ca. 1955. Pacific Oerlikon Co. An employee works on a precision grinder. Pacific Oerlikon manufactured electrical components, including huge breakers used in the power grid. It occupied the site of the former Henry Mill and Timber Co. Pacific Oerlikon was a subsidiary of Oerlikon Engineering Co. and was entirely Swiss owned.
ca. 1955. Two young women in summer attire, short sleeves and sandals, seem to be measuring on tippy-toes the height of this gigantic circuit breaker at Pacific Oerlikon. Pacific Oerlikon manufactured electrical components in powerful sizes for use on the power grid.
ca. 1955. Pacific Oerlikon Co. Two men work on drilling machinery, manufacturing electrical parts. The company was a subsidiary of Oerlikon Engineering of Zurich, Switzerland and manufactured porcelain clad low oil content circuit breakers. In 1956, the company changed its name to United Power Control. In a 1958 merger with Meridian Corporation of Chicago, the name again changed, this time to United Products Co.
ca. 1955. Pacific Oerlikon Co. An employee works on a large piece of machinery. The company manufactured large electrical components and employed over 100 skilled workers. Pacific Oerlikon was a subsidiary of 75 year old Oerlikon Engineering Co. of Zurich, Switzerland.The Northwest was chosen as the site of Oerlikon's offspring because of the market for large power grid equipment and the lack of any other manufacturers in the area. Tacoma was chosen as the site due to the availability of a location (the former Henry Mill and Timber Co.) and the abundance of skilled labor.
ca. 1955. Pacific Oerlikon Co. Four workers gingerly lower a large and fragile circuit breaker using ropes and pulleys. The company manufactured giant electronic components for use by the power suppliers.
Switch gear equipment at Pacific Oerlikon Co. The worker appears diminutive next to the huge electronic machinery mounted above his head. Pacific Oerlikon, a subsidiary of Oerlikon Engineering Co. of Switzerland, manufactured large equipment for the power grid. It occupied the site of the former Henry Mill and Timber Co. in a building specially designed to accomodate the sheer height of its products.
Switch gear equipment at Pacific Oerlikon Co. The worker eyes suspiciously the hook used to lift this product packaged for transport. Although the hook reads Yale five ton, the worker looks doubtful that it will hold. The product is labelled "porcelain, handle with care, fragile." Pacific Oerlikon manufactured large breakers and equipment used in the transmission of electric power.
Pacific Oerlikon Company, electrical equipment manufacturers. Interior exposure of circuit breaker. Seven breakers being assembled on a bench. Pacific Oerlikon occupied the former site of Henry Mill and Timber Co. It also erected on this site in 1951 a sheet metal, concrete and glass building used for the machine shop and assembly area. Because of the size of the components constructed, the building was designed to provide ample height for assembly. (TNT 9/7/1952, pg. C-15)
Pacific Oerlikon Company, electrical equipment manufacturers. Counter with two shelves in front, shop behind with assorted machinery. The company was an offspring of Oerlikon Engineering of Zurich, Switzerland and was entirely Swiss owned. Dr Hans Schindler was president of the company and Lloyd Morgan was executive vice president and general manager of Pacific Oerlikon. The company was incorporated in August of 1950 and shipped its first products in the spring of 1952. It employed 110 skilled workers in 1952, machine-tool operators and mechanical and electrical engineers, with plans to expand to 500 workers. (TNT 9/7/1952, pg. C-15)
Interior exposure at Pacific Oerlikon Co. Metal shelves hold a variety of electrical parts. Pacific Oerlikon, the Northwest subsidiary of Oerlikon Engineering Co. of Zurich, Switzerland, manufactured power-system equipment. The parent company was a 75 year old world wide leader in manufacturing high quality products. Its only offspring Pacific Oerlikon originated from $2,000,000 investment that used raw materials and parts made in the U. S. to manufacture components for the Northwest's power grid. (TNT 9/7/1952, pg. C-15)
Interior exposure of large breakers assembled at Pacific Oerlikon Co., 3001 Starr street. Six in foreground, other equipment on left side. The company was a subsidiary of Oerlikon Engineering of Zurich, Switzerland and manufactured porcelain clad low oil content circuit breakers. In 1952, the company has 110 employees working 3 shifts per day, 5 days a week, with a monthly outlay for wages and salaries of $40,000. Plans were to expand the company to 500 skilled workers. (TNT 9/7/1952, pg. C-15)
Close up exposure of 3 assembled breakers at Pacific Oerlikon Co. Pacific Oerlikon, a subsidiary of Oerlikon Engineering Co. of Zurich, Switzerland, manufactured power-system equipment. The parent company invested $2,000,000 in remodeling the former Henry Mill and Timber Co. and in importing machine tools from Europe. Tacoma was chosen because a suitable site was available and the labor market (machine tool operators) was plentiful. The only addition to the site was the erection of a sheet metal, concrete and glass building that housed a 24,000 sq. ft. machine shop and a 6,000 sq. ft. assembly area. (TNT 9/7/1952, pg. C-15)
Pacific Oerlikon Co., interior of large building with large breaker disassembled and others assembled. Oerlikon Engineering of Zurich, Switzerland chose the Northwest for its subsidiary for two reasons- the large market for its circuit breakers and the absence of power system manufacturing companies in this area. The company manufactures circuit breakers and instrument transformers in the range of 34.5 to 138 kilovolts and having up to 3 1/2 million kilovolt amperes interrupting capacity. The finished product- the 34.5 power circuit breaker costs approximately $8,000 and the 138 power circuit breaker $29,000. (TNT 9/7/1952, pg. C-15)
Interior of shop with man standing next to large piece of machinery. An employee of Pacific Oerlikon Co. is pictured next to a piece of equipment used in the Oerlikon plant. Pacific Oerlikon was located at 3001 No. Starr Street and was a manufacturer of electric equipment. This interior view of the plant showed various types of machinery imported from Europe by Pacific Oerlikon.
The Pacific Oerlikon Co. were electric equipment manufacturers. According to the 1951 City Directory, they were located at 3001 No. Starr and Lloyd Morgan was listed as manager. View of machinery manufactured by Pacific Oerlikon in photograph taken on September 18, 1951. It possibly could be a type of drill. Photograph ordered by Pacific Oerlikon.
Outdoor exposure of one of the buildings of Pacific Oerlikon plant. The Pacific Oerlikon Co., located at 3001 N Starr, manufactured electric equipment. Lloyd Morgan was listed as manager according to the 1951 and 1953 City Directories.
Interior exposure of worker with equipment. An employee of Pacific Oerlikon Co. stands with one hand extended to touch an extremely tall piece of machinery which is transported on a wheeled dolly. He is standing between two similar pieces of machinery which are both loaded onto dollies. The Pacific Oerlikon plant was located at 3001 No. Starr St. and manufactured power system equipment. Photograph ordered by Pacific Oerlikon Co.
Outdoor exposure of Pacific Oerlikon plant. The Pacific Oerlikon Co., located at 3001 No. Starr, manufactured electric equipment. Lloyd Morgan was listed as manager according to the 1951 and 1953 City Directories. View of three story wooden building with large Oerlikon sign on top close to additional Oerlikon structure and next to railroad tracks. The Oerlikon plant was built on the site of the former Henry Mill Co. and Tacoma Lumber Fabricating Co. They changed their name to United Power Control in 1956 and then changed to United Products Company upon merging with Meridian Corp. of Chicago in 1958. Photograph ordered by Pacific Oerlikon Co.
Several operations in plant, Tacoma Lumber Fabricating, Mr. Patterson. Young men work alongside older men in creating the structural beams for which Tacoma Lumber Fabricating was well known. The company created prefabricated portions of buildings for an entire prefabricated house as well as curved beams used to roof large buildings. The top floor of their modern office building was the plant loft for giant layout work. They had a complete sawmill and planing mill plant. (T.Times, 1/16/1949, p.18)
Tacoma Lumber Fabricating Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Building materials industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Several operations in plant, Tacoma Lumber Fabricating, Mr. Patterson. Workmen are dipping completed trusses into a liquid mixture using a pulley system. Stacks of lumber are seen further back in the plant's yard. The company manufactured materials from heavy timbers such as power line cross arms, bridge timbers and roof trusses to little pieces four feet long for refrigerator car rack slabs. (T.Times, 1/16/1949, p.18)
Tacoma Lumber Fabricating Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Building materials industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Several operations in plant, Tacoma Lumber Fabricating, Mr. Patterson. Stacks of completed trusses have been loaded on a freight car and two workmen are using straps to secure the load during shipping. Active management of the company was under Frank Grabbs. G.E. Karlen was president and Lee C. Monahan was vice-president. (T.Times, 1/16/1949, p.18)
Aerial view of Tacoma Lumber Fabricating Co. on Old Town waterfront. This is an August, 1948, view of the Tacoma Lumber Fabricating Co. including stacks of lumber. Tacoma Lumber was situated on the former site of Henry Mill & Timber Co. on No. Starr St. It had taken over the business in August, 1945. Realizing the need for more affordable, quicker construction of new homes after WWII, Tacoma Lumber expanded its structural beam business to include the creation of panels for entire prefabricated houses. By the early 1950's, Tacoma Lumber was gone from No. Starr St., replaced by Pacific Oerlikon Co., manufacturers of electric equipment.
Douglas Fir Plywood Association, stages of plywood prefabricated panel manufacturing taken at Tacoma Lumber Fabricating Company. The panels were used to build prefabricated houses. Here workmen are placing one of the panels in a steel pressure press. This press is one of six the company owns. The company took over the location of the earlier Henry Mill in 1944. (T.Times, 11/6/1946, p.7)
Plywood; Building materials industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Lumber Fabricating Co. (Tacoma);
Douglas Fir Plywood Association, stages of plywood prefabricated panel manufacturing taken at Tacoma Lumber Fabricating Company. A framework for a one of the prefabricated panels is sent through a roller before being placed on a piece of plywood which will be the covering of one side of the panel. The prefabricated panels were manufactured in standard sized for floors, walls, ceilings, partitions, and roofs. They are freely adaptable to contractors' specification for all grades of houses. (T.Times, 11/6/1946, p.7)
Plywood; Building materials industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Lumber Fabricating Co. (Tacoma);
Douglas Fir Plywood Association, stages of plywood prefabricated panel manufacturing taken at Tacoma Lumber Fabricating Company. Men add another plywood cover to the side of the milled lumber frame interior of the prefabricated panel. The company's goal is to complete 1,000 panels per day, enough for 10 complete homes per day. (T.Times, 11/6/1946, p.7)
Plywood; Building materials industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Lumber Fabricating Co. (Tacoma);
On Wednesday July 3, 1946, Frank Casey (left), a Tacoma Fabricating Company millworker, found a large military flare which had washed ashore in the Old Town area of Tacoma. Not sure whether it was a flare, or a bomb, Casey called the Tacoma police. Officer Frank Pim (rt) was dispatched to the scene. Later, a demolition team from Ft. Lewis disarmed the flare, which had been removed from the protective casing, held by officer Pim, by children. Had the children pulled the flare's safety pin, they could have been seriously injured. (T. Times, 7/4/46, p. 11).
Henry Mill & Timber Company was working on many commercial and government contracts. As a leader in the prefabricated lumber products, they were able to fill orders very rapidly, therefore helping to aid the war effort. View of Peter B. Solberg working on a barge model for Henry Mill & Timber Co. Mr. Solberg worked at the company during WW II. After the war, he founded and operated the Timber Fabrication Company until his death in February 1964. TPL-6662 (Photo identification provided by a family member)
Barges--Tacoma; Laborers--Tacoma; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Henry Mill & Timber Co. (Tacoma); Solberg, Peter B.;
Henry Mill west end of yard for Condon Co. Henry Mill was busy filling orders for commercial and government contracts. They were a leader in prefabricated materials which allowed for orders to be filled rapidly. Exterior view of Henry Mill & Timber Co. plant and parking lot.
Mills--Tacoma; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Henry Mill & Timber Co. (Tacoma);
Henry Mill showing salt treatment of wood. Henry Mill & Timber Co. was very busy with the construction industry throughout Tacoma. They were leaders in prefabricated materials which were needed for the development of housing and businesses in Pierce County. View of unidentified laborer directing the hoisting of lumber during salt treatment of wood.
