Tacoma Auto Sales, new 1949 Pontiacs, Mr. Bryson Gardner. Tacoma Auto Sales Company, Pontiac and Cadillac dealers, general view of showroom with customers admiring the 1949 Pontiacs. Tacoma Auto Sales advertised "Stream-Sweep fenders, automatic driving ease, and straight-eight or V-6 engines". (TNT, 2/13/1949, p.B-2)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pontiac automobile; Tacoma Auto Sales Co. (Tacoma);

Industrial edition, Banks, Times, Buzz. A view of the exterior of the Bank of California built in 1928 of Wilkeson sandstone and granite. The four ionic columns, which cost $3,500 each to build, stretch three stories up the front of the building. There were numerous banks and savings and loans with their headquarters in Tacoma at this time and they played an important role in the development of industry and the construction of buildings and homes in the area. (T.Times, 2/25/1949, p.12)

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Columns--Tacoma; Business districts--Tacoma;

Ted Grunden, Tacoma's singing barber, locks the door of his barber shop in the Olympus Hotel with the tools of his trade held under his arm. After working 19 years at the same spot he relocated to the Riviera Barber Shop down the street at 908 Pacific Avenue. The Olympus Hotel was expanding their present tavern into a cocktail lounge. Ted Gunden had been the unofficial barber for the Tacoma Times employees for many of those 19 years. Taken for Prescott, Tacoma Times. (T.Times, 2/27/1949, p.36) TLP-6386

Olympus Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gunden, Ted; Barbers--Tacoma; Barbershops--Tacoma;

Rebuilding Ford engine at Titus Motor, Times, Buzz. A man is operating one of the machines at Titus Manufacturing Company. During the past summer at least four motors a day were reconditioned at the facility. (T.Times, 2/20/1949, p.3)

Titus Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Gasoline engines; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Machinery at Northwest Door Company, American Marietta Co., Henry Presessor. Large bags of dry, powdered adhesives are placed near a mixer at Northwest Door Company. The bag in the foreground is being moved by an overhead carrier. The glues used in the manufacture of plywood gave it strength and, as non-soluble glues were developed, plywood became weatherproof.

Northwest Door Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Machinery; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Plywood; Glue;

Crowd at Selden's Rug Show, Selden's, Mrs. Selden. A crowd of people stand outside at night looking in through Selden's showroom windows at the rug show. The company's neon sign spells the name of Selden's.

Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma); Rugs; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Drug Company, interior and exterior of new offices, Tacoma Drug Co., Fred Osmers. The wholesale drug company had completed a new warehouse and offices on the Tacoma tideflats and were now stocking the 60,000 square feet of warehousing. The modern facilities were well lit. On the right can be seen their system for moving goods from the back of the warehouse in large tubs on a counter made of continuous rollers. Empty tubs could be returned to the back of the warehouse using an overhead conveyor.

Tacoma Drug Co. (Tacoma); Medicines; Warehouses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business enterprises--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Big Six Service was owned by M. A. Martin, they were located at 3826 Sixth Avenue. Big Six offered their customers a full service gas station with a repair shop, fuel oil, battery and tire service, radios and electrical appliances. Exterior view of Big Six Service station, photo ordered by West Marquis Incorporated, an advertising agency based out of Seattle. The man in the hat is reported to be Malvin Andreas Martin. TPL-9267

Automobile service stations--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Gasoline--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Big Six Service (Tacoma); West Marquis, Inc. (Seattle);

The students of Arlington Elementary School were invited to the Music Box Theatre to watch Walt Disney's "So Dear to My Heart" in technicolor on March 2, 1949. The movie poster reads "A Dilly-Dilly Delight;" Burl Ives, Beulah Bondi, Harry Carey, Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten star in the movie. Exterior view of the Music Box Theatre, Arlington's 2nd and 3rd grade students are standing with their teacher, holding a sign that lists their names.

Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1940-1950; Motion pictures; Motion picture posters; School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Teachers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Motion picture audiences--Tacoma; Arlington School (Tacoma); Music Box Theatre (Tacoma);

Puget Sound Furniture Company was celebrating the grand re-opening of their furniture store in March of 1949. Ben Slotnick, owner, had planned a $100,000 remodeling and expansion project; the business had been at this location for 25 years. Interior view of the newly remodeled Puget Sound Furniture Company; showroom is fully stocked with everything customers may need for their homes (T. Times, 3/31/49, p. 4, 5).

Furniture stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Showrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Home furnishings stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Remodeling--Tacoma--1940-1950; Furniture; Appliances; Puget Sound Furniture Co. (Tacoma);

MGM's "Command Decision" featuring Clark Gable, Walter Pidgeon, Van Johnson, Brian Donlevy, Charles Bickford, John Hodiak and Edward Arnold was playing at Tacoma's Music Box Theatre. A "Technicolor" cartoon, "The Cat Who Hated People" was the movie extra being featured. View of window display of jewelry and movie poster at The Diamond Shop on Broadway promoting the movie for the Music Box.

Jewelry stores--Tacoma; Motion picture posters; Motion pictures; Publicity; Advertisements--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Diamond Shop (Tacoma); Music Box Theatre (Tacoma);

Exterior view of the American Building Maintenance Company; it was the largest janitorial contractors, janitor service, window cleaning, floor waxing and wall cleaning business. Scaffolding is set up on exterior of building, possibly for remodeling, the business is located next to Puget Sound Auto Electric Company; both businesses were located on South 7th Street and Pacific Avenue. Photo ordered by Universal Scaffold and Contractors Supply Company.

Scaffolding--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Street lights--Tacoma; Universal Scaffold & Contractors Supply (Tacoma); American Building Maintenance Co. (Tacoma);

Interior and exterior view of new store, Ghilarducci's, Elbert Baker. A view of the interior of Ghilarducci's new florist shop showing the business office and cash register. A counter is located on the left where customers can make out cards to go with their flowers. The company advertised that they had three telephones to accept orders. The office has a file cabinet and safe against the far wall.

Ghilarducci's California Florists (Tacoma); Florist shops--Tacoma; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Office furniture; Cash registers;

Repair shop machinery and equipment for factory representative, Sanford Nash. Specialized machinery for testing automobile performance has been placed up on a ramp where the rear wheels rest against a spinning column. Neon signs hang from the ceiling for "Engine" and "Motor Tune Up".

Sanford-Nash, Inc. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma's Rudder Club offered their members a number of social activities throughout the year. Hat and style shows, stag and doe parties, children's events, dinner and cocktails at the club's facilities, and many other functions for their members and guests. Interior view of private dining room at the club's facilities, located at 735 Commerce Street; a lovely table is set with five unidentified waitresses ready to serve at the private party.

Table settings & decorations; Dining tables; Waitresses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dining rooms--Tacoma; Restaurant workers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Organizations' facilities--Tacoma; Clubs--Tacoma; Rudder Club, Inc. (Tacoma);

Several homes under construction, Briggs Construction Co., Mr. Spillman. H.A. Briggs was president of Briggs Construction Company, Jack N. Briggs was vice president and Mrs. Ruth D. Briggs was secretary-treasurer. Their offices were at 1107 A Street. This view shows a new neighborhood of one-story, single family homes built to meet the expanding housing market. Briggs Construction Company was considered on the the Northwest's most progressive firms. They held open an open house for prospective buyers on August 7, 1949, at recently completed units in the Parkland and Fairmount Additions in Tacoma. (TNT, 8/7/1949, p.A-12)

Briggs Construction Co. (Tacoma); Houses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Building construction--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Several homes under construction, Briggs Construction Co., Mr. Spillman. A residential street with a row of newly constructed one-story, single family homes is shown. The front yards have new lawns started but few other plants. Two girls are having fun skating on the smooth sidewalk. The Briggs Construction Company had completed 64 homes in the Fairmount Park Addition and 38 in the Parkland Addition. These homes provided every convenience and were conventionally built with concrete foundations, 2'x8" Douglas Fir flooring joists, oak flooring, pitched roofs with 210 pound thick butt asphalt shingles. (TNT, 8/7/1949, p.A-13)

Briggs Construction Co. (Tacoma); Houses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Building construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Roller skating--Tacoma--1940-1950; Children playing outdoors--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Thorsen's Service Station was an official distributor of Standard Oil Company gasoline. View of garage interior, tires on top shelf (left side), advertisements featuring "RPM" lubrication and oil products and "Filko" automotive replacement parts, and grease rack in center.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Thorsen's Service Station (Tacoma);

Photograph taken in November of 1947 of the Captain's Quarters at the Tacoma Athletic Commission's Club, located on the upper level of the Top of the Ocean, 2217 Ruston Way. Top of the Ocean housed Tacoma Athletic Commission, which retained its own private Club on the top level. The lower portions of the facility were open to the public. Organizations could also rent the facilities for parties. A cocktail area in the TAC Club is pictured; with a small dance floor, cocktail tables and comfortable chairs, a full bar and slot machines against the back wall. Photo ordered by Condon Advertising. (T. Times, 11/28/47, p. 5).

Dance floors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma);

In November of 1947, Tacoma's Top of the Ocean was in such high demand, that the restaurant had to reduce the general operating hours for the public. Clubs and organizations now had more time options in reserving private dining rooms. Interior view of the main dining room and dance floor. Orchestra area in background, where Hal Gullett's Orchestra appeared on the weekends, photo ordered by Condon Advertising. The Top of the Ocean was also home to the Tacoma Athletic Commission. They maintained their own private club on the upper level with its own private entrance. (T. Times, 11/28/47, p. 5). TPL-8248

Dance floors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Table settings & decorations; Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Interior decoration; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Graybar had an increase of orders for their products, which came with the post-war building boom. John Reine was Graybar's current Tacoma manager. In the past Graybar had specialized on certain industries, such as the telegraph business, but they were now dealing with all home electronics. Interior view of Graybar Electric kitchen appliances, "Hotpoint" refrigerators, stoves, kitchen cabinets, water heater and kitchen sink.

Graybar Electric Co. (Tacoma); Appliance stores--Tacoma; Appliances;

Weisfield & Goldberg were having an emergency warehouse furniture sale at Weisfield's Furniture Warehouse, located on East 26th Street and Bay Street. Everything in stock would be marked down 15% to 60% off the regular low warehouse prices. Weisfield & Goldberg had a full two page ad in the Tacoma Times, advertising their one day sale (T. Times, 11/7/47, p. 6-7).

Storehouses--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Warehouses--Tacoma; Advertisements--Tacoma; Weisfield & Goldberg, Inc. (Tacoma); Weisfield & Goldberg Furniture Warehouse (Tacoma);

In October of 1947 Weisfield and Goldberg's moved all the furniture out of their store at 923-25 Broadway and into the Tacoma Exhibition Hall at 1616-32 East 26th Street. Beginning on November 7th they held an "Emergency Warehouse Furniture Sale" out of this building. They were offering low prices, easy credit, free deliveries throughout the State of Washington, free parking and brand name furniture. They had to move the furniture out of their regular store because they were remodeling all four of the upper floors in their downtown building. In February of 1948 they re-opened their newly remodeled store. (T. Times, 11/7/47, p. 6-7).

Storehouses--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Warehouses--Tacoma; Advertisements--Tacoma; Weisfield & Goldberg, Inc. (Tacoma); Weisfield & Goldberg Furniture Warehouse (Tacoma);

Titus Motor Company offered Tacoma customers the largest selection of Ford cars and trucks. Titus also had a full service department and parts available on site. Here Titus Motor Company parts delivery man, Phil Martin, proudly wears his Ford uniform. Mr. Martin stands at the door of his Vanette delivery truck which reads "Phil Martin at your service."

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Martin, Phillip J.;

Titus Motor Company was an authorized Ford cars and trucks dealership, in Tacoma for many years. Titus Motor Company, parts delivery man Phil Martin stands by his Vanette delivery truck in front of the Titus showroom. His name is written prominently near the wheel well. Exterior view of Ford neon and painted signs on building, and information painted on truck in this photograph dated January 2, 1948.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Martin, Phillip J.;

Exterior view of Titus Motor Company and parts delivery man, Phil Martin Jr. who is standing by his Vanette delivery truck parked in front of the Titus showroom. There are Ford neon and painted signs on building. Titus Motor Company delivered genuine Ford parts ranging from visor vanity mirrors to V-8 engines to your home or garage with their new "traveling parts store." Titus Motor Company and Titus Manufacturing Company had one of the best auto repair shops in the Pacific Northwest for Ford automobiles. TPL-10162 (TNT 2-7-1948, p. 6-ad w/background eliminated)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Martin, Phillip J.;

View of Titus Motor Company parts delivery man, Phil Martin Jr. moving a Ford "flathead" V-8 engine using a hand winch mounted inside the rear door of his Vanette delivery truck; cabinets and shelves for parts inside of truck. This "flathead" V-8 Ford engine is a rebuilt engine from Titus Manufacturing Company.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies; Engines; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Martin, Phillip J.;

Engines are taken from Ford cars and trucks, then replaced with a rebuilt engine by the Titus plant, payment is made with the trade in of the old engine and cash. Testing includes the engine being spun at over 800 r.p.m. while its operation, sound and oil pressure are carefully monitored. This service is available to individual owners, garages and Ford dealers. Interior view of Titus Manufacturing Company's engine rebuilding shop, men assembling rebuilt Ford "flathead" V-8 engines; tools, parts and supplies in factory area.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Engines; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma; Titus Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

In July 1946, as engine rebuilding demand and production increased, the Titus Motor Company had to restructure their engine rebuilding department which became Titus Manufacturing Company.This is an interior view of Titus Manufacturing Company's engine rebuilding shop. Two men are working on Ford "flathead" V-8 engines while two other men work in machine tools. The Titus shop was at 6th and Broadway. In later years Titus-Will had a body shop in the same building.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Engines; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma; Titus Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

Titus Motor Company's parts delivery truck, interior view of Vanette delivery truck from cab looking to rear, steering wheel, seat and parts books; cabinets, overhead panels and shelves for parts; hand winches for engine blocks, Ford "flathead" V-8 engines at far end. Ford authorized parts visible are, foot operated tire pumps, tire and fire units, engine compartment lamps, visor vanity mirrors, gas tank locking cap kits and black enamel.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies; Steering wheels; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma);