A group of employees at Tacoma Auto Sales. This photograph was used in a one-page Christmas message to Tacoma Auto Sales' customers for their support during 1950. The automobile dealership also thanked their employees who made it possible to serve their customers so well during 1950. Ordered by Brick Gardner. (TNT, 12/26/1950, p.10)
Rainier Auto Sales lot and cars at 2220 South Tacoma Way. Rainier sold used cars and their street side sign says "STOP and sell us your car." They arranged their own auto loans and insurance and were open evenings and Saturdays. Clyde E. Engoe was the owner of the lot which bought, sold and traded used cars.
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rainier Auto Sales (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The men of Mueller-Harkins Buick Customer Relations Department stand by the entrance to the service department. The two men on the left are not identified. The other men stand by plaques with their names, L-R, Phil Triplett, Jesse Hyde, Ed Mottle, John Moon.
Three unidentified mechanics posed in the Buick "Lubricare" service area at the Mueller-Harkins Buick dealership at 455 Saint Helens Avenue on June 6, 1951. The clean, efficient service bays were equiped with overhead, pull-down hoses that supplied grease and air to the mechanics. Mueller-Harkins celebrated their 35th year in business in 1951 by offering a free "Lubricare" to every Buick owner in Pierce County whose 35th birthday fell during the 1951 calendar year.
Buick automobile; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;
December 4, 1948 was the grand opening of the new Mueller-Harkins Motor Company building at 455 Saint Helens Avenue. The Buick dealership, with its modern design and walls of glass, was owned and managed by Rudolph A. and John A. Mueller. Potential customers could easily see the cars on display in the well lit showroom. In 1953 the building was sold to Brus Buick Company, and in 1994 it was purchased by the U.S.A. of Yesterday Motor Car Company. (T. Times, 12/3/48, p. 8-9).
Buick automobile; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Events--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Showrooms--Tacoma; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma);
On-the-spot photographs at new Mueller-Harkins Building, Condon Co., Kay Shinn. An interior view of the service department at Mueller-Harkins. Two automobiles, one a two-tone coupe and the other a convertible, are ready for servicing in two of the bays outfitted with hoists and several different nozzles possibly for air, water and other liquids for automobiles.
Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Copy of four views of communications equipment installed in Mueller-Harkins. Studio, Nelson. Service area at Mueller- Harkins Buick Agency. Elevated " Service Master " command post overlooking the bays. Pneumatic tubes for service orders, panels with lights and switches, service chart and microphone are shown. Mr. W.C. McKewen is at the controls.
Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); McKewen, W.C.; Control rooms--Tacoma; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;
The new Mueller-Harkins Buick center was designed by architect, Silas E. Nelsen, the building was constructed in joint slab construction style with 30 foot spans. Interior view of new Mueller-Harkins Buick building; showroom at night, looking north. Architect's model of building at center, model still exists inside the building, which now houses USA of Yesteryear Motor Car Company (T. Times, 12/26/48, p. 28).
South Tacoma Motor Company, Mr. Sheehan. General view of dealership at night. The new 1949 Chevrolets are on display in the showroom. A neon sign stands at the corner of the building with a searchlight piercing the night sky. Several people look in on the showroom from the sidewalk.
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma); Chevrolet automobile; Showrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950;
South Tacoma Motor Company. General manager Guy K. Sheehan sells a young couple an automobile. A young man signs a purchase agreement for a new car while his wife looks on. They are seated at the desk of the general manager of the automobile dealership. During the four days the dealership held their open house displaying the new 1949 models of Chevrolet they took more than 100 orders. (T.Times, 1/24/1949, p.16)
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma); Sheehan, Guy K.; Couples--Tacoma--1940-1950; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Deals;
Equipment at Mueller-Harkins, Walker Manufacturing Company, Racine, Wisconsin. Mueller-Harkins Buick Agency, service area. Two late 1940s Buicks are in for servicing. The service bays are outfitted with grease racks, a roll-away lube cart, and overhead hoses for air, water, grease, etc.
Mueller-Harkins Motor Company have been authorized Buick distributors since 1916. Interior view of service department at Mueller- Harkins Buick Agency; machine shop area, work benches with grinders, a drill press and other power tools, parts cleaning sink, four unidentified mechanics working on Buick authorized parts (T. Times, 12/26/48, p. 28).
The new Mueller-Harkins building was four stories high, and had a clean arrangement which was designed to speed up work. Interior view of Mueller-Harkins Buick Agency's executive or sales offices; two offices with window between them, one man working in each office, identical desk clocks, certificate "Mueller Aviation ... authorized Sea Bee Dealer ... Republic Aircraft Co." on wall (T. Times, 12/26/48, p. 28).
Buick automobile; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Office workers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma);
Mueller-Harkins' employees had their lunch and recreation room located in a round glassed-in tower. Mueller-Harkins promised fast and efficient service to their customers. Interior view of service area at Mueller-Harkins Buick Agency's painting booth, unidentified man with breathing apparatus sprays a well-masked older coupe (T. Times, 12/26/48, p. 28)..
Winthrop Motor Company, Plymouth and De Soto dealers. General view of the showroom with a crowd admiring a 1949 De Soto as a salesman shows off the engine. Neon signs hang in the windows, one announcing Diamond T Trucks, and advertising signs and banners in showroom.
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; DeSoto automobile; Winthrop Motor Co. (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;
S.L. Savidge Company, Dodge and Plymouth Dealers at 9th and Lenora in Seattle. A view of the service area showing automobile lift racks, several late 1940's Dodge automobiles being serviced, and a banner for a clearance sale on Philco Auto Radios and Seat Covers.
Irwin Jones truck building, Walt Dunlap, Irwin Jones Motor Company. The final touches are being added to the new truck division building of the Irwin Jones dealership. Clearing the site for this new building was begun in January 1948. The new facility contains 65,000 square feet with a new-truck showroom, showroom for used cars, large service and parts department, offices, a body shop and a paint shop. They have easy access to railroad tracks with a spur in the rear and will be able to unload new Dodge engines and trucks easily. (T.Times, 10/7/1948, p.13) TPL-9226
Irwin-Jones Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Progress photographs;
Sanford Nash building, Mr. Grindahl. A side view of the building showing the entrance on Broadway and how the building covers the block to have a lower entrance on Commerce Street. The lower level housed the service department. Signs advertised the "Airflyte for '49" and the "Nation's Newest Car".
Sanford-Nash, Inc. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Nash automobile; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Puyallup Motor Company, Lincoln/Mercury dealer. General view in July of 1947 of modernistic building at night, new automobiles in lighted showroom. The ceiling-to-floor glass windows provided clear access to the models on display.
Puyallup Motor Co. (Puyallup); Automobile dealerships--Puyallup--1940-1950; Lincoln automobile; Mercury automobile; Automobiles--Puyallup--1940-1950;
Annual Christmas party at Sanford Nash Company. Sanford Nash has been Tacoma's Nash dealership since 1918. The dealership's President was Harold A. Sanford, Rolf T. Nixon was the Vice President and General Manager. View of Sanford employees and their children in chairs, advertising materials on walls, Christmas decorations and neon signs in windows, Nash emblem banner in center background.
Sanford Nash Company celebrated the holiday season with their annual Christmas party. Sanford Nash sold new and used Ramblers and Nash automobiles, they had a service department for maintenance and repairs, and sold parts and accessories. Nash vehicles were said to be the "World's Most Economical Full-Sized Car". View of two unidentified Sanford Nash employees, they have just opened their Christmas gifts.
Sanford-Nash Company was having their annual Christmas party for their employees and their families. Sanford Nash was an authorized Nash dealership in Tacoma. View of Santa Claus distributing presents to young girl, man gets next gift from under Christmas tree. Many adults and children in chairs, advertising materials on walls, Christmas decorations and neon signs in windows.
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Christmas trees--Tacoma; Santa Claus--Tacoma; Parties--Tacoma; Families--Tacoma; Sanford-Nash, Inc. (Tacoma);
Display of new trucks at Titus Motor Company, Mr. Monrad, Sconce Advertising. The 1948 models included a one-half ton panel, a two ton chassis, a 3 ton chassis and a F-8 heavy duty. The F-7 and F-8 models, both new in 1948, were powered by 145 hp motors. All the 48's featured the "million-dollar" body (because dies used in their porduction cost that much), new car comfort, quarter-glass side windows for no-draft ventilation and a one piece windshield. (T.Times, 1/16/1948, p.7)
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ford trucks; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma);
Titus Motor Company parts delivery department was also experiencing an increase in their services with the increased demand of the popular rebuilt Ford engines. Interior view of Vanette delivery truck from cab looking to rear, cabinets and shelves for parts, overhead panel holding gaskets in lowered position, similar panel in closed position at top in photo. View of black enamel, visor vanity mirrors and gas tank locking cap assembly kits in left forefront compartments.
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma);
Showroom at City Motor Company, Oldsmobile, Anson Hart. An 1898 automobile is included in the display of the new 1948 Oldsmobiles, perhaps a way of introducing the Oldsmobile "98" class of automobiles. Oldsmobile was America's oldest motor car manufacturer with over five decades of design and construction development. The "98"'s were the upper tier of the Oldsmobile line. They carried a newly designed high-compression head. All the 1948 models were equipped with coil springs at all 4 wheels, rigid X-member reinforced frame, double-action hydraulic shock absorbers, proven knee-action front wheel units, four-way stabilization to prevent side sway at high speeds and dual-control center steering. (T.Times, 2/16/1948, p.8 and TNT, 2/15/1948, p.A-7) TPL-3555
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. Men are peering under the hoods of the new 1949 model Lincolns. The 1949's featured 152 hp, V-8 engines. Several men also look inside the drivers side of the front seat. The new models had a curved instrument panel with back-light illumination, curved windshields and hydraulically controlled seat adjustment. The Cosmopolitan Town Sedan also had push button windows. The luxury automobiles have wide, white-wall tires. This is a night view from outside the showroom through plate glass windows. (T.Times, 4/15/1945, p.26) TPL-1516
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ray Ridge Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Mallon Motor Company, interior of service area showing equipment installed by Equipment Sales Corporation. Lift racks, motor oil tanks, overhead hoses, etc.
Business Enterprises - Tacoma - Automobile Dealers - New Automobile Dealers - Ford Dealers - Mallon Motor Company
Titus Motor Company had the new 1949 Ford sedan on display, this new model was more economical and featured many new and innovative options. The new cars were being referred to as the "Radically New '49 Fords." View of man standing by a Ford truck at Titus Motor Company, photo ordered by Sconce Advertising Agency (T. Times, 6/9/48, p. 2). TPL-10258
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Showrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ford trucks; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sales personnel--Tacoma--1940-1950; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Sconce Advertising (Tacoma);
Irwin-Jones Motor Company, a Nalley's Potato Chip delivery truck. The Dodge truck has the name, "Ray Beeber Food Sales, Klamath Falls, Oregon", on the side of the door. The covered back end of the truck has painted signs for "Nalley's" and "Nalley's fresh Potato Chips, Fresh-Crisp-Delicious".
Irwin-Jones Motor Co. (Tacoma); Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dodge trucks;
