Jack Evans, adjuster, insurance, Highway 99 and Rainier Ord. intersection. Pontiac B-51385 and Plymouth B-5639. A view of the intersection where an automobile crash occurred used for insurance evaluation of claims. Telephone poles line the right hand side of the highway, a stop light hangs over the intersection and railroad tracks run parallel to the highway on the right.

Traffic accidents--Puyallup; Roads--Puyallup; Traffic signs & signals--Puyallup; Signal lights--Puyallup; Utility poles--Puyallup; Railroad tracks--Puyallup;

Champ car. Leo Dobry was a racing enthusiast. He not only had the "City of Tacoma" built to exacting specifications by the Kurtis-Kraft plant, South Gate, California, but he also had a trailer with windows to tow the race car. In May, 1948, the race car is seen hitched to a Chevy pickup truck, ready for probable transport to the Indianapolis 500 over Memorial Day. The Champ car was much larger and more powerful than a midget. It ran the 500 twice, finishing sixth in 1948 and qualifying outside the front row in 1949 before mechanical problems forced it out of the race. (T.Times, 4/27/1948, p.1) TPL-5445

Dobry, Leo; City of Tacoma (Race car); Racing automobiles--1940-1950; Automobile racing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chevrolet trucks; Trailers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

View of Bechtel Corporation employees reviewing the building plans for the General Mills Sperry flour plant expansion. The Bechtel Company was based out of California, they brought up their trucks and staff and would be here until the Tacoma project was completed.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Construction workers--Tacoma; Construction industry--Tacoma; Engineering--Tacoma; Remodeling--Tacoma; General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); Bechtel Corp. (Tacoma);

In May of 1948, Leo Dobry posed in his Champ car, the "City of Tacoma," parked in front of its windowed traveling trailer. Dobry, a racing enthusiast, had the maroon and cream car built at the Kurtis-Kraft plant in South Gate, California, to exacting specifications. After six months and an expenditure of approximately $20,000, the car was ready to run in the Indianapolis 500 race on Memorial Day. The racer was on display April 28, 1948, on the "island" at 9th and Broadway and April 30th at the midget auto races at Athletic Park, South 14th Street and Sprague Avenue. The Champ car was much larger and more powerful than a midget. It ran the 500 twice, finishing sixth in 1948 and qualifying outside the front row in 1949 before mechanical problems forced it out of the race. (T.Times, 4/27/1948, p.1; TNT, 4/27/1948, p.15) TPL-5446

Dobry, Leo; City of Tacoma (Race car); Racing automobiles--1940-1950; Automobile racing--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Alfred E. Hill, 22 years old, was killed instantly when his motorcycle hit the rear left fender of an on-coming car. Sergeant Andrew Prevuznak of Fort Lewis was turning onto Highway 99 from Sales Road, Hill's motorcycle collided with his automobile. View of blood stains on Highway 99 at Sales Road, scene of motorcycle and car accident; photo ordered by Farmers Insurance Company (T. Times, 6/17/48, p. 1).

Traffic accidents--Tacoma; Roads--Tacoma; Hill, Alfred E.--Death & burial; City & town life--Tacoma; Insurance companies--Tacoma; Farmers Insurance Group (Tacoma);

Alfred E. Hill of Olympia was thrown 42 feet from his motorcycle, when he collided into the rear end of a vehicle driven by Fort Lewis soldier, Andrew Prevuznak at the Highway 99 and Sales Road intersection in June of 1948. Hill was rushed to Pierce County Hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival; Prevuznak was not injured. View of motorcycle that was involved in the automobile accident; photo ordered by Farmers Insurance Company (T. Times, 6/17/48, p. 1).

Traffic accidents--Tacoma; Motorcycles--Tacoma; Hill, Alfred E.--Death & burial; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; City & town life--Tacoma; Insurance companies--Tacoma; Farmers Insurance Group (Tacoma);

Washington Steel and Welding Company advertised steel ship building, tanks, ornamental work, acetylene welding, electric welding, portable welding and steel fabricating. The company had two plants, the main plant was located at 701 East D Street, their other plant was at 1601 Taylor Way. View of large "Oshkosh" truck with logging equipment at Washington Steel and Welding Company.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Oskosh trucks; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Steel industry--Tacoma; Metalworking--Tacoma; Welding--Tacoma; Washington Steel & Welding Co. (Tacoma);

View of large "Oshkosh" truck getting ready to transport newly fabricated steel logging equipment from Washington Steel and Welding Company, two unidentified men seem to be checking the machinery and the making sure it is securely loaded on truck.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Oskosh trucks; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Machinery; Steel industry--Tacoma; Welding--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma; Metalworking--Tacoma; Washington Steel & Welding Co. (Tacoma);

For several years in the late 1940s, David Johnston owned and operated the South Side Auto Laundry at 5648 1/2 South Tacoma Way. In this photograph from August of 1948, an unidentified employee steam-cleans the whitewall tires on what appears to be a 1941 Ford Sedan, while a young boy in the front seat leans out the window to watch.

Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cleaning establishments--Tacoma; Cleaning personnel; Car washes--Tacoma; Tires; Signs (Notices); Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; South Side Auto Laundry (Tacoma);

Truck at plant, Standard Oil, Mr. Wiegle. A side view of the Studebaker delivery truck for Chevron Gasoline. The hood is long and the windshield has a split-glass. Rear-view mirrors are added on both sides of the cab. She has her spare tire hung from the back portion of the side panels. Painted in two tones and she is parked outside a garage for delivery trucks.

Studebaker trucks; Petroleum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gasoline--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Accident at South 15th Street and Tacoma Avenue, intersection. J.B. Evans, adjuster. A view of the intersection of South 15th Street and Tacoma Avenue South looking east along South 15th. The Tacoma tideflats can be seen in the distance. Pangis Grocery is on the corner at 1501 Tacoma Avenue South. A Jordan Baking Company Truck is stopped before the cross-walk. The photograph would have been taken for insurance purposes.

Traffic accidents--Tacoma--1940-1950; Insurance companies--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Crosswalks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pangis Grocery (Tacoma);

Company truck and trailer, Titus Manufacturing, Jim Cutler. Titus Motor Company had begun rebuilding Ford engines during World War II and when the engine rebuilding department became independent of the Ford dealership it became known as the Titus Manufacturing Company. The truck would have been used to haul parts to the engine rebuilding facility and move the rebuilt engines to automobile repair shops.

Ford trucks; Titus Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

View of cars parked along A Street and So. 13th, business signs are posted for the Home Electric Company, Glass and Union Commissary; building in background has a fire escape; photo ordered by L. Ray Shute Company, local insurance adjusters.

Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Traffic accidents--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Fire escapes--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Parking--Tacoma; Insurance companies--Tacoma; L. Ray Shute Co. (Tacoma);

View of James Loveland's car parked on A Street and So. 13th, needing fender and hood repairs, possibly for a car accident. The automobile is parked on A Street near South 13th Street. Photo ordered by L. Ray Shute Company, insurance adjusters, the company was owned by L. Ray Shute, their offices were located on 950 Pacific Avenue in the Rust Building, office space number 1121-22.

Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Traffic accidents--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Parking--Tacoma; Insurance companies--Tacoma; L. Ray Shute Co. (Tacoma);

Compton's Distributing Company was owned and operated by Roy J. Compton; the company distributed groceries throughout Tacoma markets and businesses. The company was located at 4513 South M Street. Roy was married to Ethel Compton, they lived at 1527 South 41st Street. View of new Durkee product's refrigerated truck featuring "Durkee's mayonnaise, margarine and salad dressing"; photo ordered by Compton's Distributing Company.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dodge trucks; Margarine; Food--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Food industry--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma; Compton's Distributing Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Durkee's Products (Tacoma);

View of South Tacoma Way and South 90th Street area; Motel El Rancho, New and Used Trailer dealership, on left side of street, Norm's Repair, Texaco, Marta's Coffee Shop and many other businesses are located on the right side of street. Photo ordered by Metzger, Blair, Gardner and Boldt Law Firm, possibly for a traffic accident, skid mark are visible on the left side of South Tacoma Way.

Traffic accidents--Tacoma; Law & legal firms--Tacoma; Lawyers--Tacoma; Law offices--Tacoma; Streets--Tacoma; City & town life--Tacoma; Metzger, Blair, Gardner & Boldt Law Firm (Tacoma);

The City of Tacoma invested money on warning signs to help ensure the safety of pedestrians. The Tacoma Times photographer strolled through busy intersections and found many signs that were not placed where they should be, and many were severely damaged by automobiles. Police officers are instructed to remove signs from the busy intersections during rain, fog and in the evenings, to avoid the signs being hit by cars; these same signs tend to not be placed back in their appropriate area once the weather has cleared up. View of pedestrian crossing sign behind a lamppost and a parked car, this traffic warning sign should have been placed on busy Pacific Avenue by a police officer (T. Times, 12/27/48, p. 1).

Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Municipal services--Tacoma; City & town life--Tacoma; Traffic regulations--Tacoma; Traffic signs & signals--Tacoma; Crosswalks--Tacoma; Pedestrians--Tacoma;

In January of 1949, almost a year before Volkswagen introduced its Transporter (VW bus) to the world's press, people in Tacoma were viewing a strikingly similar vehicle, the Mustang "Teardrop," at Fisher's department store. Made by Mustang Engineering Corporation in Renton, the streamlined, aerodynamic vehicle featured a 4-cylinder Hercules rear engine, hydraulic 4-wheel brakes, swivel seats, split front window with dual windshield wipers, round Mustang logo, protective front bumper grill, and projecting driver's side mirror. Young Ronnie Warter, at the wheel, and passenger Elizabeth Fynboe envision what it would be like to take the Teardrop on the road with its cruising speed of 65 m.p.h. TPL-6191 (T. Times, 1/2/49, p. 6).

Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Prototypes; Mustang; Mustang Engineering Corp. (Renton); Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Walter, Ronnie; Fynboe, Elizabeth;

Richards Commercial Photo Service was one of the leaders in the photography industry in Tacoma; they offered their professional services for social events, weddings, industrial, studio and any other type of photography desired. March 1949 view of "Richards.... Tacoma's Society Photographers" automobile with two beautiful young women posing for their "Society" photos; photograph possibly used for advertising.

Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Socialites--Tacoma; Photography--Tacoma; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Photography industry--Tacoma; Photographers--Tacoma; Photographic studios--Tacoma; Richards Commercial Photo Service (Tacoma);

Western Furnaces specialized in heating, insulation, fiberglass home insulation, air conditioning, furnace repairs and cleaning; they were distributors of General Electric oil heating equipment. View of Chevrolet delivery truck for Western Furnaces taken on August 19, 1949. According to a reader, this particular vehicle was a "pipe fitters" truck that had a large mechanical "pipe cutter/threader" on the back bumper. The cabinets on the sides contained the various fittings used by the mechanic during the installation of galvanized piping used in hydronic (boilers) heating systems. The employee at far right was not identified. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chevrolet trucks; Signs (Notices); Laborers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Furnaces--Tacoma; Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Western Furnaces, Inc. (Tacoma);

Sepic's first store was originally located on South 17th Street and Tacoma Avenue South, in 1945 the brothers purchased the K Street property and started building their new store location. Sepic Electric Company now has new modern quarters; they offer the highest quality known brand furniture. The company's new building has a durable concrete foundation and three times more space than the previous location. View of Sepic's delivery truck with delivery men unloading "Maytag" washing machines from a freight train.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma; Home furnishings stores--Tacoma; Furniture stores--Tacoma; Appliance stores--Tacoma; Washing machines; Sepic Electric Co. (Tacoma);

Kelly Furniture Company built their store building in 1924 with a warehouse added in 1940, they were located at 5428 South Tacoma Way and were owned by L. Q. Kelly and Robert D. Kelly. Kelly's advertised Hotpoint appliances, Simmons Beautyrest mattresses, Sealy mattresses, Zenith radios and many other items. View of Kelly Furniture Company employees standing in front of their new delivery truck. The two gentlemen in the dark suits are (from left to right) Robert D. Kelly and Laurence Q. Kelly, owners of the company. The gentleman in the white coverall to the right of Laurence Kelly is James Gunther, Laurence's brother-in -law. Additional information provided by patron.

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Furniture stores--Tacoma; Home furnishings stores--Tacoma; Kelly Furniture Co. (Tacoma)--Employees;

View of wrecked automobile with 1949 Washington State license plates; this vehicle was involved in a traffic accident, automobile has front end damage; accident site is unknown. Photo ordered by Metzger, Blair, Gardner & Boldt Law Firm.

Traffic accidents--Tacoma; Law & legal firms--Tacoma; Neighborhoods--Tacoma; Law offices--Tacoma; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; City & town life--Tacoma; Metzger, Blair, Gardner & Boldt Law Firm (Tacoma);

View of members of the University-Union Club boarding charter buses that will take them up to Seattle for the University of Washington and Notre Dame football game held on October 2, 1949. The University-Union Club sponsored the big event, unfortunately Husky fans came home disappointed with the final score, Notre Dame 27, University of Washington 7 (T.N.T., 10/4/49, p. 8).

Buses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Events--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma; University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma);

University-Union Club members attended the October 2, 1949 University of Washington - Notre Dame game where the Irish drubbed the Huskies 27-7. View of members of the University-Union Club boarding charter buses that will take them up to Seattle for the football game (T.N.T., 10/4/49, p. 8).

Buses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Events--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma; University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma);

Hunt and Mottet Company was a wholesale hardware and sporting good distributing company in Tacoma. The company's officers were: Ernest C. Richards, President, Albert H. Heath, Vice-President and Treasurer, J. Carroll Richards, Secretary; their offices were located in downtown Tacoma. View of the new Ford delivery truck, Number 88; an unidentified company representative is standing by truck. TPL-10344

Ford trucks; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hardware; Fishing & hunting gear; Sporting goods; Sporting goods industry--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Hunt & Mottet Co. (Tacoma);

Frank J. Bigman was driving south on Jefferson Avenue at 5:40 pm on November 28, 1949 when he "blacked out" behind the wheel of his car. The car ripped through a pipe-fence railing at South 27th Street and plunged 32 feet to the Northern Pacific right-of-way below. Mr. Bigman was saved by the sturdy construction of his 1941 model car, receiving only bruises to his left leg and minor cuts to his mouth, cheeks and ears. (TNT, 11/29/1949, p.1)

Accidents--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bigman, Frank J.; Embankments--Tacoma;

Jensen Fuel Co.at 6238 South Tacoma Way and its fleet of modern oil delivery trucks. Jensen Fuel was founded in 1891 by Robert Jensen and was run in the 1950s by his son Everett Jensen, who took over management in 1934. Jensen's first delivery service was a small wagon and a single team of horses. The company first supplied wood, followed successively by coal, sawdust and fuel oil. In early 1950, the company became a pioneer in radio dispatched fuel oil delivery. (TNT 3/2/1950 pg. 33)

Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fuel supply; Jensen Fuel Co. (Tacoma);

W. F. English, employee of Jensen Fuel Company at 6238 South Tacoma Way, responds to a radio telephoned message in the cab of his oil delivery truck. In March of 1950, Jensen Fuel installed modern two way radios in their trucks, aiding communication between the office and the oil delivery trucks. This enabled the drivers to make emergency deliveries in the areas they serviced and Jensen to guarantee that any order received in the morning would be delivered before evening. Jensen Fuel Co. was founded by Robert Jensen in 1891. (TNT 3/2/1950 pg. 23)

Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fuel supply; Jensen Fuel Co. (Tacoma); English, W. F.; Jensen Fuel Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Communication devices; Radiophones;

A Washington State Patrol 1946 Ford wagon is parked in front of the New China Cafe in this photograph from March, 1950. Owned by George Fong and Yee Look, the New China Cafe was at 111 2nd Ave. S. E. in Puyallup. The state patrol wagon has a siren mounted on its right front fender and is equipped with two search lights. TPL-9482

Trucks--Puyallup--1950-1960; Law Enforcement; New China Cafe (Puyallup)