ca. 1911. The Ford Automobile Agency was apparently only at 1210-16 Tacoma Ave. So. for one year, 1911, with Egbert M. Streeter as proprietor. It is not certain which, if any, of the above photographed men, was Mr. Streeter. He would pass away on May 21, 1939. The 1912 City Directory shows the Ford Automobile Agency had relocated to 223 So. "K" (Martin Luther King Jr. Way), a newly built facility. W. C. Baldwin was listed as manager.

Ford Automobile Agency (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1910-1920; Ford Automobile Agency (Tacoma)--Employees;

Centralia Motors celebrated its opening in mid-October of 1926. This interior view of the business is of the office staff at work. The office was situated so that workers were in clear view of any potential customer who could then be helped immediately. G75.1-015

Centralia Motors (Centralia); Office workers--Centralia; Automobile dealerships--Centralia;

Automobile dealers of the 1920s built palaces of prestige to showcase their latest models. Architect C.F. W. Lundberg designed the Mutual Motors Building for pioneer Tacoma automobile dealer Edward P. Leonard. The Lincoln dealership opened in June 1925. Later, a giant milk bottle was installed on the building's roof to identify it as the Olympic Dairy Products plant. As of 2000, Washington Tent & Awning, Inc. occupies this building on Martin Luther King Way. B12455, BU-10023, TPL-5683

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Mutual Motors (Tacoma); Building construction;

Inexperienced safecrackers failed to blow open the massive safe at Bye Thompson Motor Sales, 3320 South G Street, on early Friday morning, December 5, 1924. The thieves abandoned their efforts when the explosives they used broke the windows in front of the safe and threw the office into disarray, but only succeeded in blowing off the combination dial on the safe's door, not in releasing the bars holding the door in place. This was the second time in less than a year that Bye Thompson Motors had been robbed; on December 18, 1923, thieves somehow carried away the company's 1000 pound safe and blew it open several blocks away. That robbery netted the thieves $362. This photograph was taken at the scene of the crime on December 5, 1924. G24.1-056 (TNT 12-5-24, p. 1)

Safes; Robberies--Tacoma; Bye Thompson Motor Sales Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1925. Winthrop Motor Company, REO automobile dealership, general view of building from northwest. Brick structure with overhanging shed roof and exposed beam ends. Garage doors on both elevations, automobile visible in showroom window. (WSHS)

Winthrop Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Titus Motor Company, service department. Ford sedan parked on lowered lift rack, man appears to be checking headlight alignment with an adjustable screen on a post. Man in automobile, another giving him instructions. Parts delivery van at rear.

Business Enterprises - Tacoma - Automobile Dealers - New Automobile Dealers - Ford Dealers - Titus Motor Company Tacoma Streets - Broadway

Puyallup Motor Company, Lincoln/Mercury dealer. General view of modernistic building at night, new automobiles in lighted showroom. Photograph taken on July 19, 1947.

Puyallup Motor Co. (Puyallup); Automobile dealerships--Puyallup--1940-1950; Automobiles--Puyallup--1940-1950;

New automobiles in showroom of Puyallup Motor Company, Lincoln/Mercury Dealer. There are several potential customers admiring the new cars during the evening of July 19, 1947. Puyallup Motor Company was located at 202 Pioneer Ave. E.

Puyallup Motor Co. (Puyallup); Automobile dealerships--Puyallup--1940-1950; Lincoln automobile; Mercury automobile; Automobiles--Puyallup--1940-1950;

Irwin-Jones Motor Company, Dodge and Plymouth dealers, service department showing equipment installed by Equipment Sales Corporation. Auto hoist, Pennsoil tanks, Purolator filter sign, enameled cabinets, sign w/ Dodge crest, Quaker State Motor Oil clock.

Business Enterprises - Tacoma - Automobile Dealers - New Automobile Dealers - Dodge / Plymouth Dealers - Irwin--Jones Company

Tacoma Auto Sales. Exterior of South Side Used Car facilities. Used cars were "Bot and Sold" at this location. You could also obtain insurance and car loans. Two men wearing business suits stand outside the shop by a mid-1940's automobile with wide-wall white walls. TPL-8100

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; South Side Used Cars (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Old time truck for contest, South Tacoma Motors, Ted Hoakinson. Three men stand with an old Chevrolet truck. The cab is very tall and has a curved hood. The wheels are spoked and the tires are worn flat. One of the men has white hair and points lovingly at the hood over the engine. Both the other men are listening carefully to what he is telling them.

South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chevrolet trucks;

When the South Tacoma Motor Company at 5602 South Tacoma Way ran a contest for old time trucks in June of 1947, this Chevrolet was probably the winner. An unidentified man, hat in hand, stands next to a 1919 Chevrolet Platform Stake. Chevrolet made their first trucks in 1918. They had only manufactured 8,179 trucks by the end of 1919. Photo taken for Old time truck for contest, South Tacoma Motor Co., Chevrolet, Ted Hoakinson. TPL-6544

South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chevrolet trucks;

Robert Sconce Advertising, Ray Ridge Motors. In this October 11, 1946, photograph, Ray Ridge, just to the right of the engine, is holding a part while the other men look on and listen to an explanation about the part. Ray Ridge was the newly appointed Lincoln and Mercury dealer for the area. These men are shown in the service department of Ray Ridge Motors at 124 Tacoma Avenue South.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ray Ridge Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ridge, Ray;

Service area at Sanford Nash Company. Many Nash and other automobiles lined up along wall under signs promoting services.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Nash Metropolitan automobile; Sanford-Nash, Inc. (Tacoma); Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Service area at Sanford Nash Company. Display of Nash accessories, auto lift racks, wheel alignment and lubrication cabinets, two automobiles in background.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Nash Metropolitan automobile; Sanford-Nash, Inc. (Tacoma); Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Parts and Accessories counter at Sanford Nash Company. Parts and accessories on display, posters promoting Nash accessories on wall above.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Sanford-Nash, Inc. (Tacoma); Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies;

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);

Rehn Motor Company. Several men enjoy each others company in the service area of the Chevrolet dealership.

Automobile dealerships--Gig Harbor--1940-1950; Rehn Motor Co. (Gig Harbor);

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;

Titus Motor Company, showing of 1946 automobiles. Two men and two women look at board explaining "self centering brakes". Flowers, other people in background.

Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ford automobile;

Titus Motor, Kelly Farquhar and Consolidated Freightways. Three men work in the shipping and receiving area loading and accounting for cartons of car parts and supplies. Photograph taken on September 5, 1945.

Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Shipping--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Harold A. Sanford was the President of Sanford-Nash Inc., he had been in the Nash dealership business since 1918. Exterior view of Sanford Nash Company, two signs posted by entrance tell us this is the Parts Department for used cars, the Service Department is located on lower floor. Stucco building at Sixth and Tacoma Avenue, two Nash automobiles in showroom windows, neon and painted signs on building.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Sanford-Nash, Inc. (Tacoma); Signs (Notices); Showrooms--Tacoma;

Motors Insurance Co., several different views at Mueller-Harkins Motor Company, Mr. Mueller. Two men stand at the Insurance Department service window. An employee explains the plan to a customer wearing a three-piece tweed suit.

Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Insurance;

Tacoma Auto Sales, new 1949 Pontiacs, Mr. Bryson Gardner. Tacoma Auto Sales Company, Pontiac and Cadillac dealers, general view of showroom with customers admiring the 1949 Pontiacs. Tacoma Auto Sales advertised "Stream-Sweep fenders, automatic driving ease, and straight-eight or V-6 engines". (TNT, 2/13/1949, p.B-2)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pontiac automobile; Tacoma Auto Sales Co. (Tacoma);

Repair shop machinery and equipment for factory representative, Sanford Nash. Specialized machinery for testing automobile performance has been placed up on a ramp where the rear wheels rest against a spinning column. Neon signs hang from the ceiling for "Engine" and "Motor Tune Up".

Sanford-Nash, Inc. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

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.

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