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;

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;

Exterior view of Pacific Iron & Steel Works, 1602 Canal St. (now Portland Ave.) Two story warehouse, wood and sheet metal construction with elevated second story. The company manufactured logging and hoisting machines, steel castings and dredging machinery. TPL-2937

Pacific Iron & Steel Works (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1940-1950; Steel industry--Tacoma-- 1940-1950;

Pacific Iron & Steel Works, 1602 Canal St. (now Portland Ave.) Photograph is of large machinery covering the floor of the foundry. The company manufactured steel castings, as well as large machinery for logging, dredging and hoisting.

Pacific Iron & Steel Works (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1940-1950; Steel industry--Tacoma-- 1940-1950;

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;

On October 27, 1948, Permanente Metal Corporation employees, left to right, Charlotte Thorestad, C.P. (Pat) Love (plant manager) and Darlene O'Brien sat surrounded by a sea of iced cupcakes marked with a "P" and decorated with a single candle. Permanente's aluminum reduction plant at 2400 Taylor Way was celebrating its first year of production of Kaiser Aluminum with a "Family Day" Open House. Employees along with 1,500 friends, families and relations were the guests of management. They observed the step by step process of making aluminum and ate hot dogs cooked on a 500 lb. "pig" of aluminum, sandwiches, cupcakes and punch. The plant had been previously operated during World War II by the Olin Corporation. After its purchase by Kaiser, it became one of six aluminum plants operated by the company. The other plants were located at Mead and Trentwood Washington (near Spokane), Baton Rouge La., Newark Ohio and San Jose Ca. The Tacoma plant was permanently closed in 2002 and later demolished. (TNT 10/28/1948, p.1)

Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma)--Employees; Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Employees--Tacoma--1940-1950; Baked products--Tacoma--1940-1950; Love, Charles P.; O'Brien, Darlene; Thorestad, Charlotte; Anniversaries--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Permanente's First Anniversary, Permanente Metals, Bill Gorman. A crowd of employees and their families watch James Condos, a caster at the plant, demonstrate pouring molten aluminum from a large ladle into a form for pig aluminum. More than 1,500 visitors crowded into the plant October 27, 1948, to celebrate the plant's first year of operation under Kaiser. They saw the step-by-step processes that went into making aluminum by touring the potrooms, rectifier stations, the machine shop, blacksmith shop and the casting room. (T.Times, 10/18, 1948, -.1)

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

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;

Lumber Grappel being made for Weyerhauser Timber Company, Star Iron and Steel, George Buckingham. This lumber grapple was built to be operated by one man. It could run on direct or alternating current. It handled 7 1/2 tons of packaged lumber, to be picked up in any position and placed exactly where required. Leslie E. Jensen, Star's Chief Engineer (left) and Arthur Teabo, shop superintendent, are discussing construction details. (T.Times, 1/26/1948, p.5)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jensen, Leslie E.; Teabo, Arthur; Machinery; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Fick Foundry for Industrial page of Times, George Beckingham. The building was built in 1925 for Walstad Machine Company. Fick Foundry opened at this location in 1942. This view includes the traveling craneway that was employed to handle large flasks used for making molds for large castings similar to the one being moved here. Two workmen are handling this operation. Fick advertised that they were manufacturers of iron, steel, brass, and aluminum castings for machine, marine and general usage. (T.Times, 2/26/1948, p.28 and p.41)

Fick Foundry Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hoisting machinery; Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950; Laborers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

American Smelter and Refining Company (ASARCO) was celebrating 50 years of business with an open-house. ASARCO was founded in 1899 in New Jersey, by Henry H. Rogers and associates. The original smelter at this local site was founded by five Tacoma businessmen, the company merged with ASARCO in 1905. View of ten unidentified ASARCO employees standing in front of a welcome sign (T.N.T., 4/3/49, p. A-15 & 4/5/49, p. 1).

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

Upwards of 7,000 people from throughout the Puget Sound region visited the ASARCO smelter on April 4, 1949 when the American Smelting & Refining Co. held an open house to celebrate their 50th anniversary. The smelter in Tacoma was actually over 50 years old at the time, having been started in 1890 by W. R. Rust. The celebration marked the anniversary of ASARCO which was founded in 1899 and bought the Tacoma smelter in 1905. (T.N.T., 4/3/49, p. A-15 & 4/5/49, p. 1).

Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Celebrations--Tacoma; Smelters--Tacoma; Spectators--Tacoma; American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma)--Anniversaries; Smokestacks--Tacoma;

American Smelter and Refining Company (ASARCO) was celebrating 50 years of business with an open-house. ASARCO was proud of their continuous modernization of their facilities, and the local Tacoma plant had recently undergone modifications and was about to expand their production of products. View of people who attended ASARCO's open house (T.N.T., 4/3/49, p. A-15 & 4/5/49, p. 1).

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

From the evidence provided by this photograph, the security guards at the Kaiser aluminum plant on the Tideflats had a pretty easy life in September of 1947. But one has to wonder what the corporate headquarters for Permanente Metals Corporation thought about the security at their Tacoma plant when they saw this carefully posed picture. The Tacoma plant was only one year old, having been taken over by Permanente Metals Corp. from the Olin Corp. in 1946. (Permanente Metals, Mr. Love) TPL-9603

Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma)--Employees; Guards--Tacoma--1940-1950; Private police--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gatehouses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950; Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Shiploading aluminum ingots at Shaffer Terminal #3, Permanente Metals, Pat Love. "Pigs" of aluminum produced by Permanente Metals Corporation in Spokane are ready to be loaded into an Argentine government freighter, the Palamar, at Shaffer Terminals. (T.Times, 8/28/1947, p.1)

Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shipping--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shaffer Terminals, Inc. (Tacoma); Loading docks--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Shiploading aluminum ingots at Shaffer Terminal #3, Permanente Metals, Pat Love. Aluminum from Permanente Metals Corporation is being loaded through the hatch of an Argentine government freighter, the Palamar. The ship was formerly the Spica, operated by the U.S. navy during World War II. Her captain on this delivery is Jose Pita. (T.Times, 8/28/1947, p.1)

Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shipping--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shaffer Terminals, Inc. (Tacoma); Loading docks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cargo ships--Argentina; Hoisting machinery;

The Tacoma plant of the Permanente Metals Corporation accomplished its first casting of "pigs" from molten metal in November of 1947. Plant employees in the pot room were photographed getting the newly molten metal in the ladle ready to pour into a mold to form pigs. Cast pigs could weigh from fifty and one thousand pounds depending on size and composition. Once cooled, the pigs were stacked on pallets and transported to the rolling mill at Trentwood, located near Spokane, Washington. The pigs from the Mead and Tacoma plant would later be re-melted in furnaces where other metallic elements were added to form standard alloys. Tacoma's Permanente plant produced aluminum in commercial quantities for Henry J. Kaiser's industrial operations. (PMC Annual Report, 1947-1948; T.Times 11-19-47, p. 18-alt. photograph & article).

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

Permanente would be producing 42,000,000 pounds of pure aluminum per year at the Tacoma plant. Tacoma's output will supplement the Mead Reduction plant near Spokane, Washington. Permanente Metals delayed their plant opening, until the newest generator of the Grand Coulee power plant was in operation. View of Permanente technicians checking equipment (T. Times, 10/31/47, p. 1).

Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Control rooms--Tacoma; Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma)--Employees;

Permanente Metals Tacoma plant was a modern aluminum reduction plant. The plant had two pot lines that produced about 42,000,000 pounds of aluminum per year. This plant was located in the Tide Flats area and was spread over 129 acres, the plant went into official production on October 31, 1947. View of Permanente employee using the time clock (T. Times, 10/31/47, p. 1).

Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Time; Time clocks; Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma)--Employees;

Publicity shots at Permanente Metals, Bill Gorman. Two of the staff at Permanente are checking the pressure through a hose and narrow pipe on the arm of the young man in a chemical lab. Glass containers and tubing are set up on the counter in front of them. They both wear aprons with bibs. The woman has her goggles lifted up onto her forehead. TPL-4555

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

Publicity shots at Permanente Metals, Bill Gorman. Two workmen from the Permanente plant stand side-by-side, the older man has his arm around the shoulder of a younger man. The older man is wearing coveralls, a heavy shirt and a hat. He has goggles hanging around his neck. The other, younger man is wearing a jacket, a plaid shirt, and a hat. They are both smiling. The plant facilities are seen in the background. TPL-4555

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

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;

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;

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;