In October of 1947 Weisfield and Goldberg's moved all the furniture out of their store at 923-25 Broadway and into the Tacoma Exhibition Hall at 1616-32 East 26th Street. Beginning on November 7th they held an "Emergency Warehouse Furniture Sale" out of this building. They were offering low prices, easy credit, free deliveries throughout the State of Washington, free parking and brand name furniture. They had to move the furniture out of their regular store because they were remodeling all four of the upper floors in their downtown building. In February of 1948 they re-opened their newly remodeled store. (T. Times, 11/7/47, p. 6-7).
Titus Motor Company offered Tacoma customers the largest selection of Ford cars and trucks. Titus also had a full service department and parts available on site. Here Titus Motor Company parts delivery man, Phil Martin, proudly wears his Ford uniform. Mr. Martin stands at the door of his Vanette delivery truck which reads "Phil Martin at your service."
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Martin, Phillip J.;
Titus Motor Company was an authorized Ford cars and trucks dealership, in Tacoma for many years. Titus Motor Company, parts delivery man Phil Martin stands by his Vanette delivery truck in front of the Titus showroom. His name is written prominently near the wheel well. Exterior view of Ford neon and painted signs on building, and information painted on truck in this photograph dated January 2, 1948.
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Martin, Phillip J.;
Exterior view of Titus Motor Company and parts delivery man, Phil Martin Jr. who is standing by his Vanette delivery truck parked in front of the Titus showroom. There are Ford neon and painted signs on building. Titus Motor Company delivered genuine Ford parts ranging from visor vanity mirrors to V-8 engines to your home or garage with their new "traveling parts store." Titus Motor Company and Titus Manufacturing Company had one of the best auto repair shops in the Pacific Northwest for Ford automobiles. TPL-10162 (TNT 2-7-1948, p. 6-ad w/background eliminated)
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Martin, Phillip J.;
View of Titus Motor Company parts delivery man, Phil Martin Jr. moving a Ford "flathead" V-8 engine using a hand winch mounted inside the rear door of his Vanette delivery truck; cabinets and shelves for parts inside of truck. This "flathead" V-8 Ford engine is a rebuilt engine from Titus Manufacturing Company.
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies; Engines; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Martin, Phillip J.;
Engines are taken from Ford cars and trucks, then replaced with a rebuilt engine by the Titus plant, payment is made with the trade in of the old engine and cash. Testing includes the engine being spun at over 800 r.p.m. while its operation, sound and oil pressure are carefully monitored. This service is available to individual owners, garages and Ford dealers. Interior view of Titus Manufacturing Company's engine rebuilding shop, men assembling rebuilt Ford "flathead" V-8 engines; tools, parts and supplies in factory area.
In July 1946, as engine rebuilding demand and production increased, the Titus Motor Company had to restructure their engine rebuilding department which became Titus Manufacturing Company.This is an interior view of Titus Manufacturing Company's engine rebuilding shop. Two men are working on Ford "flathead" V-8 engines while two other men work in machine tools. The Titus shop was at 6th and Broadway. In later years Titus-Will had a body shop in the same building.
Titus Motor Company's parts delivery truck, interior view of Vanette delivery truck from cab looking to rear, steering wheel, seat and parts books; cabinets, overhead panels and shelves for parts; hand winches for engine blocks, Ford "flathead" V-8 engines at far end. Ford authorized parts visible are, foot operated tire pumps, tire and fire units, engine compartment lamps, visor vanity mirrors, gas tank locking cap kits and black enamel.
Interior view of Vanette delivery truck from Titus Motor Company, one of Tacoma's authorized dealerships for Ford cars, trucks, parts and service. View from the right side of cab looking to rear, driver's seat, cabinets, overhead panels and shelves for parts. View of Ford authorized: body polish, hydraulic brake fluid, shock absorber liquid, cleaner and polish, located on shelves behind driver's seat.
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma);
Patricia Clarke modeled a yellow and black formal with an over skirt for the Fisher's Department Store style show held in the recently opened Wedgewood Room at the Hotel Winthrop in February of 1948. Beginning in March, Fisher's started a series of monthly fashion shows held on the first Thursday of each month. Starting at 1 p.m. the fashion shows were held in connection with a "musical" luncheon with music provided by Bob Dickinson and his orchestra; there was no charge other then the cost of the luncheon. (T.Times, 2/20/1948, p.11)
Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Fashion shows--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fashion models--Tacoma; Clarke, P.; Evening gowns--Tacoma--1940-1950; Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Tacoma Panhellenic Conference at Top of the Ocean, TNT, Frank Lockerby. The Panhellenic Association chose the theme of "Wear Your Pin" for their luncheon and bridge party on February 7, 1948. The decorations followed the sorority pin theme with large replicas of the embossed gold pins of each national sorority. A valentines motif was followed in the table decorations with red candles and heart-shaped table markers. Greek symbols are seen on the drapery behind these women. (T.Times, 2/2/1948, p11)
Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Panhellenic Conference (Tacoma); Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Candles;
On February 6, 1948 the first Tacoma Panhellenic day luncheon was held at the Top of the Ocean. The theme for the day was "Wear Your Pin", and all Tacoma alumnae of national college sororities were invited. A prize was given to the sorority having the largest attendance. At the close of the formal program, the guests were escorted to the Tacoma Athletic Commission rooms for an afternoon of bridge. (T.Times, 2/2/1948, p.11)
Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Panhellenic Conference (Tacoma); Playing cards; Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Smoking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cigarettes;
Big Bear Food Store, Bud Merrell, Grocery store interiors, old "Arney's Market", Colemans. Big Bear opened its first Tacoma location January 30, 1948. They had seven distinct departments under one roof. With five check stands they hoped to give the speediest service ever offered to Tacoma shoppers. The check out stands and cash registers are lined up near the front of the store. Shelves are filled with canned goods. The whole area is well lit. (TNT, 1/29/1948, p.3 and p.28)
Big Bear Stores (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cash registers; Canned foods;
Big Bear Food Store, Bud Merrell, Grocery store interiors, old "Arney's Market", Colemans. Big Bear was opening their first store in Tacoma at the location of the first Stadium Market. Big Bear was well known in Seattle having had several locations there for 16 years. Their policy was, "to provide the foods you want at the lowest prices at which they can be sold". This view features the produce area with displays of fruits, vegetagles and fresh flowers. Dairy products are displayed in the cold cases in the back of the store. A clock hangs on the wall above the dairy cases. (TNT, 1/29/1948, p.3 and p.28)
Showroom at City Motor Company, Oldsmobile, Anson Hart. The new 1948 model Oldsmobile offered many new developments: a streamlined body design with increased front and rear visibility with curved glass, wider seats, more luxurious upholstery and interior trim. Powered by a 115 hp, 8-cylinder engine, this automobile was known as the "Futuramic" series "98" Oldsmobile. (T.Times, 2/16/1948, p.8) TPL-1653
City Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Showrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Oldsmobile automobile;
Showing of 1949 Lincolns, Robert Sconce Advertising Agency. Three of the new 1949 model Lincolns are parked in the showroom. The Lincoln Cosmopolitan and the Lincoln represented the latest concept in luxurious motoring with wider wheelbases (125" for the Cosmopolitan and 121" for the Lincoln). The automobiles were wider to provide road-hugging comfort. The paint on the new automobiles is highly reflective as well as the large amounts of chrome. A neon sign points the way to a cashier. (T.Times, 4/15/1948, p.26)
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lincoln automobile; Mercury automobile; Ray Ridge Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Ray Gamble banquet at Rau's Chicken Dinner Inn located at the corner of Pacific Avenue and John's Orchard Hill (the Mountain Highway). Ray Gamble was born in Lexington, Nebraska, and arrived in Tacoma in a boxcar in 1892. His was a rags-to-riches story. He started in business opening a fish market in 1913 and developed the world's largest wood flour business which furnished stabilizing materials for the explosives manufacturers. He owned several pieces of real estate including the exclusive Casa Blanca Apartments. He was also well known for his hobbies of collecting elephant statues and performing magic. Rau's Club was opened March 2, 1939. In August 1946 the name was changed to the "Country House Restaurant". (TNT 7/27/1941, p. A2; Genii, March, 1939)
Restaurants--Graham; Banquets--Graham--1940-1950; Group portraits; Gamble, Ray, 1886-1972; Rau's Club (Graham);
Rhodes department store offered their customers a wide selection of everything they might need to look their best. Rhodes received new merchandise on a daily basis. View of men's socks and shirts section at Rhodes Bros, Easter sales signs in center of sock fixtures.
Department stores--Tacoma; Hosiery; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);
Sherwin-Williams Paint and Interior Decorating store, exterior at night showing lighted neon sign and display windows. The store was photographed on February 23, 1946.
Sherwin-Williams Paint Co. (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Paint industry--Tacoma; Window displays--Tacoma--1940-1950;
West Coast Grocery with headquarters in Tacoma, expand operations. Interior view of West Coast Grocery store in Chehalis, Washington. The cash register, scale and counters are in the foreground. Shelves stocked with food, produce section and frozen food section are in the background.
West Coast Grocery, with headquarters in Tacoma, expands their operations. Exterior view of West Coast Grocery store in Chehalis, Washington. Gasoline pumps, advertisements for weekly specials and watermelons in front of store.
Central Motors bought, sold and serviced cars. They were about to move into this building, where they would offer their customers a wide selection of used cars and more extended services. Interior view of Central Motors.
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Showrooms--Tacoma; Central Motors (Tacoma);
Rhodes Millinery Mirror Room along with other departments had recently been remodeled and modernized. The room featured modern fixtures in a renovated spacious room. Rhodes offered fashionable and chic hats for the modern woman. View of Mirror Room with hat displays and comfortable areas for women to try on their favorite hat styles (T. Times, 5/16/46, p. 10).
Millinery; Hats--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Department stores--Tacoma; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);
Ray Ridge Motors for Robert Sconce Advertising. Crowd admires the 1946 Mercurys at Ray Ridge Motors. Night view from outside showroom through plate glass windows. Convertible, sedan and "woody" wagon are visible.
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ray Ridge Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Hogan's Lakewood Center Grocery, Nalley's display. A stack of Nalley's Hamburger Relish selling for 25 cents each stands near the cash register. Other products are displayed on shelves behind the register. Nalley's Inc. was started in 1918 by Marcus Nalley. Nalley Valley Center Street Development consists of 3 main plants housing 4 separate food processing operations: the potato chip plant, processing potato chips, popcorn and various nut products; a pickle plant, a federally inspected meat plant, and the Tacoma sales branch offices and Nalley's general branch sales office. (T.Times, 12/10/1947)
Grocery stores--Lakewood--1940-1950; Hogan's Fine Foods (Lakewood); Cash registers; Merchandise displays--Lakewood--1940-1950;
Grand Opening, Blue Moon Tavern, John Monta. Interior of the tavern showing seating along one wall, a pay phone, electric game board and the juke box. More bouquets sent from well wishers decorate the tables. Large paintings of mountains and the ocean are hung along the walls.
Blue Moon Tavern (Tacoma); Bars--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jukeboxes; Telephones; Pinball machines--Tacoma;
Several interiors and exteriors of stores in Fircrest, Lakewood Log, Charlie Mann. The interior of the Fircrest Food Market. The small market carried a large selection of canned goods on shelving that was wider at the bottom which made it easier to see what was available there. Frozen foods were displayed in a case along the left side wall as well as dairy items in a cold case next to it. A meat counter was housed in the back of the store. Carts for use by customers are seen by the check out stand.
