Part of a series of photographs of a 275-ton powerhouse crane constructed by Star Iron & Steel Co. of Tacoma for the Barkley Power Plant on the Cumberland River. This July 15, 1963, view is described as the general arrangement and trolley with main and auxiliary hoists.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma);

Bushnell Co. of Jacksonville, Florida, supplied crane service to this tower under construction at an unspecified harbor in this undated photograph. Customer print was copied on September 17, 1963, for Star Iron & Steel Co. of Tacoma.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery;

A "Porta Tower" built by Star Iron & Steel extends at a 45 degree angle in a September 19, 1963, photograph taken outside company headquarters. Porta Towers were described as mobile steel spur trees that replaced spar trees in logging operations. A "Porta Tower" could be erected and ready to work in two hours, much less time than it would take to rig a spar tree. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel. (TNT 10-13-63, B-9)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel;

Built by Star Iron & Steel, an imposing 90 foot "Porta Tower" is parked outside of company headquarters on September 19, 1963. Star Iron & Steel was well known for its crane and tower construction. The "Porta Towers" would be utilized as mobile steel spur trees. "Porta Towers" were self-erecting and ready to work in two hours. Star Iron & Steel had been founded in 1908 at 435 E. 11th St. It moved to its new quarters in the Port Industrial area in 1963. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel. (TNT 7-24-63, A-11, TNT 10-13-63, B-9)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel;

Another view of the Brute Crane operated by the George Scofield Co. taken on March 28. 1930, by Marvin Boland; see A139500-30 for additional shot. The crane is apparently in the process of scooping up material. Brute Cranes were manufactured by Star Iron & Steel Co. of Tacoma. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.; copy made of customer print on September 17, 1963.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery;

A Brute Crane manufactured by the Star Iron & Steel Co. of Tacoma is in the process of hoisting lumber at the Seattle Export Lumber Co. There are piles of lumber on both sides of the crane. Date of original photograph is unknown; copy made on September 17, 1963.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery; Lumber; Seattle Export Lumber Co.;

Porta Tower in operation at the Cotten Bros. logging site in Packwood on October 23, 1963. Used as portable steel spur trees, "Porta Towers" were manufactured by Star Iron & Steel Co. of Tacoma for use in the logging industry. Star Iron & Steel was well known for their cranes and specialized equipment which included hydraulic presses, log barkers, radio and television towers, and chip handling buckets. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel; Hoisting machinery; Logs;

Dirt pours out of the opened clam shovel which is suspended by thin cables in this July 31, 1962, photograph taken at Graystone of Tacoma. The shovel is believed to have been manufactured by the Star Iron & Steel Co. of Tacoma. Star Iron built cranes and specialized equipment to handle everything from salmon to missiles; their products were used in WWll to help clear the Pearl Harbor disaster. Its crane capacities ranged to more than 350 tons. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery;

This large hoist drum was being manufactured by Star Iron & Steel Co. for the royal government of Afghanistan in October of 1972. The local firm had built hoisting machinery, cranes and special machinery for decades. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Daily operations at Atlas Foundry. An unidentified employee at Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. is seated at a workbench apparently testing a Cycon circuit board. This may have been in the foundry's tech center. Photograph ordered by Atlas Foundry & Machine Co.

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Product inspections--Tacoma--1970-1980; Testing--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1978. ASARCO plant. In the center of this early 1978 photograph of the American Smelting & Refining Co. plant located in Ruston is the Herreschoff Roaster baghouse that was brand new that year. It had been installed as part of ASARCO's modernization and served to curb industrial air pollution. The baghouse vented the roaster plant to the left. The arsenic plant is situated on the right. The gondola cars collected "calcine" from the arsenic roasters which was further processed. (Additional information provided by a reader) Photograph ordered by National Blower & Sheet Metal Co.

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1970-1980; National Blower & Sheet Metal Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1971. 1971 Richards color stock footage. View of ASARCO smelter ca. 1971. Once the tallest smokestack in the world, it was demolished in January of 1993, some eight years after the plant closed due to environmental and economic reasons. TPL-5856

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Smokestacks--Tacoma; Chimneys--Tacoma;

Star Iron & Steel Co. employees. Employees of Star Iron & Steel Co. pose happily on September 28, 1970, in front of company headquarters at 326 Alexander Ave. These men were the crew responsible for the building of the 100-ton floating cranes for the U.S. Navy. Star Iron & Steel was under contract to build several of these massive cranes for the government. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Hoisting machinery;

Star Iron & Steel Co. operations. An unidentified Star Iron & Steel worker alertly keeps his eyes on the machine before him in this March, 1971, photograph. Star Iron & Steel had a backlog of unfilled contracts totaling $14,500,000, most scheduled for completion in 1971. The plant would have been bustling as there had been a 500% increase in sales over the last five years. Employment had tripled at the plant to handle the multitude of orders. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co. (TNT 12-13-70, C-21- article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Machinery;

The bulkhead has completed its move from Star Iron & Steel's Alexander Ave. location to the Port of Tacoma's waterfront. This February 4, 1971, photograph shows the floating bulkhead in place. Four days later, Star Marine Industries, a subsidiary of Star Iron & Steel, would begin moving the 114-ton, $165,000 bulkhead to the Little Goose Lock & Dam on the Snake River. There the concrete bulkhead with watertight compartments would be used in maintenance and repair work. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel. (TNT 2-6-71, p. 21 - article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Retaining walls--Tacoma;

ASARCO smelter (American Smelting & Refining Co.). A large crane mounted on tracks is unloading ore from the Norwegian motorship Bronnoy. The ship carried a $600,000 cargo of gold ore from Russian mines in the Urals. The mechanical crane could carry 5 tons on each dip into the ship's hold. The Bronnoy's 8,997 ton shipment will be refined at the rate of 900 tons a day. (T. Times 9/13/1935, pg. 3 & 1/19/1935, pg. 1)

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma--1930-1940; Copper industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Industrial facilities--Tacoma;

This is the American Smelting & Refining Company smokestack in Ruston as pictured in September of 1935. At 571 feet, the ASARCO smokestack dominated the skyline near Point Defiance from its elevated position above the waterfront. At the time of its construction in 1917, it was the tallest smokestack in the world. It lost nine feet in height after repairs in 1937. The smelter stack was demolished on January 17, 1993.

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma--1930-1940; Copper industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Smokestacks--Tacoma;

When the wooden Whidbey Island - Mukilteo ferry landing was damaged by a ferry in August of 1938, the Puget Sound Navigation Company contacted the Star Iron & Steel Company in Tacoma. Within five days, plans were drawn and a steel replacement was built and ready for installation. The Cooney Transfer & Storage Company transported the finished 30,000 pound, 64 foot-long structure on an extra long Becholdt trailer. (T. Times, 8/23/1938, p. 3).

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Cooney Transfer & Storage Co. (Tacoma); Bridges--Whidbey Island; Trailers; Shipping--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Star Iron & Steel Company bridge fabricated in five days for Whidbey Island-Mukilteo ferry landing. On August 23, 1938, the Cooney Transfer & Storage Company transported the 30,000 pound, 64 foot-long steel bridge on a Becholdt trailer. The original wooden ferry landing structure was ripped out by the ferry a week ago. Within five days, the plans were drawn for the steel replacement, the steel was fabricated and two coats of paint were applied. (T. Times, 8/23/1938, p.3).

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Cooney Transfer & Storage Co. (Tacoma); Bridges--Whidbey Island; Trailers; Shipping--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1939. Ace Furnace and Steel Company, photograph pulled from Richards stock file. Transport trucks parked in front of company. (filed with Argentum)

Ace Furnace & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Heating & ventilation industry--Tacoma--1930-1940;

American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO), Tacoma. Worker handling a steel plate on machinery, above which hangs a load of bricks suspended by a heavy chain. For J. Gius, reporter. (WSHS)

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma--1930-1940; Copper industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Industrial facilities--Tacoma;

Atlas Foundry furnace. Three men working near the furnace in this photograph from January of 1937. They are guiding a bucket of molten iron or steel suspended on a large pulley above an open grate in the floor.

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1930-1940; Steel industry--Tacoma--1930-1940;

In January of 1937, a team of workmen at the Atlas Foundry, 3012 So. Wilkeson St. were photographed pouring molten metal into a small mold. In 1937 the Atlas Foundry employed 97 skilled workmen, and was the largest foundry on the Pacific Coast. Their three story pattern building housed over 50,000 wooden patterns, from which they could make castings varying in size from a 2-ounce bronze boat fitting to a 16-ton cast iron slag pot. Founded in 1899, the Atlas Foundry is now Atlas Casting & Technology. (TDL 3/28/1937)

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1930-1940; Steel industry--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Atlas Foundry furnace. Six workmen observing glowing furnace and an open grate in the floor in January of 1937. Two of the men are twisting a metal rod near the furnace.

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1930-1940; Steel industry--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Pouring of metal at the Atlas Foundry. Men with cigarettes clamped in their teeth work the machinery that pours molten metal into a container. With America's entry into World War II just around the corner, production in metal would have been stepped up.

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma);

Views of Atlas Foundry and Machine Company looking south from hill above Nalley Valley. [Also dated 08-26-1941]

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1940-1950;

By July of 1941, when this photograph was taken, the sprawling Atlas Foundry had already been located at South 30th and Wilkeson Streets for almost 40 years. Their complex of buildings was located between Center Street (the road showing at the bottom) and South Tacoma Way in the Center Street Industrial District at the east end of "Nalley's Valley". The Atlas Foundry was built right next to the Northern Pacific Rail Road tracks which ran past their north side. The dirt road going up the hill at left-center is Wilkeson Street. [Also dated 08-26-1941]

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Atlas Foundry & Machine Company. Cranes and lifts for Broderick & Bascomb wire rope. A crane picks up metal scrap using a large magnetized plate. Atlas Foundry worked on their shop layout to increase efficiency as they prepare for possibly unprecedented large volumes of business this year. The foundry manufactured steel, iron and brass castings. The company was established in 1899 on a ten acre site at 3012 South Wilkeson. They were capable of producing 80,000 pounds of steel per day. (T.Times, 8/28/1946, p.5)

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hoisting machinery;

Permanente. Two men are having fun with a load of alumina, a fine white powder that is refined from alumium-bearing ore, bauxite. Bauxite was mined in South America, refined, using the Bayer process, in Baton Bouge and shipped by rail to the Pacific Northwest where it was converted into primary aluminum. Four pounds of bauxite were required to obtain two pounds of alumina shich yields one pound of aluminum. As of September 1948 nearly 500 boxcar loads of alumina per month were brought to Tacoma and Mead aluminum reduction plants, thereby becoming one of the largest users of boxcars in the Northwest.(Permanente Metals Corporation 1947-1948 Annual Report; T.Times, 9/6/1948, p.12)

Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma)--Employees; Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Aluminum; Minerals--Tacoma; Laborers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Girls from Catholic College visiting Permanente plant, Bill Gorman. Several students from the freshman chemistry class at Tacoma Catholic College watch as the white, powdery alumina is added to a reduction pot in preparation to being melted and poured into molds to form pig aluminum. This was the first step in creating the later stages of aluminum that would be used in making Kaiser aluminum products from roofing and siding to airplane parts, ice cube trays and pots and pans. (TNT, 3/1948)

Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Foundries--Tacoma--1940-1950; Laborers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950;