Scotch boiler for catalog cuts, Mr. Kenton, Birchfield Boiler. A view of the Scotch boiler being manufactured by Birchfield Boiler showing the interior of the boiler being sealed shut with insulating bricks. Demand had grown for these high pressure boilers used in dairies, laundries, bakeries, cleaning and pressing plants and others that required large amounts of ready steam. (T.Times, 3/1/1948, p.3)

Birchfield Boiler, Inc. (Tacoma); Boilers; Boiler industry--Tacoma;

24 men at Ohmer Sales Meeting, Club Room 5, Hotel Winthrop, Mr. R.E. Barrett, Ohmer Corp., Dayton, Ohio. Ohmer Corporation were makers of the cash register displayed here among a group of business people who came to learn more about the machine.

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ohmer Corp. (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sales personnel--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cash registers;

Caskets, Bill Gregory, Puget Sound Casket Company. A handsomely ornamented casket is shown with its lid open revealing the beautiful detailing of the fabric interior with pleating, gathers and ruffles. The metal handles along the sides are also ornamented.

Puget Sound Casket Co. (Tacoma); Coffins; Funeral rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Employees at Supreme Fur Storage are examining furs in the workshop which is equipped with tables and sewing machines. The company prides itself on its workmanship. Brothers Earle G. Greenfield, manager, and Gerald A. Greenfield are on the right. Earle is thoroughly trained in the care, cleaning and repair of furs. Their father, furrier Amos G. Greenfield, also works at Superior. Ordered by Mr. VanMeter, Llewellyn Advertising Agency (T.Times, 4/16/1948, p.5)

Supreme Fur Storage (Tacoma); Cleaning establishments--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fur coats; Fur garments; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sewing equipment & supplies; Sewing machines;

Officials at opening of new laundry office, Mr. Van Meter, Llewellyn Advertising Agency. A man in the clothing storage area of Supreme Fur Storage is evaluating the condition of one of the fur coats hung on racks. Fur stoles are also shown. The company advertised steel and concrete vaults, new scientific equipment, fumigation and demothing, refrigeration and expert craftsmanship. The facility had the capacity to store 5,000 furs and fur coats. (T.Times,4/16/1948, p.5, TNT, 4/15/1948, p.6)

Supreme Fur Storage (Tacoma); Fur coats; Fur garments; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cleaning establishments--Tacoma--1940-1950;

When this photograph was taken in February of 1948, the venerable Bowes Building, 100 So. 9th St., was home to Tacoma Savings and Loan, one of the pioneer financial institutions on the Pacific Coast. The company had purchased the building in 1920 and added their neon sign above the entrance in 1941. The Bowes Building was designed by the architectural firm of Heath & Twichell and built of white Vermont marble. It was named after its developer Major Edward J. Bowes, who achieved national fame for his "Amateur Hour" radio program. It is on the City, State and National Registry of Historic Buildings. Photo ordered by William D. Hopping, president Tacoma Savings and Loan. (T.Times, 2/26/1948, p.29)

Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Bowes Building (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Several views of local plant at 250 East D showing tankage and general view of yard. Tide Water Associated Oil Co., M.A. Legg. The facilities are built near the waterfront on the City Waterway.

Tide Water Associated Oil Co. (Tacoma); Petroleum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Waterfronts; Storage tanks--Tacoma; Fuel tanks;

Furniture Department at Weisfield & Goldberg, Virginia Knowlen. Weisfield and Goldberg announced their Grand Opening of their newly enlarged, newly remodeled and newly redecorated, five floors of furniture values with a one-half page advertisement in the Tacoma Times. Shown here is one of the floors in their building with upholstered furniture: sofas, and armchairs; and floor lamps. (T.Times, 3/4/1948, p.2)

Weisfield & Goldberg, Inc. (Tacoma); Furniture stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Furniture; Chairs; Sofas; Lamps; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Furniture Department at Weisfield & Goldberg, Virginia Knowlen. This view shows the selection of rugs and carpeting available in Weisfield & Goldberg's newly remodeled rug department in February of 1948. Samples cover several of the building's support columns and several are displayed on the walls in addition to layers of rugs on raised platforms on the floor and rolls of carpeting.

Weisfield & Goldberg, Inc. (Tacoma); Furniture stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rugs; Floor coverings; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--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.

Fircrest Food Market (Fircrest); Grocery stores--Fircrest--1940-1950; Grocery carts; Meat; Food--Fircrest; Canned foods; Dairy products;

Several interiors and exteriors of stores in Fircrest, Lakewood Log, Charlie Mann. Interior of Paul L. Mickens' Fircrest Pharmacy featuring a fountain, cosmetics, vitamins, shaving needs, tooth pastes and other sundries. Sparklet syphons are featured in the foreground. A clock hangs on the wall at the rear of the store.

Fircrest Pharmacy (Fircrest); Soda fountains--Fircrest--1940-1950; Drugstores--Fircrest--1940-1950; Pharmacists--Fircrest--1940-1950; Cosmetics & soap; Toothpaste; Vitamins;

Boat show at Hotel Winthrop, Hotel Winthrop, Mr. Boyd. A boat show, sponsored by the Tacoma Yacht Club, was held in the lobby of the Hotel Winthrop August 17 - 22, 1948. Mayor C. Val Fawcett is seen to the right of the helm with several other men at the boat show. (T.Times, 8/9/1948, p.2)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Shots of faulty valve in tank car, National Soap Company. A man has climbed a ladder to be able to get a view of the interior of this railroad tank car. The tank car has been moved to a siding track in front of a brick warehouse. A shovel and two large buckets are standing by the tank car, possibly used to catch the soap from the leaking valve and clean up spillage.

National Soap Co. (Tacoma); Business enterprises--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad tank cars--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ladders; Warehouses--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Shots of faulty valve in tank car, National Soap Company. An interior view of railroad tank car number LBRX 201 with a faulty valve showing the valve, a ladder into the car, and a rag. The rim of the upper entry into the tank car is visible on the left side. National Soap Company had offices in Tacoma at 357 South 25th Street.

National Soap Co. (Tacoma); Business enterprises--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad tank cars--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ladders;

Associated Oil Service Stations. Eldred J. Omundson and Paul L. Crosby operated the Associated station at 3102 South 12th Street. The station features the "Flying A" neon sign over its distinctive concentric rings on top of the station. The station featured Aero batteries and Federal tires. A sign affixed to a light pole in the parking area reminds customers of the Community Chest drive. The lot is fenced and two automobiles are parked near the station. TPL-1886

Associated Oil Service Stations (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Omundson & Crosby Gas Station (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Several shots of concrete blocks, Holroyd Company, Jim Holroyd. A construction worker is taking away a jack that had been used to support the roof of this concrete block structure until it was stable by itself.

Holroyd Co. (Tacoma); Concrete products industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Laborers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hoisting machinery;

Several shots of concrete blocks, Holroyd Company, Jim Holroyd. Men are building a wall near the water's edge using cement blocks. They are working from scaffolding and they have their building materials stacked on a second set of scaffolding behind them. A wheelbarrow has been used to mix cement below the work area and piles of cement sit on boards near the workers ready to lay another row of cement clocks.

Holroyd Co. (Tacoma); Concrete products industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Laborers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Scaffolding--Tacoma; Wheelbarrows;

Building front, Mondau's Tug Boat Tavern, Louie Mondau. Located in one of the brick buildings along Pacific Avenue, this view of Mondau's Tug Boat Restaurant and Tavern shows the entrance to the restaurant and on the left, the entrance to the James Hotel, above. Neon signs outline the letters and the tug boat that are part of the restaurant's sign, connected to their marquee. Louie Mondau was the owner of the restaurant and tavern. Warwick's Saloon had been at this location from 1893 until 1916.

Mondau's Tug Boat Restaurant & Tavern (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bars--Tacoma--1940-1950; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Telephone Company Garage, Pacific T&T, Mr. A. Hill. Shelves contain some of the equipment needed to install new telephones and a bin sits next to a workbench labled for empty telephone set cartons. Pacific Telephone and Telegraph advertised that they had been putting in telephones almost three times as fast as ever before in the west and was serving an all time high number of phones. (TNT, 9/28/1948, p.2)

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); Telephone companies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Garages--Tacoma--1940-1950; Telephones; Bulletin boards;

Olga Maijala (later Massie), a Griffin Fuel Company office worker, is busy filing customer account information into a new lockable file cabinet in December of 1948. The cabinet was purchased from the local distributer of cabinets and safes manufactured by Diebold, Incorporated. In the pre-computer, pre-"paperless" age roll-top cabinets like this were used to keep accounts in order and under lock and key. Besides the main lock on the rolling top, each separate drawer had its own lock. Griffin Fuel was a major local fuel delivery company in business since 1889. Photo ordered by Diebold, Inc. (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Fuel supply; Fuel--Tacoma; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Safes; Locks (Hardware); Office equipment & supplies; Office furniture; Office workers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fuel trade--Tacoma; Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Diebold, Inc. (Tacoma); Maijala, Olga;

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);

Industrial edition, Banks, Times, Buzz. A view of the exterior of the Bank of California built in 1928 of Wilkeson sandstone and granite. The four ionic columns, which cost $3,500 each to build, stretch three stories up the front of the building. There were numerous banks and savings and loans with their headquarters in Tacoma at this time and they played an important role in the development of industry and the construction of buildings and homes in the area. (T.Times, 2/25/1949, p.12)

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Columns--Tacoma; Business districts--Tacoma;

Ted Grunden, Tacoma's singing barber, locks the door of his barber shop in the Olympus Hotel with the tools of his trade held under his arm. After working 19 years at the same spot he relocated to the Riviera Barber Shop down the street at 908 Pacific Avenue. The Olympus Hotel was expanding their present tavern into a cocktail lounge. Ted Gunden had been the unofficial barber for the Tacoma Times employees for many of those 19 years. Taken for Prescott, Tacoma Times. (T.Times, 2/27/1949, p.36) TLP-6386

Olympus Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gunden, Ted; Barbers--Tacoma; Barbershops--Tacoma;

Rebuilding Ford engine at Titus Motor, Times, Buzz. A man is operating one of the machines at Titus Manufacturing Company. During the past summer at least four motors a day were reconditioned at the facility. (T.Times, 2/20/1949, p.3)

Titus Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Gasoline engines; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Machinery at Northwest Door Company, American Marietta Co., Henry Presessor. Large bags of dry, powdered adhesives are placed near a mixer at Northwest Door Company. The bag in the foreground is being moved by an overhead carrier. The glues used in the manufacture of plywood gave it strength and, as non-soluble glues were developed, plywood became weatherproof.

Northwest Door Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Machinery; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Plywood; Glue;

Crowd at Selden's Rug Show, Selden's, Mrs. Selden. A crowd of people stand outside at night looking in through Selden's showroom windows at the rug show. The company's neon sign spells the name of Selden's.

Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma); Rugs; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Drug Company, interior and exterior of new offices, Tacoma Drug Co., Fred Osmers. The wholesale drug company had completed a new warehouse and offices on the Tacoma tideflats and were now stocking the 60,000 square feet of warehousing. The modern facilities were well lit. On the right can be seen their system for moving goods from the back of the warehouse in large tubs on a counter made of continuous rollers. Empty tubs could be returned to the back of the warehouse using an overhead conveyor.

Tacoma Drug Co. (Tacoma); Medicines; Warehouses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business enterprises--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Big Six Service was owned by M. A. Martin, they were located at 3826 Sixth Avenue. Big Six offered their customers a full service gas station with a repair shop, fuel oil, battery and tire service, radios and electrical appliances. Exterior view of Big Six Service station, photo ordered by West Marquis Incorporated, an advertising agency based out of Seattle. The man in the hat is reported to be Malvin Andreas Martin. TPL-9267

Automobile service stations--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Gasoline--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Big Six Service (Tacoma); West Marquis, Inc. (Seattle);