View of James Loveland's car parked on A Street and So. 13th, needing fender and hood repairs, possibly for a car accident. The automobile is parked on A Street near South 13th Street. Photo ordered by L. Ray Shute Company, insurance adjusters, the company was owned by L. Ray Shute, their offices were located on 950 Pacific Avenue in the Rust Building, office space number 1121-22.

Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Traffic accidents--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Parking--Tacoma; Insurance companies--Tacoma; L. Ray Shute Co. (Tacoma);

Company truck and trailer, Titus Manufacturing, Jim Cutler. Titus Motor Company had begun rebuilding Ford engines during World War II and when the engine rebuilding department became independent of the Ford dealership it became known as the Titus Manufacturing Company. The truck would have been used to haul parts to the engine rebuilding facility and move the rebuilt engines to automobile repair shops.

Ford trucks; Titus Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

Accident at South 15th Street and Tacoma Avenue, intersection. J.B. Evans, adjuster. A view of the intersection of South 15th Street and Tacoma Avenue South looking east along South 15th. The Tacoma tideflats can be seen in the distance. Pangis Grocery is on the corner at 1501 Tacoma Avenue South. A Jordan Baking Company Truck is stopped before the cross-walk. The photograph would have been taken for insurance purposes.

Traffic accidents--Tacoma--1940-1950; Insurance companies--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Crosswalks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pangis Grocery (Tacoma);

Truck at plant, Standard Oil, Mr. Wiegle. A side view of the Studebaker delivery truck for Chevron Gasoline. The hood is long and the windshield has a split-glass. Rear-view mirrors are added on both sides of the cab. She has her spare tire hung from the back portion of the side panels. Painted in two tones and she is parked outside a garage for delivery trucks.

Studebaker trucks; Petroleum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gasoline--Tacoma--1940-1950;

For several years in the late 1940s, David Johnston owned and operated the South Side Auto Laundry at 5648 1/2 South Tacoma Way. In this photograph from August of 1948, an unidentified employee steam-cleans the whitewall tires on what appears to be a 1941 Ford Sedan, while a young boy in the front seat leans out the window to watch.

Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cleaning establishments--Tacoma; Cleaning personnel; Car washes--Tacoma; Tires; Signs (Notices); Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; South Side Auto Laundry (Tacoma);

Washington Steel and Welding Company advertised steel ship building, tanks, ornamental work, acetylene welding, electric welding, portable welding and steel fabricating. The company had two plants, the main plant was located at 701 East D Street, their other plant was at 1601 Taylor Way. View of large "Oshkosh" truck with logging equipment at Washington Steel and Welding Company.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Oskosh trucks; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Steel industry--Tacoma; Metalworking--Tacoma; Welding--Tacoma; Washington Steel & Welding Co. (Tacoma);

View of large "Oshkosh" truck getting ready to transport newly fabricated steel logging equipment from Washington Steel and Welding Company, two unidentified men seem to be checking the machinery and the making sure it is securely loaded on truck.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Oskosh trucks; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Machinery; Steel industry--Tacoma; Welding--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma; Metalworking--Tacoma; Washington Steel & Welding Co. (Tacoma);

Alfred E. Hill, 22 years old, was killed instantly when his motorcycle hit the rear left fender of an on-coming car. Sergeant Andrew Prevuznak of Fort Lewis was turning onto Highway 99 from Sales Road, Hill's motorcycle collided with his automobile. View of blood stains on Highway 99 at Sales Road, scene of motorcycle and car accident; photo ordered by Farmers Insurance Company (T. Times, 6/17/48, p. 1).

Traffic accidents--Tacoma; Roads--Tacoma; Hill, Alfred E.--Death & burial; City & town life--Tacoma; Insurance companies--Tacoma; Farmers Insurance Group (Tacoma);

Alfred E. Hill of Olympia was thrown 42 feet from his motorcycle, when he collided into the rear end of a vehicle driven by Fort Lewis soldier, Andrew Prevuznak at the Highway 99 and Sales Road intersection in June of 1948. Hill was rushed to Pierce County Hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival; Prevuznak was not injured. View of motorcycle that was involved in the automobile accident; photo ordered by Farmers Insurance Company (T. Times, 6/17/48, p. 1).

Traffic accidents--Tacoma; Motorcycles--Tacoma; Hill, Alfred E.--Death & burial; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; City & town life--Tacoma; Insurance companies--Tacoma; Farmers Insurance Group (Tacoma);

View of Bechtel Corporation employees reviewing the building plans for the General Mills Sperry flour plant expansion. The Bechtel Company was based out of California, they brought up their trucks and staff and would be here until the Tacoma project was completed.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Construction workers--Tacoma; Construction industry--Tacoma; Engineering--Tacoma; Remodeling--Tacoma; General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); Bechtel Corp. (Tacoma);

Champ car. Leo Dobry was a racing enthusiast. He not only had the "City of Tacoma" built to exacting specifications by the Kurtis-Kraft plant, South Gate, California, but he also had a trailer with windows to tow the race car. In May, 1948, the race car is seen hitched to a Chevy pickup truck, ready for probable transport to the Indianapolis 500 over Memorial Day. The Champ car was much larger and more powerful than a midget. It ran the 500 twice, finishing sixth in 1948 and qualifying outside the front row in 1949 before mechanical problems forced it out of the race. (T.Times, 4/27/1948, p.1) TPL-5445

Dobry, Leo; City of Tacoma (Race car); Racing automobiles--1940-1950; Automobile racing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chevrolet trucks; Trailers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In May of 1948, Leo Dobry posed in his Champ car, the "City of Tacoma," parked in front of its windowed traveling trailer. Dobry, a racing enthusiast, had the maroon and cream car built at the Kurtis-Kraft plant in South Gate, California, to exacting specifications. After six months and an expenditure of approximately $20,000, the car was ready to run in the Indianapolis 500 race on Memorial Day. The racer was on display April 28, 1948, on the "island" at 9th and Broadway and April 30th at the midget auto races at Athletic Park, South 14th Street and Sprague Avenue. The Champ car was much larger and more powerful than a midget. It ran the 500 twice, finishing sixth in 1948 and qualifying outside the front row in 1949 before mechanical problems forced it out of the race. (T.Times, 4/27/1948, p.1; TNT, 4/27/1948, p.15) TPL-5446

Dobry, Leo; City of Tacoma (Race car); Racing automobiles--1940-1950; Automobile racing--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Jack Evans, adjuster, insurance, Highway 99 and Rainier Ord. intersection. Pontiac B-51385 and Plymouth B-5639. A view of the intersection where an automobile crash occurred used for insurance evaluation of claims. Telephone poles line the right hand side of the highway, a stop light hangs over the intersection and railroad tracks run parallel to the highway on the right.

Traffic accidents--Puyallup; Roads--Puyallup; Traffic signs & signals--Puyallup; Signal lights--Puyallup; Utility poles--Puyallup; Railroad tracks--Puyallup;

Truck, Titus Motor Co., Mr. Burkhalter. This Ford truck has been outfitted with a large crane shown here in an up position. Pulleys located just above and behind the cab could raise and lower the crane. Titus Motor Company was an authorized Ford automobile and truck distributor in Tacoma and Pierce County.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ford trucks; Hoisting machinery; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Excavating at South Tacoma Way and Chandler Street, Irwin Jones, Truck Division, Walt Dunlap. A line-up of eight Dodge dump trucks are ready to haul away extra fill from the construction site of the new Irwin Jones facility. A bulldozer stands behind the trucks and a crane is busy with its scoop, ready to fill another truck.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dodge trucks; Construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bulldozers; Steam shovels; Excavation--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Construction photo of Irwin-Jones Motor Company Dodge Truck dealership. A bulldozer is clearing the site of the future Irwin-Jones truck division. A sign announcing the construction, the rail rail line, Globe Ticket Company and other industrial buildings are shown with the north slope of Nalley Valley in background. TPL-9225

Dodge trucks; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Irwin-Jones Motor Co. (Tacoma); Excavation--Tacoma--1940-1950; Construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Nalley Valley (Tacoma);

Dickman Lumber Company officers were: Ralph L. Dickman, President, John R. Wiburg, Treasurer and Office Manager, Elizabeth I. Gaylord, Secretary, the company's facilities were located along Tacoma's waterfront at 2423 Ruston Way. Dickman Lumber Company was a lumber sawmill, exterior view of four Ford trucks at Dickman Lumber, part of their truck fleet, photo ordered by Titus Motor Company, Ford truck dealership.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mills--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Ford trucks; Dickman Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma);

Antonsen Painting Company had remodeled their workshop in 1946 and had added an automobile sand blasting department. Antonsen was one of the few painting companies that had sand blasting available on site. They had contracts with many of the automobile painting companies to do the sand blasting for them prior to the painting. Exterior view of Antonsen taken on November 8, 1947 with trucks parked along the front of the building.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Paint industry--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Painting--Tacoma; Antonsen Painting Co. (Tacoma);

Titus Ford were the only official Ford engine rebuilders in Tacoma. They had rebuilt more than 20,000 Ford engines, using only Ford authorized parts. Titus rebuilding department had grown significantly since 1946, they had over 65 qualified mechanics employed full time. Interior view of Titus service department, mechanics have an assembly line set up to expedite the rebuilding process of Ford engines.

Ford automobile; Engines; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Titus Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

Griffin Fuel Company was started by Fred Griffin more than fifty years ago. Today the company's President and General Manager is Edwin Griffin, Fred's son. Griffin delivered stove, diesel and burner fuel oils, stoker coals, wood and sawdust. Griffin Fuel had the largest and most modern fleet of delivery trucks in the Northwest, prompt and dependable fuel delivery was assured. View of delivery trucks at the Griffin Fuel garage.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Garages--Tacoma; Fuel trade--Tacoma; Fuel--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma);

The Commercial Distributing Company at 301 E. 25th St. specialized in hauling heavy machinery, houses, boats, steel and iron between Tacoma and Seattle. The firm was founded in 1928 and was owned and operated by Joe Sunnen. The firm had a staff of twenty five men. Commercial had recently purchased four new Diamond T truck tractors from Winthrop Motors, these four new trucks joined a fleet of thirty six other pieces of equipment. Exterior view of plant and six trucks (T. Times, 10/27/47, p. 2). TPL-10054

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shipping--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Commercial Distributing Co. (Tacoma); Diamond T trucks;

Commercial Distributing Company had its own complete machine shop and they did their own rigging, painting and steam cleaning. Their hauling equipment included: semi-flat bed trucks, flat beds, semi-vans, vans and four different types of trucks with mounted cranes. Exterior view of facilities and the four trucks with the different types of hoisting machinery available through Commercial Distributing (T, Times, 10/27/47, p. 2).

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shipping--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Commercial Distributing Co. (Tacoma);

Model Saree Scott, dressed in black with a pillbox-styled hat, enjoys a bottle of Coca-Cola while standing next to a Chevrolet delivery truck in October of 1947. The smiling Coca-Cola delivery man standing in the back of the truck was not identified. The Coca-Cola Chevrolet truck had a famous valve-in-head truck engine. The new modern "Advance Design" truck had stronger frames to carry greater loads at a greater distance for a longer time. The longer wheelbases also provided better load distribution. Photo ordered by South Tacoma Motor Co. TPL-10574

Chevrolet trucks; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Coca-Cola Bottling Co. (Tacoma); Carbonated beverages; Bottles; Scott, Saree; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hats--1940-1950; Fashion models--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Coca-Cola Company in Tacoma had just purchased a new Chevrolet truck with new "Advance Design" features from South Tacoma Motor Company. The new modern truck had an "Advance Design" streamlined body, cab, fenders and hood. Chevrolet had increased the load space, which made it more efficient for commercial uses. View of Coca-Cola vending machines being delivered, possibly to a college dormitory. Photo ordered by South Tacoma Motor Co.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vending machines--Tacoma; Coca Cola Bottling Co. (Tacoma); South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma); Chevrolet trucks;

The new Chevy Coca-Cola truck had a stronger, sturdier, all-steel constructed cab. The truck had an amazing flexi-mounted system that absorbed most road shocks, providing a smooth ride. The large load space was ideal for Coca-Cola vending machines. View of model Saree Scott holding a bottle of Coca-Cola, while resting on top of the new Chevy truck, photo ordered by South Tacoma Motor Co.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bottles; Coca Cola Bottling Co. (Tacoma); South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma); Posing; Scott, Saree; Chevrolet trucks;

New crash car at Police Garage, Times, Paul Lantz. The City of Tacoma Police Department purchased a new accident prevention car which was placed in service September 17, 1947, by Safety Commissioner, Robert S. Temme. Sgt. Bob Marshall shows the batteries for the electric flares that are part of the special equipment on the car. Other special equipment included: a first aid kit, drawing board, steel measuring line and a $300 camera and loud speaker. Dammeier Printing (811 Pacific Ave.) and Hotel Olympus (815 Pacific Ave.) can be seen further down the street. (T.Times, 9/17/1947, p.1)

Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Police--Tacoma--1940-1950; Temme, Robert S.; Marshall, Bob;

New crash car at the Police Garage. The Tacoma Police Department had just received its new accident prevention car. Known as a "crash car" in most cities where they had already been used successfully, the car and driver will visit the scene of all accidents and make a detailed investigation. L-R, Patrolman Emil Smith (who has been assigned to duty in the crash car), Sergeant Bob Marshall and Safety Commissioner Robert S. Temme. Photo taken for Paul Lantz for the Tacoma Times. (T.Times, 9/17/1947, p.1) TPL-2516

Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Police--Tacoma--1940-1950; Temme, Robert S.; Marshall, Bob; Smith, Emil; Tacoma Police Department Garage (Tacoma);

Columbia Sausage Company trucks for Irwin-Jones. The company's fleet of Dodge trucks is parked outside the company's facilities.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dodge trucks; Columbia Sausage Co. (Tacoma); Sausages--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meat; Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Exp of truck loaded with lumber at St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company. The driver has his door open and is seen through the open window. The truck is loaded with plywood. The grill on the Mack truck is elaborate, the fenders curved up over the front tires and the headlights sit above the curved metal next to the hood.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Plywood; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Lt. Col. Tex Robert's pit crew surround race car 76, the "Gordy", and its driver Gordy Livingston. Robert's team made a "clean sweep" at the first meet of the racing season which opened at Athletic Park at the end of April. Weekly midget car races are held on Saturdays at the park which is located at South 14th and Sprague Streets. (T.Times, 5/2/1947, p.15) TPL-5482

Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Racing automobiles--1940-1950; Automobile racing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Racetracks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Livingston, Gordy;