spokane; Monroe Street Bridge (Spokane); Spokane River (Wash.);

Large machine at Columbia Breweries. Columbia Breweries had added a 20,000 square foot, two story building that housed a new bottle shop and a can beer line earlier in 1949. They added new machinery for their expanded production. The company was founded in 1900 or 1902 depending on which account you read. In 1953 the company changed its name to Heidelberg Brewing Company. The company was purchased by Carling Brewing Company in 1956 and was sold again in 1979 to G. Heileman Brewing Company.

Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Brewing industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Machinery;

The 87-foot exploratory vessel John R. Manning, constructed by the Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, was driven by a 6-cylinder, 11 1/2" x 15" Washington Iron Works diesel engine delivering 300hp at 325 rpm. Based in Honolulu, the ship made extensive explorations into the central Pacific.

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. (Tacoma);

The tuna clipper Hortensia-Bertin, built by Tacoma Boat Building Co., heads out from Commencement Bay February 8, 1950 bound for the tuna seas. The vessel, owned by Capt. O. E. Bertin and designed by Arthur DeFever of San Pedro, was outstanding in the field of communications both internal and ship to shore. The ship was built of wood and was 103' in length and 25' 10" in beam with a hull identical to the Coronado, built by Peterson Boat Building Co., Tacoma. TPL-9027

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Fishing boats--Tacoma--1950-1960; Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The Hortensia-Bertin sits in the ways building at Tacoma Boat Building ready for launching into Commencement Bay. The large tuna clipper was designed by Arthur DeFever of San Pedro, and measured 103' x 24'10". O.E. Bertin would be her captain. She would have outstanding communication capabilities with radiophone and code instruments, a Northern Radio sending set and a National receiver. She was capable of carrying a crew of 20 and 185 tons of fish at 10 knots. Her home port was to be Tegucigalpa, Honduras. (TNT, 1/5/1950, p.21; Pacific Fisherman, April 1950, p.26; Pacific Fisherman, October 1950, p.12) TPL-9024

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Launching of the John N. Cobb at Western Boat. L-R, Mrs. Emmett Egan and Mrs. Margaret E. Johnson, wife of Captain Sheldon W. Johnson, stand ready to christen the John N. Cobb, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service exploratory vessel. She was named after John N. Cobb, the first Dean of the School of Fisheries of the University of Washington, who had also served with the United States Bureau of Fisheries. Ordered for the Seattle Times by Mr. R.H. Calkins. (Marine Digest, 2/4/1950)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Egan, Emmett--Family; Johnson, Margaret E.;

A man inspects a large stack of Hemlock boards in the yard at the St. Paul Lumber Company. The boards are ready for dry kilns where they would remain 2 to 4 days. Each tier of lumber is stripped to separate the pieces, which allows heat and steam to circulate freely when the load is in the kiln. After drying, the load is ready to be unstacked and sent to the planers. (Tree Life Hemlock, St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co.)

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

A large stack of lumber in the yard at the St. Paul Lumber Company. The lumber is separated at even intervals to insure even drying.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

Progress photograph, new building at Stauffer Chemical Company. Stauffer Chemical Company was just getting into production on the tideflats, manufacturing superphosphate fertilizer. The new plant would serve a market area of 200 miles with approximately 30,000 tons of its product a year. The Barthel Chemical Construction Company had installed lined acid tanks for Stauffer Chemical at this time. The plant was built on a 40 acre tract on the tideflats at the location of the old Rainier Steel facility. (TNT, 2/14/1950, p.A-7; 9/13/1949, clipping)

Stauffer Chemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs; Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Barthel Chemical Construction Co. (Tacoma);

The exterior of the Griffin Wheel Company plant, 5202 So. Proctor St. The company manufactured wheels for freight cars. Hundreds of these wheels are lined up to the right of the photo.

Industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Griffin Wheel Co. (Tacoma); Wheels;