ca. 1971. Crane operations - customer negatives. Planks placed on a tilted board may have come from the boxcar nearby. Photographs requested by Star Iron & Steel Co., major crane manufacturer. Crane units visible were under construction by Star Iron & Steel; cranes, hoists and special machinery made up 70% of the company's annual volume. The company also specialized in fabricated steel and aluminum. See D159837, image 13, for progress photograph of crane. (TNT 12-13-70, C-21 - article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Preparations are being made to transport a floating concrete bulkhead from Star Iron & Steel Co.'s plant at 326 Alexander Ave. in early February of 1971. The 25-foot high bulkhead appears to be placed on beams equipped with wheels. It would be hauled to the Port of Tacoma and then towed by tug to the Snake River for use on the Little Goose Lock & Dam. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co. (TNT 2-6-71, p. 21 - article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Retaining walls--Tacoma;

Workers are preparing to move a floating bulkhead in early February of 1971 from its construction site at 326 Alexander Ave. to the Port of Tacoma waterfront. It appears that rubber segments are being laid to help with traction. The bulkhead was manufactured by Star Iron & Steel Co. for the U.S. Corps of Engineers. It would be towed by tugboat down the coast and up the Columbia River to a dam on the Snake River. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co. (TNT 2-6-71, p. 21- article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Retaining walls--Tacoma;

The bulkhead has completed its move from Star Iron & Steel's Alexander Ave. location to the Port of Tacoma's waterfront. This February 4, 1971, photograph shows the floating bulkhead in place. Four days later, Star Marine Industries, a subsidiary of Star Iron & Steel, would begin moving the 114-ton, $165,000 bulkhead to the Little Goose Lock & Dam on the Snake River. There the concrete bulkhead with watertight compartments would be used in maintenance and repair work. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel. (TNT 2-6-71, p. 21 - article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Retaining walls--Tacoma;

Closer view of floating bulkhead on February 4, 1971. Previous photographs of the bulkhead and its move from Star Iron & Steel's tideflats location to waterfront are in D159838, images 6, 12, 14, and 17. Workers are shown monitoring water spurting from the bulkhead. The bulkhead, 25-feet tall, was ordered by the U.S. Corps of Engineers for usage on the Snake River near the Tri-Cities. Star Marine Industries, a subsidiary of Star Iron & Steel, would begin transporting the 114-ton bulkhead on February 8, 1971 by tugboat from the Port of Tacoma. The $165,000 bulkhead was designed and built by Star Iron & Steel. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co. (TNT 2-6-71, p. 21- article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Retaining walls--Tacoma;

A worker makes one final check before the heavy-duty Northwest Hauling Co. truck departs from Star Iron & Steel's tideflats location on February 3, 1971, with a floating bulkhead in tow. After a stop at the Port of Tacoma, the bulkhead would be towed by tug to its final destination at the Little Goose Lock & Dam on the Snake River. Although Star Iron & Steel was perhaps best known for its manufacture of cranes and hoists, it also accepted other contracts; this $165,000 contract was from the U.S. Corps of Engineers. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co. (TNT 2-6-71, p. 21- article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Retaining walls--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Star Iron & Steel Co. operations. An unidentified Star Iron & Steel worker alertly keeps his eyes on the machine before him in this March, 1971, photograph. Star Iron & Steel had a backlog of unfilled contracts totaling $14,500,000, most scheduled for completion in 1971. The plant would have been bustling as there had been a 500% increase in sales over the last five years. Employment had tripled at the plant to handle the multitude of orders. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co. (TNT 12-13-70, C-21- article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Machinery;

Star Iron & Steel operations. A Star Iron & Steel employee in overalls and gloves is shown operating an unidentified machine at the company plant in March of 1971. Star Iron & Steel was a longtime Tacoma firm with origins in the 1920s. Cranes, hoists and special machinery made up 70% of Star Iron & Steel's annual volume. The company also specialized in fabricated steel and aluminum. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel. (TNT 12-13-70, C-21 - article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Machinery;

Gate hoist. The above gate hoist was built for use on the Bonneville Dam, Columbia River, by Star Iron & Steel Co. of Tacoma. Hoist is shown on September 16, 1971, prior to shipment. Star Iron & Steel had contracts of about $14 million for 1971. The firm would be sold late in September to Breeze Corporations, Inc. of New Jersey. Star Iron & Steel would be a wholly owned subsidiary of Breeze and continue to operate under present management. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel. (TNT 9-22-71, D-14 - article on sale to Breeze)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Hoisting machinery;

Gate hoist. Gate hoist on display at Star Iron & Steel, 326 Alexander Ave., on September 16, 1971. The hoist would be headed out to the Columbia River for use on the Bonneville Dam. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Hoisting machinery;

This Hardhat Saved A Life Studio set up of hard hat tilted against a 20.1 lb. piece of steel. An arrow points to the damage incurred on the hard hat, presumably by the 20.1 lb. of steel which impacted it. It looks like Star Iron & Steel Co. employee Ed Sweet's life was saved by the use of safety equipment - in this case, a hard hat - which withstood the weight and force of the steel. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Safety equipment;

This large hoist drum was being manufactured by Star Iron & Steel Co. for the royal government of Afghanistan in October of 1972. The local firm had built hoisting machinery, cranes and special machinery for decades. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Henry M. Botnen of Star Iron & Steel Company examines a large hoist drum being manufactured for the royal government of Afghanistan in October of 1972. The drum has been placed in a lath and is undergoing truing. Star Iron & Steel, located at 326 Alexander Avenue on Tacoma's tideflats, was a decades-old company whose work involved steel fabrication and heavy crane manufacture. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co. (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Botnen, Henry;

Daily operations at Atlas Foundry. An unidentified employee at Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. is seated at a workbench apparently testing a Cycon circuit board. This may have been in the foundry's tech center. Photograph ordered by Atlas Foundry & Machine Co.

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Product inspections--Tacoma--1970-1980; Testing--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1976 Daily operations at foundry. An unidentified female technician at Atlas Foundry & Machine Co., 3012 Wilkeson St., conducts quality control tests using a Tinius Olsen machine in the company's tech center. The Tinius Olsen machine would be measuring the foundry products' strength and performance. Atlas Foundry has been a presence in Tacoma since 1899 when it began manufacturing iron castings for the local logging industry. It then branched out to steel castings and further steel production. The foundry's name was changed in 2002 to Atlas Castings & Technology. Photograph ordered by Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (www.atlascastings.com)

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Product inspections--Tacoma--1970-1980; Testing--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Atlas Foundry. A Bicentennial flag flaps in the wind in the Atlas Foundry's visitor parking area in the spring of 1976. Parked beside a plant building is a bright orange truck filled with a variety of steel castings manufactured by Atlas. In 2002 Atlas Foundry became Atlas Castings & Technology, further expanding the size and materials offered and increasing their presence in many primary markets. Color photograph ordered by Atlas Foundry & Machine Co.

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Trucks--Tacoma--1970-1980; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1970-1980; Flags--United States;

ca. 1978. Elevated view of the American Smelting & Refining Co. (ASARCO) in early 1978. Photograph ordered by the National Blower & Sheet Metal Co. of Tacoma who had probably built and installed the pipes shown above. They were involved in industrial air pollution control, dust collecting and ventilating systems, metal fabrications for industrial requirements as well as building sheet metal work and electric and heli-arc welding.

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); National Blower & Sheet Metal Co. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1978. ASARCO plant. Exterior view in early 1978 of the American Smelting & Refining Company (ASARCO) with focus on large diameter fiberglas reinforced pipe manufactured by Chemical Pipe & Tank (owned by Barthel Co.) and the Barthel Co. and installed by the National Blower & Sheet Metal Co., fabricators of structural steel and miscellaneous iron. The lines may have been 33 inches on the smaller line and six feet diameter on the larger one. Photograph ordered by National Blower & Sheet Metal Co. (Additional information provided by a reader)

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); National Blower & Sheet Metal Co. (Tacoma); Chemical Pipe & Tank Co. (Tacoma); Barthel Chemical Construction Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1978. ASARCO plant. In the center of this early 1978 photograph of the American Smelting & Refining Co. plant located in Ruston is the Herreschoff Roaster baghouse that was brand new that year. It had been installed as part of ASARCO's modernization and served to curb industrial air pollution. The baghouse vented the roaster plant to the left. The arsenic plant is situated on the right. The gondola cars collected "calcine" from the arsenic roasters which was further processed. (Additional information provided by a reader) Photograph ordered by National Blower & Sheet Metal Co.

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1970-1980; National Blower & Sheet Metal Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1900. This is a copy of an early photograph of the Atlas Foundry & Machine Co., originally taken circa 1900. The copy was made in 1978. Atlas Foundry (since renamed Atlas Castings & Technology) was established in 1899 as a manufacturer of iron castings. Steel and brass were later added to its catalog of moldable metals. Its sprawling complex is still located between Center St. and South Tacoma Way.

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1900-1910;

Groundbreaking at Atlas Foundry. Ground was broken on February 23, 1978, at the Atlas Foundry site for expansion and modernization of the longtime Tacoma company. Several new buildings and renovation of equipment, totaling $5,000,000, were included in the five-year plan. The company employed approximately 400 people. Pictured above is company president Leo H. Long, Sr., who is flanked by Milo S. Gates, president of Swineston & Walberg Co. and Charles "Chuck" Fausel, executive vice-president of Lester B. Knight & Associates, Inc. All three are gripping a shiny shovel with a small plaque attached. Photograph ordered by Atlas Foundry. (TNT 2-24-78, C-12-article on expansion)

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Ground breaking ceremonies--Tacoma--1970-1980; Shovels; Long, Leo H.; Gates, Milo S.; Fausel, Charles;

Groundbreaking for Atlas Foundry's $5,000,000 expansion and modernization project occurred on February 23, 1978. Standing with his foot on a shovel is company president Leo H. Long, Sr. Among those attending the ceremony were Milo S. Gates and Chuck Fausel (flanking Mr. Long). Founded in 1899, the company is now known as Atlas Castings & Technology. Photograph ordered by Atlas Foundry. (TNT 2-24-78, C-12-article on expansion)

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Ground breaking ceremonies--Tacoma--1970-1980; Shovels;

Leo Olsen lost the use of his legs to infantile paralysis when he was 9 years old, but he was determined to be part of WWII. Although a tailor by trade, and a pianist, he found work at the Olin Coporation aluminum plant, on the tide flats, running one of the giant cranes that towered over the electric furnaces. This photograph of Mr. Olsen at the controls of his crane was taken in June of 1944 for the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce. (T. Times, 6/27/44, p. 2). Tacoma Chamber of Commerce Manpower publicity at Olin Corp.

Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Handicapped persons--Tacoma; Olin Industries, Inc. (Tacoma); Olsen, Leo;

Atlas Foundry & Machine Company. Cranes and lifts for Broderick & Bascomb wire rope. A crane picks up metal scrap using a large magnetized plate. Atlas Foundry worked on their shop layout to increase efficiency as they prepare for possibly unprecedented large volumes of business this year. The foundry manufactured steel, iron and brass castings. The company was established in 1899 on a ten acre site at 3012 South Wilkeson. They were capable of producing 80,000 pounds of steel per day. (T.Times, 8/28/1946, p.5)

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hoisting machinery;

Atlas Foundry, crane for Broderick & Bascomb, wire rope. Atlas Foundry and Machine Company supplied castings for firms building new machines which kept the company in touch with the general building up of all industries in the area after the war. (T.Times, 8/28/1946, p.5)

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Atlas Foundry, crane for Broderick & Bascomb, wire rope. A crane is being used to set a pole alongside a railroad track. Atlas Foundry and Machine Company was engaged at this time in work for plywood, pulp and paper, railroad and other industries. The company reports work was coming in from all over the west coast. This photograph was used in a newspaper article, Tacoma News Tribune, February 14, 1950, about the poles manufactured by Cascade Pole Company, located on Port of Tacoma Road, that were used for telephone and telegraph poles throughout the world. (T.Times, 8/28/1946, p.5)

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery; Railroad cars--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Shiploading aluminum ingots at Shaffer Terminal #3, Permanente Metals, Pat Love. An artistic shot of shiploading at Shaffer Terminals, Inc. The men are loading aluminum from Permanente Metals Corporation through the hatch of an Argentine government freighter, the Palamar. (T.Times, 8/28/1947, p.1)

Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shipping--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shaffer Terminals, Inc. (Tacoma); Loading docks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cargo ships--Argentina; Hoisting machinery;

Shiploading aluminum ingots at Shaffer Terminal #3, Permanente Metals, Pat Love. An artistic shot of shiploading at Shaffer Terminals, Inc. Aluminum from Permanente Metals Corporation is being loaded through the hatch of an Argentine government freighter, the Palamar. The aluminum was produced at Permanente Metals Corp.'s Spokane reduction plant. It was hauled across the state by rail and delivered to Shaffer Terminals. (T.Times, 8/28/1947, p.1)

Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shipping--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shaffer Terminals, Inc. (Tacoma); Loading docks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cargo ships--Argentina; Hoisting machinery;

Shiploading aluminum ingots at Shaffer Terminal #3, Permanente Metals, Pat Love. 4,000 metric tons (8,818,000 pounds) of aluminum, made into "pigs" by Permanente Metals Corporation in Spokane sits in one of the warehouses at Shaffer Terminals, ready to be loaded into an Argentine government freighter, the Palamar. This shipment represents the largest single shipment made by the Kaiser organization to date. As large as it is, this load will only fill one-half of the holds in the ship. (T.Times, 8/28/1947, p.1)

Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shipping--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shaffer Terminals, Inc. (Tacoma); Loading docks--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Shiploading aluminum ingots at Shaffer Terminal #3, Permanente Metals, Pat Love. "Pigs" of aluminum produced by Permanente Metals Corporation in Spokane are ready to be loaded into an Argentine government freighter, the Palamar, at Shaffer Terminals. (T.Times, 8/28/1947, p.1)

Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shipping--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shaffer Terminals, Inc. (Tacoma); Loading docks--Tacoma--1940-1950;