Molten showers were not an unusual occurrence at the Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel works in Seattle. The steel manufactured at Bethlehem's facilities was used in many structures locally, including the Alaska Way Viaduct and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The Bay area's Carquinez Straits Bridge utilized Bethlehem Corporation's steel in the approaches to the bridge and Bethlehem's shipbuilding division in Quincy, Mass., produced the steel used in 25,000 to 106,500-ton tankers. Bethlehem plants nationwide were booming and a new basic steel research center was being built in the adjoining site to Lehigh University in Pennsylvania to carry on vital new research projects. (TNT ad, 1-2-58, B-8)

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); Steel industry--Seattle; Industrial facilities--Seattle;

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel's works were booming in the 1950's, necessitating a $25 million dollar expansion in Seattle, as well as improvements and new construction elsewhere. New electric furnaces promised to boost steelmaking capacity 70% to 420,000 tons annually. Workers are pictured on March 6, 1958, seemingly dwarfed by the size of the huge equipment used in the Seattle plant. A cascade of sparks and smoke stream from an open hearth. The men are wearing hard hats and long coats for protection.

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); Steel industry--Seattle; Industrial facilities--Seattle;

A man, possibly Don Jaenicke, gives his shoes a high glossy shine as he has one foot on a plywood step containing an Esquire shoe shine kit. Cans of polish and a towel can be tucked away inside the plywood container and the container itself be stored in a closet. A convenient shoe rack is already in this Sylvan Park closet and space could be found for the shoe shine device as well. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Plywood; Shoe shining--Tacoma; Shoes; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Plywood is being laid on this large roof in a May 16, 1958, photograph. One worker is observed with his back to the camera; he is standing on a portion of the roof which has a plywood sheet partially covering it. Long planks of wood are placed horizontally over the roofline. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Plywood; Building construction; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Members of Douglas Fir Plywood Association chuckle over results of the golf tournament held as part of their 22nd annual meeting in June, 1958. It may be that one player has lost a wager; he is shown with a dollar bill in his hand. The D.F.P.A. met in Gearhart, Oregon, that year. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Golf--Oregon--Gearhart;

Two members of Douglas Fir Plywood Association appear to be discussing the merits of a golf club in early June, 1958. The Association was holding its 22nd annual meeting, that year in Gearhart, Oregon, with a golf tournament as part of the activities. New officers of the association would be elected during the three-day conference. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Golf--Oregon--Gearhart; Golfers--Oregon--Gearhart;

Tacoma Boat Building launched MSC-277, a 145-foot minesweeper built for the Navy, on June 30, 1958, in Sitcum Waterway. During the early 1950's, Tacoma's shipbuilding companies had garnered several contracts to build vessels for the government. This wooden minesweeper, however, was the first to be formally launched in nearly two years by a Tacoma firm. Tacoma Boat Building was awarded a contract to build four minesweepers for the Navy at a cost of approximately $7 million. Since then, the firm had received contracts totaling $4.25 million for six more Navy craft. The ship's sponsor was Mrs. Guy Garland, wife of the commander of the Tacoma Naval Station. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (TNT 6-27-58, A-1, TNT 6-29-58, B-2, TNT 7-1-58, A-6))

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

An employee of Ace Furnace & Steel Co. leans one arm against a massive steel jet propulsion fuel storage tank on company property on August 5, 1958. He appears diminutive when contrasted with the 10.6 foot diameter tank. The gas tank measures 77.5 feet in length. Ace Furnace produced steel storage tanks for oil, gasoline and water, stacks, marquees, canopies, steel heating and ventilation systems, boilers, furnaces, and marine sheet metal. The company's major output now are tanks of all sizes, approximately 400-800 tanks per month. The huge tanks pictured above were just built for McChord Air Force Base. It is estimated that these were the largest shop fabricated steel tanks ever built in Tacoma. The Northern Pacific cars in the background would make transportation of these heavy steel products easier and more efficient. Photograph ordered by Ace Furnace & Steel Co. (TNT 9-1-58, C-7)

Ace Furnace & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma; Storage tanks--Tacoma; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The figure of a logger is starkly outlined in black as he descends a spar pole. His steel tipped shoes assist in keeping himself steady. The belt circling the pole is used to keep him from falling. The spar pole has multiple cables that are used for yarding logs from surrounding strands of trees. This photograph was taken on September 12, 1958, in Port McNeil, British Columbia. Photograph ordered by Malcolm McGhie, industrial consultant.

Loggers; Lumber industry--Canada;

Timber! A logger watches as a tall tree makes its slow descent to the ground in a September, 1958, photograph. Limbs may already have been pruned before the tree was toppled. Stumps and tree debris indicate that logging has already occurred in this area. Photograph ordered by Malcolm McGhie, industrial consultant. TPL-9430

Lumber industry; Logs; Loggers;

Improved machinery helped workers in more efficient harvesting of designated logs. Cable lines attached to the rear of a bulldozer haul away two smaller logs. Another log waits its turn to be removed. The bulldozer would also serve as an earth remover to clear paths in the forest. Photograph ordered by Malcolm McGhie, industrial consultant. TPL-9429

Bulldozers; Lumber industry; Loggers; Logs;

On October 6, 1958, a dairy farmer, possibly Kenneth Dedle, demonstrated a Chore-Boy Roll-O-Measure rigid weigh jar which appears to be filling up with milk. The weigh jar, among many other approved models, was used by both the dairyman and the DHI (Dairy Herd Improvement) programs to weigh the amount of milk each cow produced. Also, the weigh jars had a sampling valve that allowed for a milk sample to be obtained from each cow which was analyzed for milk fat and other components. The dairyman was then able to make management decisions about his herd. The Roll-O-Measure was manufactured in Cambridge City, Indiana. Sepia photograph ordered by Washington Cooperative Farmers Association. (Additional information on Chore-Boy Roll-O-Measure was provided by a reader)

Dairying; Milk; Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma);

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association's Feed Mill. The Co-op spent a million dollars in the late 1940's to construct the modern feed mill pictured above. The feed mill would utilize the most modern techniques to blend and weigh its grains. In addition, a bulk feed unit was constructed where the feed could be funneled directly into waiting delivery trucks or rail cars. The Washington Co-op had been serving the Tacoma area since 1920. Its feed mill manufactured much of the formula feeds used by Western Washington members. As the Co-op continued to grow, new additions were made to improve efficiency including eight huge tanks added to the bulk feed loading-out line to increase storage by 50%. A completely new overhead conveying system was added to speed the handling from the mill to the truck. It made it possible to convey two different products simultaneously and increased the loading capacity from 40 to 100 tons per hour. (TNT 9-1-58, C-2)

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Food storage buildings--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Launching of the MSC 279 by Tacoma Boat Building Co. The MSC 279 was the third 144ft minesweeper to be launched by the boat builder under the current contract. It was launched into the Sitcum Waterway at 2:30p.m. on Saturday, February 21st, 1959. Mrs. Paul Vetrees, wife of the company's chief engineer, was the sponsor and their eight year old daughter Cathy was the flower girl. (TNT 2/15/1959, pg. B-9)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Railroad tank car being loaded with caustic soda at Hooker Chemicals. Hooker Electrochemical was a large producer of chlorine and caustic soda, supplying the Pacific Northwest's pulp and paper industry.

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad tank cars--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Railroad tank car being loaded at Hooker Chemicals. The sign cautions "Danger, Caustic." Hooker Electrochemical was a large producer of chlorine and caustic soda, supplying the Pacific Northwest's pulp and paper industry. According to the tank's markings, it hold 8031 gallons of caustic soda.

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad tank cars--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Black smoke billows from the tremendous fire that is consuming the former home of the Tacoma Sash & Door Co. on May 9, 1959. The fire was reported at about 11:30 a.m. by a foreman at Reichhold Chemicals who saw flames shooting from the windows of the building. The chemical tanks at Reichhold stood about 100 yards from the blaze, but luckily the wind was blowing in the opposite direction. The heat, however, was so intense that most Reichhold employees had to stay indoors. Reichhold suffered only minor damage to a power plant in the fire. (TNT 5/9/1959, pg. 1 & 5/10/1959, pg. 1)

Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma); Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Sash & Door Co. (Tacoma);

The Washington Co-op farm supply display. On display are items such as milking machines and equipment, egg incubators, tires and freezers. The room is crowded with things that are needed on a family farm.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Agricultural industries;

Interior of the Washington Coop warehouse. The forklift driver to the right pauses in his movement of boxes to discuss things with a man with a clipboard. The man to the left of the picture is using a manually operated fork lift.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Warehouses--1950-1960; Hoisting machinery;

Quality control testing in the bulk grain storage, photograph ordered by the Washington Co-op. The uniformed man is selecting samples of the grain in the compartments of a long pole. The length of the pole is perhaps due to the need to test samples from the core of the pile of grain.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Mills--Tacoma; Food storage buildings--Tacoma; Product inspection; Food adulteration & inspection; Testing;

Exterior shot taken in the country of a feed truck unloading into a bulk feed bin, ordered by the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association. The photograph was shot for a periodical cover illustration. Client wanted to show the new feed truck with its automatic conveyor unloading into the bulk feed bin. Photograph taken by a photographer who climbed to the top of another bulk bin with an 8 x 10 camera.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Farming--Tacoma; Food industry--Tacoma;

Logging on the Olympic Peninsula, ordered by Malcolm McGhie for Rayonier. In Washington during the late fifties, Rayonier Inc and its logging contractors would cut and haul more than 240,000,000 board feet of logs a year. Here logs are being moved from a logging truck to a railway car where they will be shipped to the company's mill over their own logging railway. A large wood frame holds a series of steel cord and grapplers that lift the logs, they then are moved by pulleys to the area over the railroad car and loaded. (Rayonier Annual Report for 1959)

Lumber industry--Grays Harbor--1950-1960; Trees; Railroad cars--Grays Harbor; Logs; Rayonier, Inc. (Grays Harbor);

Exposure of logging operation at St. Paul & Tacoma and St. Regis Paper Co.; photographs ordered by Malcolm McGhie. In a typical landing, a truck is being loaded with logs yarded from the surrounding area by the high lead system, using a "spar tree." St. Regis and St. Paul & Tacoma merged in 1957 with St. Regis becoming the parent company.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cutover lands; Logs; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery;

Exposure of logging operation at St. Paul & Tacoma and St. Regis Paper Co.; photographs ordered by Malcolm McGhie. A crane machine with a grappling arm is being used to load a logging truck. In the background is a "spar tree," also used for moving timber. TPL-8292

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cutover lands; Logs; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery;

One man saw set up at St. Paul & Tacoma, Olympia, ordered by Globe Machinery Manufacturing Co. of Tacoma. Photograph shows "skinner end with tilt lift tilted." The saw was used for cutting sheets of plywood. Globe Machinery was founded in the early 1900s by Jesse Bamford, an English immigrant. In 1917, when his son Calvin Sr. took over the business, he focused specifically on designing and manufacturing machines for the developing forest products industry. The firm designed hundreds of machines for high efficiency veneer, plywood and board production. The address listed on their letterhead is 701 East "D" St. The company maintained a plant at 301 East 11th St. from 1929-1988.

St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Olympia); Lumber industry--Olympia--1950-1960; Plywood; Machinery industry--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Globe Machine Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

One man saw set up at St. Paul & Tacoma, Olympia, ordered by Globe Machinery Manufacturing Co. of Tacoma. The saw is used in plywood production. The plywood is moved on the conveyor belt to the left and one man can operate the machine using the electronic controls mounted to the right of the platform. Globe Manufacturing, founded in the early 1900s, designed and manufactured equipment for the veneer and plywood industry.

St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Olympia); Lumber industry--Olympia--1950-1960; Plywood; Machinery industry--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Globe Machine Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

Two workmen monitor testing on a piece of plywood at the Douglas Fir Plywood Association's test lab at 1214 A St in Tacoma. The DFPA had two labs, one in Tacoma and one in Eugene, to test and improve the plywood product. The machinery doing the testing is 8 feet wide and 15 feet high and is being operated by two men. It appears to be measuring the pressure on the plywood.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Plywood; Testing--Tacoma--1950-1960; Product inspection--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1959. Harmon Manufacturing Co. of Tacoma built classroom furniture as well as that for the home. The company was located at 1938 Pacific Ave. This studio set displays cabinets for the modern classroom or school library. Shown are the Teachers Storage Cabinet, Wall Cabinets, Counter Storage Cabinet, Tote Tray Cabinet, Drawer Storage Cabinet and magazine display and storage.

Furniture industry--Tacoma; F.S. Harmon Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Cabinets (Case furniture); Bookcases;

ca. 1959. Harmon Manufacturing Co. of Tacoma built classroom furniture as well as that for the home. The company was located at 1938 Pacific Ave. This studio setup is of cabinets for the classroom. Show are the Paper Storage Cabinet, Movable Drawer Storage and a bookshelf.

Furniture industry--Tacoma; F.S. Harmon Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Cabinets (Case furniture); Bookcases;

ca. 1959. Logging on the Olympic Peninsula, ordered by Malcolm McGhie for Rayonier Inc. A faller completes the undercut on a large cedar tree in the Crane Creek logging area. In Washington during the late 50's, Rayonier would cut and haul more than 240 million board feet of logs a year. TPL-9431

Lumber industry--Grays Harbor--1950-1960; Trees; Logs; Rayonier, Inc. (Grays Harbor);