Aerial view of American Smelting & Refining Co.'s (ASARCO) smokestack, smelter plant and surrounding area. ASARCO occupied a large area near Point Defiance and contributed greatly to Tacoma's economy in the fifties. As we know now, the by products of the smelting process were highly toxic, and qualified this area as a Superfund clean up area. TPL-9290

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma--1950-1960; Copper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

This aerial view of Tacoma shows the American Smelting & Refining Company's (ASARCO) smoke stack, plant and the surrounding area as it looked in July of 1953. The ASARCO smoke stack was a dominant feature in the Tacoma skyline from its construction in 1917 to its implosion in 1993. The plant stood near Point Defiance. Here large vessels can be seen pulled up to the dock to be loaded with metals to be shipped throughout the world. To the left can be seen part of the marina of the Tacoma Yacht Club and to the lower right, the city of Ruston. TPL-8483

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma--1950-1960; Copper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. A variety of bars and structural shapes are rolled on the 12 inch and 8 inch finishing mills. The hot steel is looped by hand from one set of rolls to the next, until it is rolled to finished size and shape. Three finishing mills at the Seattle plant turn out bars and structural shapes in hundreds of different sizes and shapes. Hot steel billets are fed directly into these mills were grooved rolls transform them into angles, channels, I-beams, rounds, squares, flats, strip, reinforcing bars and special sections. ("Bethlehem Coast Steel, in the Northwest" - brochure)

Factories; Steel industry; Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); ;

Aerial view of American Smelting & Refining Co's (ASARCO) smokestack, smelter plant and surrounding area. The plant occupied a large area near Point Defiance with its own docks for shipping. The smokestack at 562 feet dominated the skyline for miles around. Thousands lined up in 1993 to say goodbye to this landmark when it was imploded.

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma--1950-1960; Copper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Aerial of Bethlehem Steel, Seattle. Located on a tract of 45 acres along West Spokane Stree, just west of Duwamish Waterway, the Seattle plant is a compact and highly efficient steelmaking unit. When operating at full capacity, the plant has a work force of about 1450. They represent a broad spectrum of skills and trades needed in the manufacture of steel.

Steel industry; Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); Aerial photographs; Factories--Seattle;

A new type of tire chains were made of heavy castings by Fick Foundry Company. Fick Foundry Company manufactured machine castings for many machinery manufacturers in the Northwest. Castings were made of grey iron, steel, bronze and aluminum. Fick Foundry was owned by Joseph M. and Samuel Fick.

Fick Foundry Co. (Tacoma); Cast ironwork--Tacoma;

Steel and aluminum fabricating at George R. Marvin Company. The George R. Marvin Company advertised as manufacturing bridge cranes, gantry cranes, floating cranes, hammerhead cranes, special hoists and machinery of fabricated structural steel. The large, open building has railroad tracks running through the length of it. Men and equipment are working along both sides.

George R. Marvin Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A tire with a new type of tire chains attached to it. The castings for the chains' components were made by Fick Foundry Company.

Fick Foundry Co. (Tacoma); Cast ironwork--Tacoma; Tires;

A view of the yard at George R. Marvin's plant on the Tacoma tideflats was taken on August 14, 1952. Stacks of materials used in the manufacture of cranes, special hoists and machinery of fabricated structural steel are stacked around the yard and a man is operating a mobile crane near the center. A long tank truck is seen at the rear.

George R. Marvin Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hoisting machinery;

An elevated view of the huge crane being built at Star Iron and Steel Company shows the opening in the crane over which the upper trolly can move. Enormous rolls of cable on top of the crane would be used to lift heavy materials vertically and the trolly could transfer the material horizontally.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hoisting machinery; Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

A huge crane is being built at Star Iron and Steel Company to be installed from the roof of a welding shack. The Star Iron and Steel Company manufactured heavy cranes and logging machinery. They made some of the largest and heaviest cranes used by the US navy and industry. Roy N. Allen was president and manager of the company at this time.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hoisting machinery; Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The Tacoma Smelter, American Smelter and Refining Company (ASARCO), held a dinner party for their "Old Timers" in April of 1952. View of six men and one woman at banquet table.

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exposure of large machinery dwarfing the laborers at Ace Furnace & Steel Co. This machine is either a shear press or a brace press. The company was built in 1930 and was owned by Alvin T. Davies. Ace produced steel and sheet metal products- furnaces, tanks, stacks and did electrical welding.

Ace Furnace & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Iron construction--Tacoma; Iron & steel workers--Tacoma; Metalworking--Tacoma;

Photo of a worker running a sheet of metal through a large piece of machinery at Ace Furnace & Steel Co. This machine is either a shear press or a brace press. The company was built in 1930 and was owned by Alvin T. Davies. Davies also owned North End Lockers and was the president of Birchfield Boiler Inc. and Tacoma Boiler Works. He and his wife Ellen lived on Day Island. Ace Furnace produced steel and sheet metal products- furnaces, tanks, stacks and did electrical welding.

Ace Furnace & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Iron construction--Tacoma; Iron & steel workers--Tacoma; Metalworking--Tacoma;

The interior of the new pre-fab plant of Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation at 8501 East Marginal Way, Seattle. Ordered by Mr. Morse.

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); Factories--Seattle;

The interior of the new pre-fab plant of Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation. Ordered by Mr. Morse.

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); Factories--Seattle;

The exterior of the new pre-fab plant of Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation. Ordered by Mr. Morse.

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); Factories--Seattle;

The interior of the new pre-fab plant of Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation. Ordered by Mr. Morse.

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); Factories--Seattle;

Seven men are working at drafting tables at the new pre-fab plant of Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation at 8501 East Marginal Way, Seattle. Ordered by Mr. Morse.

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); Factories--Seattle;

Sparks fly as an employee of Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel apparently is drilling a piece of steel in September, 1951. He is wearing safety goggles, a cap to protect his hair, and protective coverings over his shoes. Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation had several facilities in Seattle, including a prefabrication plant, rolling mill, a mill depot, and bolt and nut department. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (San Francisco).

Factories; Steel industry; Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle);

Two employees of Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel's Seattle plant are shown at work on September 26, 1951. One man grips a piece of steel with his gloved hand while the other worker seems to be in the process of riveting. According to the 1951 Seattle City Directory, Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel had several facilities in the Seattle area including a Rolling Mill and office at 4001 28th Ave. S.W., a Bolt and Nut dept. at 3800 Iowa Ave., a Tank Farm at 3301 26th Ave. S.W., and a Mill Depot at 3845 26th Ave S.W. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (San Francisco).

Factories; Steel industry; Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle);

An employee of Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation's Seattle plant has his hands on the large valve of a machine in a photograph taken in September, 1951. Another employee in checkered jacket stands by finished steel products. Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel had several facilities in the Seattle area including a rolling mill, nut and bolt department, tank farm and mill depot. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp., San Francisco.

Factories; Steel industry; Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle);

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel had several facilities in the Seattle area in the 1950's. Two workers coordinate their movements as they work in unison in the prefabrication plant in September, 1951. They appear to be working with a pulley. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp., San Francisco office.

Factories; Steel industry; Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle);

Labor problems at American Smelter and Refining Company (ASARCO) led to a walkout by workers on November 3, 1950. The refinery workers felt overworked, underpaid, and unappreciated by management at the plant. Although the workers returned to work on Monday the 6th, there were new walkouts two days later and, on November 8th, management shut down the plant. The strike and lockout lasted until November 27th. The union voted 950 to 250 to accept a pay increase of 15 cents per hour and management began calling back workers. Ordered by the Tribune, Larry Shanklin. (TNT, 11/27/1950) TPL-7908

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Demonstrations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Labor unrest--Tacoma--1950-1960; Strikes--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Dust collecting equipment at Tacoma Smelter. While copper was the principal product from the Tacoma plant of American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO), there were also by-products including gold, silver, arsenic and nickel sulphate. The acid plant which went onto production in April 1950 produced 100 tons of sulphuric acid a day that was used by the Stauffer Chemical Company in the manufacture of super-phosphate fertilizer. Ordered by American Air Filter Company, c/o R.E. Chase & Company, Mr. Warren.

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma--1940-1950; Copper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma;

Dust collecting equipment at Tacoma Smelter. During 1950 the American Smelting and Refining Company added a new sulphuric acid recovery plant. Other improvements during the year included modernization of the arsenic plant and installation of new ore-handling facilities to increase capacity to 200 tons an hour, replacing facilities which had been installed before they took over the Tacoma plant in 1905. Ordered by American Air Filter Company, c/o R.E. Chase & Company, Mr. Warren.

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma--1940-1950; Copper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma;

Dust collecting equipment at Tacoma Smelter. The steps taken in the production of copper and other metals at the American Smelting and Refining Company included crushing the raw materials that were delived to ASARCO by ship and by rail from all parts of the world. Following crushing the different types of concentrates and ores required for each refined metal were processed by Bedding and Roasting prior to Smelting. These processes were followed by Converting and Electrolytic Refining. Ordered by American Air Filter Company, c/o R.E. Chase & Company, Mr. Warren. (Tacoma Progress, June 1955)

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma--1940-1950; Copper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma;

The first meeting of the Tacoma Smelter's 25 Year Club at the Towers. During the meeting, Chairman Earl Marble, Manager of the plant, who was instrumental in forming the club turned over its chairmanship to Eugene A. White, retired manager of the Smelter. All Club members had 25 plus years of service with the plant.

Tacoma Smelter (Tacoma);

Some of the 185 members of the Tacoma Smelter's 25 Year Club attending the first meeting, a dinner at the Towers restaurant on 4/10/1950. The new organization included both active employees and retirees who had been with the firm for 25 years or more.

Tacoma Smelter (Tacoma);

Ten unidentified employees of ASARCO who attended the first meeting of the Tacoma Smelter's 25 Year Club held at the Towers, 6805 6th Ave. on April 10, 1950. The club originated with 185-207 members, all active or retired employees of the Smelter with 25 or more years of service with the company. The chairmanship was passed down at the first meeting from Earl Marble, the manager of the plant who was instrumental in setting up the group, to retired plant manager Eugene A. White..

Tacoma Smelter (Tacoma);