General Mills supervisors, Mr. Meinecke, Sperry Flour Division. Eight men from the Sperry Flour plant in their work clothes and one men in a business suit in this photograph taken on May 3, 1948. All but one of them wears a hat. At the far left is John W. Geddis. Mr. Geddis was a management trainee in 1948 which involved rotating through various training and supervisory assignments. He later became head of all General Mills Production and Distribution west of the Rocky Mountains. (Additional identification & information provided by a reader)

General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); Flour & meal industry--Tacoma; Mills--Tacoma; Employees--Tacoma--1940-1950; Geddis, John W.;

The Bechtel Corporation from California was the company working on the General Mills Sperry Division flour mills expansion project. The project was approved in 1947 and was expected to be completed in 1948. Exterior view of Sperry plant, Bechtel sign advertising their services is on top of office building. The safety signs indicates building construction is in progress.

Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma; Construction industry--Tacoma; Engineering--Tacoma; Remodeling--Tacoma; General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); Bechtel Corp. (Tacoma);

Wheeler Osgood was a leader in the lumber industry, they manufactured doors and plywood panels. The company has been doing business in Tacoma for many years, they are one of the oldest businesses in Tacoma. In 1947 Wheeler Osgood was considering expanding their facilities, no changes had yet started, although the exterior of plant had been painted in October of 1947. Exterior view of Wheeler Osgood Company facilities.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Plywood; Building materials industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Wheeler, Osgood Co. (Tacoma);

Publicity shots at Permanente Metals, Bill Gorman. One of Permanente's employees sits at his desk checking lists of figures and order forms. A map of the United States hangs on the wall behind him. Clip boards of additional data also hang on the wall along with schedules. A telephone sits to his right on the desk. The man is wearing a sports jacket, a sweater vest and a tie. He also wears a large ring on his left hand. A pencil protrudes from his jacket pocket. TPL-4555

Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma)--Employees; Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Employees--Tacoma--1940-1950; Paperwork; Maps; Telephones;

Publicity shots at Permanente Metals, Bill Gorman. A view of one of the switchboard operators at the Permanente plant in Tacoma and the switchboard panel. She is wearing a headset to enable her to use both hands when operating the cords on the switchboard. A telephone dial is seen beyond her right arm and other office machinery is in the background. The young woman is wearing a two piece suit, a white blouse and a plaid scarf. Permanente acknowledged the high value of each employee in their annual reports. TPL-4555

Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma)--Employees; Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Telephone switchboards--Tacoma--1940-1950; Telephone operators--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Northern Pacific Railway's new freight station and office building was constructed using brick building materials. The building provided modern office space and efficient freight handling facilities. The office portion is 70 feet by 57 feet, and the freight station is 55 feet by 250 feet. The new facilities include parking space and pavement along Puyallup Avenue, this will be used exclusively by the freight station.

Railroad companies--Tacoma; Railroad stations--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shipping--Tacoma; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma);

Leon Titus was allowed to ride in the cab of a 122 foot long locomotive, this train makes the Seattle--Tacoma--Portland run daily. Leon would get to ride to Seattle and back to Tacoma. Mr. Titus has been a longtime enthusiast about railroading. View of Leon Titus dressed in his train-wear, he is standing with the Union Pacific train conductor (T.N.T., 5/9/48, p. A-13). TPL-9868

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Railroads--Tacoma; Businessmen--Tacoma; Railroad companies--Tacoma; Union Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); Titus, Leon E.;

Interior view of General Mills Sperry Division plant in Tacoma. In 1947 the company had decided to expand their facilities. Sperry Flour products were exported throughout the world and shipped throughout the United States, the company was producing over 12,000 barrels of flour per day in order to fill the world's needs.

Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Grains--Tacoma; Grain industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Grain elevators--Tacoma; Remodeling--Tacoma; General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma);

Interior view of "Coronado's", a Peterson built boat, shaft alley. This room is the distribution center for bait water, brine circulation and refrigeration control. The shaft alley connects to the main engine room and refrigerated storage units. "Coronado" was a 103 foot tuna clipper (Pacific Fisherman, 1949 Yearbook Number, 1/25/49). TPL-8974

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Equipment; Machinery; Fishing boats--Tacoma; Control rooms--Tacoma; Peterson Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Interior view of "Coronado's", a Peterson built fishing boat, steering and navigation room. This room is also finished in mahogany plywood panels, compasses, steering wheel and engine controls are all located in this compartment. "Coronado" was furnished with the most modern navigation accessories and equipment (Pacific Fisherman, 1949 Yearbook Number, 1/25/49). TPL-8971

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma; Navigation; Steering wheels; Compasses; Peterson Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Tomato packing machine, machine for making card board containers, Mutual Fruit Company, Union Pacific Freight Terminal, Les Crawford. One man watches to be sure the tomatoes are properly fed into the packing machine and another man watches to be sure they are wrapped correctly coming out of the machine before packing the cartons into wooden crates.

Mutual Fruit Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Packaging; Machinery; Conveying systems--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fruit--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tomatoes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fruit industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

View of sand blasting and re-painting of boat "Eileen", work is being done by Machinists Incorporated, a repair shop from Seattle, Washington, the job is being done at Tacoma Boat Building facilities. The workman is painting the side of the boat, he is using a paint sprayer and wearing a face mask. The boat is expected to be completed in a few days, photo ordered by Machinists Inc. TPL-8956

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boats & boating; Fishing boats--Tacoma; Maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Sand blast; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Machinists, Inc. (Seattle);

Johnnie B a recently launched purse seiner, built by Pacific Boat Building Company. Pacific Boat was owned by John B. Breskovich, he was also Vice-President of Puget Sound Boat Building Corporation. Pacific Boat Building plant and facilities were located at 759 Port of Tacoma Road. View of two people waving from "Johnnie B" fishing boat (Steve Mullan on right). TPL-10567

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma; Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Moving and Storage Company specialized in furniture and piano moving; they were located in downtown Tacoma at 2136-38 Pacific Avenue. Interior view of Tacoma Moving and Storage Company facilities, an unidentified worker is applying "Owens-Corning Fiberglas" to the wall; photo ordered by Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, a building insulation company based out of Seattle, Washington.

Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Glass fiber industry--Tacoma; Maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Construction workers--Tacoma; Tacoma Moving & Storage Co. (Tacoma); Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp. (Seattle);

The completion of the kraft paper mill in Tacoma, allowed St. Regis a considerable increase in the paper production industry. Interior view of St. Regis plant, view of Jones Majestic machinery; photo ordered by E. D. Jones and Sons Company, machinery and equipment manufacturers based out of Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Machinery; Machinery industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; E.D. Jones & Sons Co. (Tacoma);

The completion of the expansion project in Tacoma, have made this plant the focal point for St. Regis' expanding pulp, paper and multiwall bag operations in the West. Interior view of St. Regis plant, view of Jones Majestic machinery; photo ordered by E. D. Jones and Sons Company, machinery and equipment manufacturers based out of Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Machinery; Machinery industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; E.D. Jones & Sons Co. (Tacoma);

St. Regis' expansion project started after World war II ended in 1945, the company was able to begin paper production in Tacoma in January 1949. Interior view of St. Regis and paper producing machinery; photo ordered by Pusey & Jones Corporation, a machinery manufacturer from Wilmington, Delaware.

Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Machinery; Machinery industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Pusey & Jones Corp. (Tacoma);

Interior view of St. Regis, view of the new high speed kraft paper machine, this machine is designed to operate at 2,000 feet per minute and produce paper nearly fourteen feet wide; this machine has been operating since January 5, 1949. Photo ordered by Pusey & Jones Corporation, a machinery manufacturer from Wilmington, Delaware.

Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mechanical systems--Tacoma; Machinery; Machinery industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Pusey & Jones Corp. (Tacoma);

St. Regis had been expanding their facilities for many years, the company had added new buildings and was ready to begin the mass production of paper in Tacoma. View of new high speed kraft paper machine, this equipment is used in the "wet end" of paper production. Photo ordered by Pusey & Jones Corporation, a machinery manufacturer from Wilmington, Delaware.

Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mechanical systems--Tacoma; Machinery; Machinery industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Pusey & Jones Corp. (Tacoma);

St. Regis' first mill was located at Deferiet, New York, this mill has been kept modern and enlarged in order to ensure high levels of productivity. Interior view of St. Regis in Tacoma and paper producing machinery; photo ordered by Pusey & Jones Corporation, a machinery manufacturer from Wilmington, Delaware.

Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Paper--Tacoma; Mechanical systems--Tacoma; Machinery; Machinery industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Pusey & Jones Corp. (Tacoma);

Interior view of St. Regis; view of Tacoma mill's new high speed kraft paper machine, it is designed to operate at 2,000 feet per minute and produce paper nearly fourteen feet wide, unidentified man is standing by the machine. Photo ordered by Pusey & Jones Corporation, a machinery manufacturer from Wilmington, Delaware.

Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Paper--Tacoma; Mechanical systems--Tacoma; Machinery; Machinery industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Pusey & Jones Corp. (Tacoma);

Two workers are pictured unloading a roll of Kraft paper to join others already stored in St. Regis' paper storage room. St. Regis had began producing paper in January of 1949 as it used the most modern equipment available at the time to convert liquid pulp into heavy multiwall Kraft paper. The plant was able to produce about 240 tons of multiwall bag paper per day.

Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Paper; Hoisting machinery; Machinery; Equipment; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

Western Gear at St. Regis plant. A view of two large pieces of machinery used in paper manufacturing at the new Kraft paper plant of St. Regis manufactured by Pusey-Jones Corporation, Wilmington, Delaware.

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Machinery;

Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., interior and exterior, Mr. Joe Martinac. A view of a ship's galley and table. Condiments are lined up along the center line of the table. A fire extinguisher is attached to the wall to the left. The large galley has a sink, stove and lots of storage area. Coffee pots are seen against the wall. TPL-8986

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Galleys (Ship kitchens); Kitchens--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., interior and exterior, Mr. Joe Martinac. A view of the helm with wooden paneling and navigating devices. TPL-9000

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Helms;

New Ford truck at Carstens' garage, Titus Motor Company, Henry Zachow. Titus Motor Company was the authorized Ford Truck distributor in the Tacoma area. Carstens had a large fleet of trucks not all of which were Fords. They had at least two refrigerated trucks built on Chevrolet chassis.

Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ford trucks;

Great Northern Box Car being loaded by Sperry Flour Company at Ocean Dock, DFPA, Edith Leik. A view inside the box car. Bags of flour are being moved by a forklift to fill the upper spaces in the box car. The interior of the freight car is lined with plywood and paper to protect the flour and meal being shipped. TPL-10457

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Great Northern Railway Co. (Tacoma); General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); Railroad freight cars--Tacoma; Railroad tracks--Tacoma; Flour & meal industry--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery;

Tacoma Boat. A view of the interior of the "Defiance" showing the engine room from the engineer's workbench located on a stepped bow tank. Included in the view are the three diesel auxiliaries, fresh water still, two ammonia compressors with control panel and distribution headers, snychronizing switchboard, power panel and motor starters topped off with a 600 h.p. heavy duty diesel propulsion engine weighing 40 tons. To the far left side is a compressor which supplied refrigeration for the freezer sections of the hold. Tacoma Boat announced their 16-year record in February 1948 as: 104 new commercial vessels of wood and steel; and, 1,073 commercial vessels rebuilt, modernized, converted or repaired. (T.Times, 2/26/1948, p.43; Tacoma Boatbuilding Co., Inc. Catalog, 9/1/1953) TPL-8947

Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat engines;

Tacoma Boat, the "Defiance". During its water trials the Definace, a 106 foot steel tuna seiner, shows her grace and power with a 600 hp Washington main engine. The Defiance has three decks with the pilot house on the second deck. She was built for Ted Luchich, et al. (Pacific Fisherman Yearbook 1948, p. 197) TPL-8943

Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Pacific Boat. The hull of a new motor/pleasure boat is laid out on supports in the boat building facility. The new aluminum boats were to be the "Ford" of the boat industry. Bob Breskovich indicated he planned to produce 1,000 or more of these in 1948. Several models were planned running from the simple fisherman's model, consisting of two seats converting into a double bunk, a canopy and an open back, to a deluxe model with an all enclosed cabin. (TNT, 12/10/1947)

Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Yachts--Tacoma--1940-1950;