Mail opener at work for publicity, Times, Buzz. Two men from the Tacoma Times are trying out a new letter opener. One man feeds the letters into the machine which slices one fold of the envelope off and shoots it out of the machine. The other man is catching the letters in a waste basket. With this volume of mail the machine would make quick work of opening all the mail coming into the publishing company.

Tacoma Times Publishing Co. (Tacoma); Newspapers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Office equipment & supplies; Correspondence;

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);

The L. L. Hess Furniture Company at 3830 South M Street celebrated the grand opening of their new larger store on Thursday November 18, 1948. The new building had a spacious interior, more floor space and an ultra modern setting. The L. L. Hess Company offered their customers top quality merchandise, custom finished furniture and prompt delivery service. The owner and general manager was Laurence L. Hess. The store closed in 1959. (T. Times, 11/17/48, p. 24-25).

Furniture stores--Tacoma; Home furnishings stores--Tacoma; Events--Tacoma; Window displays; L.L. Hess Furniture Co. (Tacoma);

Sepic Electric Company had new modern quarters in 1948. They offered the highest quality of nationally known brand furniture. The company's new building has a durable concrete foundation and three times more space than the previous location. Interior view of Sepic Electric Company, kitchen appliances, stoves, "Kelvinator" refrigerators, mixers, kitchen cabinets, sinks and automatic washing machines in showroom (T. Times, 11/16/48, p. 8-9).

Home furnishings stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Furniture stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Appliance stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Refrigerators; Washing machines; Stoves--Tacoma; Cupboards--Tacoma; Sepic Electric 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;

The Rathskeller, located at 950 Pacific Ave. in the ground floor of the Rust Building, was the newly opened restaurant in Tacoma, the Annex was previously located at this site. The facilities have been completely remodeled, George A. Sample Jr. is the manager of The Rathskeller restaurant. Interior view of The Rathskeller's food and booze bar, alcohol bottles are displayed above the cash register, beer taps behind the bar, stools are lined up around the bar (T. Times, 11/18/48, p. 7).

Restaurants--Tacoma; Bars--Tacoma; Barrooms--Tacoma; Alcoholic beverages; Bars (Furniture)--Tacoma; Stools; Rathskeller (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma);

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).

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Buick automobile; Showrooms--Tacoma; Architectural models; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma);

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;

Tacoma Athletic Commission moved their facilities to the Top of the Ocean facilities since the restaurant opened in December 1946. The club bought the Top of the Ocean restaurant in October 1948. Interior view of lounge located on the second floor, this area was restricted to "TAC Members Only". The mirror behind the main bar was painted with an image of the "Top of the Ocean" during the cold and frosty season; bar glassware and liquor bottles under the counter top (T. Times, 1/23/49, p. 21).

Restaurants--Tacoma; Athletic clubs--Tacoma; Decorations--Tacoma; Bars--Tacoma; Lounges--Tacoma; Murals--Tacoma; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma);

Interior view of the Tacoma Athletic Club's second floor lounge, the bar area is festively decorated for the celebration of the New Year, the Tacoma Athletic Club's anniversary, and the Tacoma Athletic Club's purchase of the Top of the Ocean restaurant. The club would be hosting a grand celebration for members and their guests (T. Times, 1/23/49, p. 21).

Restaurants--Tacoma; Athletic clubs--Tacoma; Decorations--Tacoma; Bars--Tacoma; Lounges--Tacoma; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma);

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.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Buick automobile; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

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).

Buick automobile; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma);

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)..

Buick automobile; Painting--Tacoma; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma);

View of window display at Fisher's Department Store; the display features modern "Morton and Kelvinator" kitchen appliances and cabinets, with a female mannequin on right side. "Morton" pantryettes and kitchen cabinets are along the walls of the display; "Kelvinator" range, freezer, double kitchen sink and refrigerator help give this kitchen all of the modern conveniences.

Department stores--Tacoma; Cupboards--Tacoma; Kitchens--Tacoma--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Window displays; Appliances; Appliance stores--Tacoma; Mannequins; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma);

Brown's Conservatory of Flowers was celebrating their re-opening; they had just gone through a remodeling and expansion of their flower shop. Brown's had invested approximately $67,000 in the latest flower ideas. Interior view of Brown's Flowers; an unidentified man is in the decorating room, this room has the floral arrangement supplies, including a flower spray painting machine; ribbons are lined up under the cabinets (T. Times, 12/16/48, p. 14-15).

Florist shops--Tacoma; Flowers--Tacoma; Decorations--Tacoma; Business enterprises--Tacoma; Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Brown's Conservatory of Flowers (Tacoma);

Brown's Flowers had one of the most qualified flower staffs in all of Tacoma. Patsy Johnson was a wedding specialist, Hazel Freeman specialized in center pieces and bowl arrangements, Margie Leingang specialized in corsages, Larry Rucker specialized in funeral arrangements, and William Durrall was the greenhouse supervisor. Interior view of Brown's special order and arrangement room, refrigerated cabinets and storage compartments are located below the spacious counters (T. Times, 12/16/48, p. 14-15).

Florist shops--Tacoma; Flowers--Tacoma; Decorations--Tacoma; Business enterprises--Tacoma; Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Brown's Conservatory of Flowers (Tacoma);

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;

Pickup trucks delivering small drums, Griffin Fuel Company, Otto Salverson. Heavy trucks were banned on county oil mat or gravel roads because of poor road conditions after winter damage. To provide needed fuel oil Griffin Fuel Company brought out an emergency "thaw" service with a fleet of pickup trucks served by tanker trucks stationed at strategic points to deliver oil to rural homes cut off by the ban.Two Griffin employees are placing a large drum in the back of a panel truck. (T.Times, 2/20/1949, p.36) TPL-9844

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Streets--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Pickup trucks delivering small drums, Griffin Fuel Company, Otto Salverson. Heavy trucks were banned on county oil mat or gravel roads because of poor road conditions after winter damage. To provide needed fuel oil Griffin Fuel Company brought out an emergency "thaw" service with a fleet of pickup trucks served by tanker trucks stationed at strategic points to deliver oil to rural homes cut off by the ban. Seen here is a 1912 model White truck with a large barrel in the back being filled by Griffin employees. (T.Times, 2/20/1949, p.36) TPL-9960

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; White trucks; Streets--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Comus Club dance at Winthrop Hotel, circus theme, Tribune, Mrs. Hosmer. The Comus Club held their February dance, the "Comus Circus," at the Hotel Winthrop February 19, 1949. A thoroughly amused group stands below a circus rider, L-R, Edgar J. and Mary E. Murnen, Mr. and Mrs. E.D. Thompson, and Arleyne I. and Russell W. Ross. (TNT, 2/27/1949, p.D-1)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Comus Club (Tacoma); Dance parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Murnen, Edgar J.; Murnen, Mary E.; Thompson, E.D.--Family; Ross, Russell W.; Ross, Arleyne I.;

Industrial edition, Banks, Times, Buzz. A view of the exterior of the Pacific 1st Federal. Merchants National Bank had stood at this location from 1890. The name of the building was changed to the Equitable Building in 1898. In 1922 it became the home of the Pacific Savings and Loan Association and the name was changed again in 1939 to become Pacific First Federal Savings and Loan Association. The appearance of the building changed significantly when the cornice, damaged in the 1949 earthquake, had to come down.

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Business districts--Tacoma;

Crowd at Selden's Rug Show, Selden's, Mrs. Selden. Selden's took part in the nationwide rug fashion show held in early March 1949. The carpet fashion show coincided with Selden's 9th anniversary. Two members of the staff hold a rug sample board and drapery fabric on the right.

Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma); Rugs;

Crowd at Selden's Rug Show, Selden's, Mrs. Selden. An organist plays while a member of Selden's staff shows rug and drapery samples to a crowd at Selden's rug show. Large rolls of carpeting hang against the far wall.

Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma); Rugs;

Mrs. Longstreth Curtis and four children, (l to r) Carolyn Ketring, Nancy Long, Jay Smalling and Penny Long, gaze in wonder and admiration at the "Snow Maiden" created by Tacoma sculptor Andrew Bergaloff in February of 1949. Mr. Bergaloff, a student of Kenn Glenn at the College of Puget Sound, had been hired by the Tacoma Junior League to chisel an ice statue to be used for a children's theater production of the Grimm story "The Snow Maiden." He created the statue in a zero degree room at the Tacoma Ice Company building at 2602 Holgate. The ice maiden was kept in storage until March when she was transported to the Temple Theater for unveiling. (T.Times, 2/20/1949, p.25) TPL-9389

Tacoma Ice Co. (Tacoma); Bergaloff, Andrew; Ice sculpture--Tacoma--1940-1950; Junior League (Tacoma); Curtis, Longstreth--Family; Ketring, Carolyn; Long, Nancy; Smalling, Jay; Long, Penny;

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.

Automobile dealerships--Seattle; Dodge automobile; S.L. Savidge Co. (Seattle); Vehicle maintenance & repair--Seattle;

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.The interior of one of the individual offices at the new facility. A bank of windows lines the outside wall and the windows are wired for an alarm system. A sign on the desk reminds everyone to "Think". The desk has stacked in and out bins. A copy of the current City Directory sits on the work table together with other books, a lamp and a calculator.

Tacoma Drug Co. (Tacoma); Medicines; Business enterprises--Tacoma--1940-1950; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Office furniture; Office equipment & supplies;

Tacoma Drug Company, interior and exterior of new offices, Tacoma Drug Co., Fred Osmers. A night-time view of the wholesale drug company warehouse and offices on the Tacoma tideflats. Glass-block was used as walls for the entry to the offices at Tacoma Drug. Large windows run in both directions from the corner entry. The alarm system wiring on the windows creates an interesting pattern.

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