Titus Motor Company delivers a new 1940 Ford truck to the G. Andersen Fuel Co. at their offices at 1549 Dock St. The 95 horsepower truck will bring the company's service fleet to 8 vehicles. Andersen has been in the fuel business for 20 years. Proudly posed with their new truck are O. Andersen, secretary and treasurer (left), and G. Andersen, president. (T. Times 12/13/1939, pg. 8) (filed with Argentum)
G. Andersen Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Ford trucks; Andersen, O.; Andersen, G.; Fuel trade--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fuel--Tacoma--1930-1940;
New Fuel Oil Service Corp. truck in street in front of residence. The driver casually poses with his elbow outside the Mack truck's window. The bright red vehicle would have been visible for quite a distance away. ALBUM 15.
Fuel Oil Service (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fuel trade--Tacoma--1930-1940;
Four men in front of three McKenzie Fuel Company trucks parked in front of two wooden industrial buildings. Photograph ordered by Titus Motor Co. The 1940 City Directory lists the McKenzie Fuel Co. address as Taylor Way at Dolge Mill. The company offered slab and mill wood, hogged fuel, sawdust and stove and diesel oil. (filed with Argentum)
Two trucks hauling two caterpillar tractors at Northwest Hauling Co., 2318 South Tacoma Way. Photos ordered by Holte Trucks. In the 1956 City Directory, they described their services as "expressing and moving." In 1957, they described their services as "Rigging and hoisting, heavy hauling, house moving and crane service."
Two City Fuel Company GMC delivery trucks are parked outside the Coffee House Roasters, Inc. at 3700 Center Street in October of 1955. They were probably not stopping for a cup of coffee. City Fuel was at 3702 Center and the two businesses shared the building. Owned by Douglas O. Howe, City Fuel had been in the business of delivering fuel oil to customers for thirty years. Their slogan "When it's cool call City Fuel" was painted on their trucks. City Fuel had moved into their Robert Billsbrough Price-designed new building at 3702 Center St. in August of 1953. They advertised a complete one-package heating program including automatic metered fill-up service, Winkler heating equipment and Mobilheat stove and furnace oils. Coffee House Roasters, Inc. opened in 1955 and was in business in Tacoma for over 20 years. Photograph ordered by City Fuel and used in the News Tribune's 10-31-55 issue with slight modification. (TNT 10-31-55, p. 2-ad)
City Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Fuel trade--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices); Coffee House Roasters, Inc. (Tacoma);
According to Richards Studio notes: "Tacoma Bread Co. truck which was involved on Mountain Highway accident." Photograph ordered by Charles A. Peterson, lawyer. Delivery truck with Manthou's Kream Krust Bread logo parked in front of three bay garage. Tacoma Bread Co.'s main product appeared to be their Kream Krust Bread. The bakery was located at 2836-38 So. I St. It was owned and operated by the Manthou family. (filed with Argentum)
Crew of the freighter Wildwood stand on dock by bow of ship in Tacoma in this photograph dated April 18, 1940. Walter Arntz, Captain, shown in left top inset. The vessel had returned to Tacoma from mid Pacific to unload her hot cargo of copper, brass and machinery.
Truck built by Highway Truck Equipment for AA Star Transfer Co. photographed on May 29, 1940 in front of the Washington State Vehicle Safety Inspection Station, 3415 So. 38th St. Highway Truck Co. was located at 3224 South Tacoma Way and specialized in manufacturing hoists and bodies for dump trucks, trailers of all types, truck alterations and brake installations. (filed with Argentum)
Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Highway Truck Co. (Tacoma); Vehicle Safety Inspection Station (Tacoma);
Boats at Northern Pacific dock, Tacoma, Washington Territory, circa 1885. The owners of the warehouse in the center of photograph were not identified. The large building to the far left is the Blackwell Hotel, considered New Tacoma's first hotel. Built by the Northern Pacific Railroad, it opened on January 1, 1874 and closed in 1884. It was razed during the summer of 1901. KING-002, TPL-1095
By the end of 1920 the Matthaei Bread Company located at 703 South Sprague Avenue had five White trucks and five "Dodge Brothers motor cars" in its fleet of delivery vehicles. The Matthaei Bread Company opened their bakery on South Sprague in April of 1913. Their building was known as "the plant of 150 windows". The Continental Baking Company moved into the building in 1930, and for over 70 years it was the home of Wonder Bread in Tacoma. BU-12471,
Matthaei Bread Co. (Tacoma); White trucks; Dodge automobile; Bakeries--Tacoma;
ca. 1920. Enclosed Ford delivery van, belonging to the Washington Hand Laundry, parked in front of the Valhalla Temple at 1216 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. J.P. Bernard, owner of the laundry, bought one of the first enclosed Ford delivery vans in the city. He was very loyal to the Ford brand; in 1913, he bought one of the first Ford delivery trucks in the city. It was still supplying his company with continuous service. Mr. Bernard was a well known member of the "K" Street Boosters, a group of local merchants located on "K," now Martin Luther King Jr. Way. (TDL 5/2/1920, pg. C-10) BU-13811 G35.1-157 TPL-10093
Washington Hand Laundry (Tacoma); Valhalla Temple (Tacoma); Ford trucks;
On April 1, 1933, the flagship of the Imperial Japanese fleet and another Japanese naval training ship arrived in Tacoma for a three day visit. The flagship Yakumo and the Iwate were moored at the Port of Tacoma Piers. The ships were open for tours on Saturday and Sunday drawing large crowds. Over 1500 officers and men were on the two ships and were released for leave in Tacoma. Just eight years later, with the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7,1941, Japan and the United States were at war. TPL-9080. Boland A11023. (TNT 4/1/1933, pg. 1; 4/3/1933, pg. 1)
ca. 1916. Around 1916, the exhibition prison ship "Success," from Melbourne, Australia, was docked at the Tacoma Municipal Dock Landing and open for tours. Between 1895 and 1942, the ship was seen by millions on three continents. She was also considered a bit of a hoax, since she was exhibited as a convict ship, when in fact she had been used not to transport convicts but as a floating prison. Built in 1840, she was sold to a London company in 1842 and was used to carry emigrants from England to Australia. After being abandoned by her crew in 1852 during the Australian gold rush, she was purchased by the Victorian government to serve as a floating prison. Ordered to be destroyed in 1885, the "Success" escaped this fate, and was purchased by Alexander Phillips who saw her potential as a money making floating museum. She toured Australia, the British Isles (1895-1912) and the U.S. (1912-1943.) After 106 years, she burned to the waterline on Lake Erie on July 4, 1946. (http://home.gci.net; www.nla.gov.au) Ships-071, TPL-1787
In September of 1928 the Tacoma News Tribune in partnership with the Colonial and Rialto Theaters sponsored a promotional contest in conjunction with the release of Bebe Daniels newest movie, "Hot News." Nine pretty young Tacoma misses posed with a new Durant-Star coupe, one of the contest prizes, in front of the Central Motors building at 605 Saint Helens Avenue. Prizes in the contest totaled $2,600, a tidy sum in 1928. The girl standing in the rumble-seat of the new car (third from the left) has her hand on the crank of a newsreel movie camera. As a side note, a new 2-door Durant Star could be purchased in 1928 from Central Motors, a Star and La Salle dealership, for $628 with delivery in Tacoma.
ca. 1915. Firestone tire service truck at Tacoma Speedway circa 1915. The location was the Tacoma Speedway, about seven miles from Tacoma. The occasion was probably the three auto races which composed a great part of the summer Montamara Festo. The Firestone service vehicle was there in all likelihood to supply replacement tires to the cars which raced 100, 200, and 250 miles respectively. A new "lattice" track was in use. It had replaced the old dirt track in 1914 but racers still had to deal with unexpected difficulties such as splinters. Two million feet of lumber, board measure, consisting of Washington fir, were used for the new track. Speedway construction was a relatively new process at that time. (speedway construction information: Standard Oil Bulletin, Vol. 3, ca. 1915)
In 1931, the Foss Launch & Tug Company operated the largest fleet of tugs on the Puget Sound out of their waterfront office building at 400 Dock Street. This photograph from July of 1931 shows twelve Foss tugs (and a small service boat) lined up by size next to the company's office building. The largest tug, at the far left, is the Andrew Foss, 97 feet long, built in 1905. The smallest tug, at the far right next to the service boat, is the Peggy Foss, 32 feet long, built in 1912. On Monday November 23, 1931 a fire destroyed the Foss company offices. They rebuilt at the same site, but in 1943 they moved to the Middle Waterway. TPL-7092
Crew from Japanese cruiser, probably either the Idzumo (sp) or the Iwate, meet with a delegation from the local Japanese community on the deck of their ship in Tacoma. Photograph taken on September 6, 1932. TPL-7101
Cruisers (Warships)--Japan--1930-1940; Japanese Americans--Tacoma; Japanese--Tacoma;
Japanese cruiser, probably either the Idzumo (sp) or the Iwate, at dock in Tacoma. Crowds gather to board the ship. Photograph was taken on September 6, 1932. TPL-7102
Parked on a gravel roadway on May 6, 1924, is a Dodge sedan with two women and an infant inside. The industrial Tideflats are in the background. Photograph ordered by Griffith Motor Co., Dodge dealership. G11.1-023
Elmer J. Bergstrom is pictured standing next to his brand new special four-passenger Dodge coupe on May 13, 1924. The vehicle is parked on rough gravel on a site overlooking the Tacoma industrial Tideflats. Mr. Bergstrom, who resided at 424 South 38th St., had his new coupe delivered to him by Griffith Motor Co. It was his second Dodge Bros. car and much more luxurious than his first, a 1920 model. G11.1-062 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-8-24, 4-G)
The passenger vessel "Chickawana" is dockside while passengers wait to depart on May 24, 1924. She was used to transport people from Dash Point to Tacoma and back again while mustering a speed of 10.5 mph. 75 passengers could fit on board and enjoy the fresh air and marine views. The passengers on this date consisted of the nine salesmen of the Younglove Grocery Co. (standing in left foreground on float) and store and factory employees of the firm. The salesmen were being honored with a cruise to Delano Beach where a chicken picnic lunch, games, buffet dinner and dancing in the lodge took place. The wholesale store and factory were closed all day so that all employees could attend this special event. The "Chickawana" traveled home in moonlight to cap a fun-filled day. G50.1-070 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 5-25-24, 8-E)
In June of 1924, this Puget Sound Electric Railway bus, that traveled between Tacoma and Olympia, provided every comfort that a discriminating rider could demand. Quality features in the new bus included a hot water heating system that provided odorless heat (and eliminated the chance of burned shoes and clothing), extra lighting, ventilation, safety signals for the driver, and high back seats that could be tilted for extra comfort. The body, mounted on a White 50 chassis, was built by the Modern Auto Body Works at 2357 Fawcett Avenue in Tacoma. The bus, with its sleek lines and multiple passenger doors, sported a distinctive gray and green exterior with a crimson stripe. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-15-24, 12-G) G66.1-021
Buses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Puget Sound Electric Railway (Tacoma);
The vessel "Lewis Luckenbach" of the Luckenbach Line was berthed at the Port of Tacoma on June 20, 1924, to take on a shipment of lumber. Cargo is being hoisted from a Foss barge while other barges loaded with lumber wait their turn. The big carrier would be in town for eight days while its eight hatches were filled with a little more than seven million feet of lumber. The "Lewis Luckenbach" was the largest vessel of the entire Luckenbach Line. G49.1-097 (TNT 6-18-24, p. 16-article; TNT 6-19-24, p. 5-alternate photograph)
Cargo ships--1920-1930; Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Port of Tacoma (Tacoma);
The "Commercial Guide" is in port on June 20, 1924, awaiting a shipment of lumber to be hoisted aboard by crane. To the rear is the "Lewis Luckenbach " from the Luckenbach Line. Both cargo ships were docked at the Port of Tacoma. The "Commercial Guide" left Tacoma on June 22, 1924, under the command of Captain Jack Wright. She was part of the Moore & McCormick's regular intercoastal service. G49.1-105 (TNT 6-23-24, p. 15-small article on the "Commercial Guide")
Cargo ships--1920-1930; Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Port of Tacoma (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery;
Piles of lumber wait to be loaded onto the ship "West Nimrod" on June 24, 1924, at Tidewater Mill. The vast size of the "West Nimrod" can be compared to the much smaller tugboat nearby. A barge filled with cargo is directly next to the ship. The "West Nimrod," of the Admiral-Oriental line, arrived in Tacoma late Sunday, June 22nd. She was to stow lumber for Hong Kong and other Asian ports. G49.1-099 (TDL 6-23-24, p. 10-article)
This ship may be the "Lewis Luckenbach" from the Luckenbach Line which had previously been taking on lumber at the Port of Tacoma dock on June 24, 1924. It has now have moved onto the St. Paul & Tacoma dock for more shipments. The "Lewis Luckenbach," largest vessel of the entire Luckenbach Line, had already loaded 5,780,000 feet of lumber at the Port piers. Another 1,300,000 feet would be taken on board at the St. Paul & Tacoma dock. The lumber would be carried to the Atlantic coast by Captain Read, master of the ship for the last 15 years. G49.1-095 (TNT 6-18-24, p. 16-article; TNT 6-19-24, p. 5-alternate photograph)
Elevated view on June 30, 1924, of a cargo ship from the Luckenbach Line and others berthed at the St. Paul & Tacoma dock. The vessels were taking on shipments of lumber and other cargo. G50.1-001
The "Lewis Luckenbach" of the Luckenbach Line is in the process of loading lumber at the Port of Tacoma dock when this photograph was taken on a cloudy July 2, 1924. Several hundred board feet have already been transported onto the ship. G49.1-050
