Griffin Fuel Company. Man standing next to fuel truck. For Harmon Miller. In February of 1939, Griffin Fuel Co. celebrated its 50th anniversary. The company was founded in 1889 by Fred L. Griffin. Griffin started his business with one horse, one wagon and fuel logs, which he cut himself. (filed with Argentum)

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fuel--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fuel trade--Tacoma--1930-1940;

On February 27, 1947 at 10:05a.m., a southbound Northern Pacific train plowed into a Medosweet milk delivery truck on a private road crossing three and one half miles south of the Tacoma city limits. The crumpled truck lies a distance from the tracks and delivery cartons are scattered about the area. The truck was carried over 150 feet down the tracks. One Medosweet employee, supervisor Alex McBeath Jr., was killed and another seriously injured. (T Times 2/28/1947, pg. 3 - picture, 2/27/1947, pg. 1- story)

Wrecks; Traffic accidents--Tacoma--1930-1941; Medosweet Dairies, Inc. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Close up of crumpled and twisted Medosweet Dairy truck after impact with a train on February 27, 1947. A police car, 1946 Ford model, can be seen in the background. The accident occurred at 10:05 in the morning on a private crossing opposite the entrance to Chicago Ave. in the Lakeview district south of the Tacoma city limits. This photograph was taken minutes after the accident. Medosweet route supervisor Alex McBeath Jr, 32, was killed while riding in the passenger seat. Driver William J. Velacich was seriously injured. (T.Times 2/27/1947, pg. 1; 2/28/47, pg 3-picture)

Wrecks; Traffic accidents--Tacoma--1930-1941; Medosweet Dairies, Inc. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940;

On February 27, 1947, photographs were taken of this wrecked and twisted Medosweet Dairy truck moments after it was hit by a four car southbound train at 10:05 am. The accident took place at a private road crossing 3.5 miles south of the city limits. The truck was carried over 150 feet down the tracks, leaving milk, crunched cartons and broken bottles in its wake. Route supervisor Alex McBeath Jr. was killed in the accident and driver William J. Velacich was seriously injured. (T. Times 2/28/1947, pg. 3- picture, 2/27/47, pg.1)

Wrecks; Traffic accidents--Tacoma--1930-1941; Medosweet Dairies, Inc. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Chlorine tanks are securely fastened on a barge which was dockside on April 23, 1954. There are three separate sets of rails on board to accomodate the tanks. The freighter, Mogul, out of Vancouver, British Columbia, is by the barge's side. The bridge shown in the distance between the two vessels possibly spans the Hylebos Waterway. Photograph ordered by the Griffith Steamship Ltd.

Cargo ships--Tacoma; Storage tanks--Tacoma;

Three tanks full of chlorine are are tightly wedged into place on board a barge in April, 1954. The vessel, Mogul, is docked nearby. By 1954, Tacoma was home to many large chemical producing companies, including Hooker Electrochemical and Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company of Washington. Chlorine and also caustic soda were made and then shipped, by boat and rail, to pulp and paper mills. Photograph ordered by Griffith Steamship Ltd.

Cargo ships--Tacoma; Storage tanks--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Various delivery trucks and a motorcycle delivery vehicle parked outside the Seymour Conservatory in Wright Park. Publicity for Titus Motor Company. (filed with Argentum)

Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Seymour Conservatory (Tacoma); Wright Park (Tacoma); Greenhouses--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parks--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Continental Bakery employees in Western clothes and wearing Jubilee hats posed in front of bakery and two Wonder Bread trucks with sign "Picnic Days Are Here Again." A large sign on top of the roof proudly proclaims Continental as the "Home of Wonder Bread."

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Continental Baking Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940;

A small vehicle, resembling a jeep, is parked inside the Mt. Rainier Ordnance Depot on November 2, 1954. This possibly could be a paint spray booth located within a warehouse on Fort Lewis. Hoses are attached to the sides of the booth which has doors that close. Photograph ordered by Sprayking, Inc., Los Angeles.

Sprayking, Inc. (Los Angeles, Calif.); Military vehicles--Fort Lewis;

Jennings Hardware truck in front of the store, located at 1148 Pacific Ave., with two men standing beside it. Safeway Store on right. Jennings Hardware was having a well publicized "Remodeling Sale." (filed with Argentum)

Jennings Hardware (Tacoma); Ford trucks--1930-1940; Hardware stores--Tacoma--1930-1940;

An enormous steel tank rests on its side as it is hauled by a Sunnen heavy hauling truck to St. Regis on December 14, 1954. Star Iron & Steel Co., Inc., steel fabricators, manufactured the tank. Star Iron had been located at 435 E. 11th in the Tideflats since 1918; it was owned by Roy N. Allen, president with Edward N. Allen as vice president and E. Leo Curry as secretary. Besides tanks, the company also manufactured heavy cranes and logging machinery.

Storage tanks--Tacoma; Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Sunnen Auto Freight & Heavy Hauling Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Per Richards Studio notes: "New Sterling truck sold to Mr. Frank Douglas to use as Tacoma-Rainier Auto Freight truck." Frank Douglas was the owner of the Tacoma-Rainier Auto Freight Co. at 523 Puyallup Ave. Sterling trucks are still made today; they are specialized work trucks. (filed with Argentum)

Sterling trucks; Tacoma-Rainier Auto Freight Co. (Tacoma);

Polaris Steamship Co.- view of ship "Franklin Berwin" with New York registry. The large ship flies the American flag. It is docked at the grain elevators for loading. The large metal tubes extending from the ship to an area above may be used to fill this ship's hold with grain.

Ships; Shipping--Tacoma; Cargo ships--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Polaris Steamship Co.- view of ship "Franklin Berwin" with New York registry. The large freighter is tied up at the dock near the grain elevators. The long tubes extending down from the elevator area into the ship may be used for loading the ship's hold with grain.

Ships; Shipping--Tacoma; Cargo ships--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Polaris Steamship Co.- view of ship "Franklin Berwin" with New York registry. Ship is docked at the grain elevators for loading. Long tubes extend from the raised platform on the dock into the ship. These tubes were possibly used to load the ship's cargo holds with grain.

Ships; Shipping--Tacoma; Cargo ships--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Service Hardware & Implement Co.; well drilling equipment and trucks. Merlin W. and LeRoy Gunarson were the owners. Puyallup Ave. bridge over Puyallup River in the background. Railroad cars behind building. Northwest Mechanical Contractors Inc., 1431 Puyallup Ave., and sewage treatment plant, 1241 Cleveland Way, beyond the bridge.

Service Hardware & Implement Co. (Tacoma); Wells--Tacoma; Trucks--1950-1960;

Service Hardware & Implement Co.; well drilling equipment and trucks. Merlin W. and LeRoy Gunarson were the owners. Puyallup Ave. bridge over Puyallup River in the background. Railroad cars behind building. Sewage treatment plant, 1241 Cleveland Way, beyond the bridge.

Service Hardware & Implement Co. (Tacoma); Wells--Tacoma; Trucks--1950-1960;

Two Highway Truck Equipment Company dump trucks, with beds raised, built as new garbage trucks for City. (filed with Argentum)

Highway Truck Co. (Tacoma); Dump trucks;

Ahren's Transport Company semi truck with wooden sided, open top trailer. (filed with Argentum)

Ahren's Transport Co. (Tacoma); Trucks;

Ahren's Transport Company flatbed truck with wooden sided, open top bed. Three other vehicles in background. (filed with Argentum)

Ahren's Transport Co. (Tacoma); Trucks;

1939 Studebaker Champion automobile being raffled by Ray C. Roberts V.F.W. Post on back of a flatbed truck. Truck has logo of man riding a bronco on the door. The automobile was raffled off at a VFW benefit ball. For a picture of the car with its winner, Clara Thorsen, see D8931 images 1& 3. (filed with Argentum)

Studebaker automobile; Veterans of Foreign Wars, Ray C. Roberts Post # 969 (Tacoma);

1939 Studebaker Champion automobile being raffled by Ray C. Roberts V.F.W. Post on back of a flatbed truck. Truck has logo of man riding a bronco on the door. The automobile was raffled off at a VFW benefit ball. For a picture of the car with its winner, Clara Thorsen, see D8931 images 1& 3. (filed with Argentum)

Studebaker automobile; Veterans of Foreign Wars, Ray C. Roberts Post # 969 (Tacoma); Fund raising--Tacoma--1930-1940; Signs (Notices)

Joe Thomas, head of the state safety inspection station on South 38th Street, greets former race car driver Harry Hartz, at the wheel of his famous Chevrolet demonstration truck, in October of 1939. The truck has travelled over 73,000 miles, crisscrossing the country, including a trek up Pikes Peak to the 14,110-foot level, without adjustments or trouble of any kind. The truck's travels are under the watchful eye of the American Automobile Association (AAA) who certifies the truck's performance. Thomas, a former race car driver himself, taught Hartz racing in 1919. Hartz won the Indianapolis Speedway Classic twice before being seriously injured in a crash. Guy Sheehan, manager of the South Tacoma Motor Co., a Chevrolet dealer, had also come out to see the long running truck. He is believed to be the man on the left. (T. Times 11/1/1939, pg. 13) (filed with Argentum)

Vehicle Safety Inspection Station (Tacoma); Chevrolet trucks; Thomas, Joe; Hartz, Harry;

Chevrolet Safety Truck going through test at State Vehicle Safety Inspection Station. Joe Thomas, right, head of the safety inspection station, documents the truck's approval rating for former race car driver Harry Hartz, left. The Chevrolet demonstration truck has travelled over 73,000 miles, criss crossing America. Thomas, a former automobile racer himself, introduced Hartz to the world of racing in 1919. Hartz twice won the Indianapolis Speedway Classic before being seriously injured in a crash. (T. Times 11/1 1939, pg. 13) (filed with Argentum)

Vehicle Safety Inspection Station (Tacoma); Chevrolet trucks; Thomas, Joe; Hartz, Harry;

Standard Burner oil truck in front of two homes and old street light - Fuel Oil Service Corp. truck. Fuel Oil Service Corp. specialized in fuel oils and was completely Tacoma owned and operated. It was founded by Mark Dolliver and Roger Stewart. (filed with Argentum)

Fuel Oil Service (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fuel trade--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1925. A woman poses in a new 1925 automobile.

Automobiles--1920-1930;

Two Ford trucks at Coast Sash and Door Company. Three men by Hunter Fuel truck with wooden sides on bed. One man by second truck with truck dolly and other equipment. Hunter Fuel was owned by Merritt J. Hunter and was located at 6202 McKinley Ave. (filed with Argentum)

Ford trucks; Coast Sash & Door Co. (Tacoma); Hunter Fuel (Tacoma);

Exterior of bulk feed truck, labelled Larro Feeds, at General Mills, on Schuster Parkway near 6th. The truck was manufactured by White trucks. General Mills, Sperry Division, grain elevators can be seen in the background. The White truck will be loaded with grain that will then be delivered to area farmers for feeding their livestock.

General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); White trucks--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grain elevators--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grain industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior of bulk feed truck, labelled Larro Feeds, at General Mills, on Schuster Parkway near 6th. The truck is a White truck 3000. General Mills, Sperry Division, grain elevators can be seen in the background. The White truck will be loaded with grain that will then be delivered to area farmers for feeding their livestock.

General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); White trucks--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grain elevators--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grain industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior of bulk feed truck, labelled Larro Feeds, at General Mills, on Schuster Parkway near 6th. The truck is a White Truck 3000. The long protruding arm is possibly used for loading and/or discharging the grain. It appears to extended with the use of the cable in the man's hands. General Mills grain elevators can be seen in the background. TPL-4480

General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); White trucks--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grain elevators--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grain industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;