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;

Ace Furnace & Steel Co. were steel fabricators whose plant was located at 3740 South Union Avenue. One of their trucks and trailers was loaded with large storage tanks when photographed in front of the company on October 16, 1954. There was plenty of advertising on the truck and trailer, and also on the tanks. The steel firm had expanded their business in the early 1930's which eventually led to including transport of their products to customers. Ace Furnace manufactured furnaces, tanks, gasoline tanks and pre-fabricated steel gas stations. According to the 1954 City Directory, Ace Furnace was owned by Alvin T. Davies; he also owned Birchfield Boiler and Tacoma Boiler Works. Photograph ordered by Ace Furnace & Steel Co.

Ace Furnace & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Storage tanks--Tacoma; Metalworking--Tacoma; Signs (Notices);

ca. 1939. Ace Furnace and Steel Company, photograph pulled from Richards stock file. Transport trucks parked in front of company. (filed with Argentum)

Ace Furnace & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Heating & ventilation industry--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Ace Furnace and Steel Company. Exterior of the plant facilities. Ace Furnace and Steel Company manufactured furnaces, steel tanks, gasoline tankers and trailers, prefabricated service stations, and subcontracted on boats including interior work, ventilating ducts, galleys, etc. They also handled sheet metal work and blower and ventilating systems. (T.Times, 9/4/1946)

Ace Furnace & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Heating & ventilation industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Buildings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Exposure of large machinery dwarfing the laborers 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. Ace 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;

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;