New location Mueller-Harkins Service Center showing foundation forms, Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Mr. O'Brien. New construction at 6th and Saint Helens Ave. The already existing service center can be seen adjacent to this construction. The Tacoma tideflats are in the distance.

Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Building construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Progress photographs;

New location Mueller-Harkins Service Center showing foundation forms, Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Mr. O'Brien. New construction at 6th and Saint Helens Ave. Mueller-Harkins advertised that they maintained Tacoma's only authorized Buick service department.

Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Progress photographs;

Mueller-Harkins Building was expanding and modernizing their automotive service center. Construction had started in the summer and the building was expected to be completed by spring 1948. Mueller-Harkins was the only authorized service center in Tacoma for Buick automobiles. View of laborers working on the new plywood foundations and the roof, photo ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Roofs--Tacoma; Remodeling--Tacoma; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Progress photographs; Plywood; Building construction--Tacoma; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma);

Holroyd Company, exterior at Mueller-Harkins showing concrete blocks, Mr. Holroyd. A view of the new Mueller-Harkins Buick Agency under construction. The dealership will have an ultra modern showroom. Two workmen on scaffolding, another inside building. This wall separates the showroom, which will be to the left, from the offices and service department.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Progress photographs; Holroyd Co. (Tacoma); Building materials;

Mueller-Harkins Buick Agency. The interior of the customer waiting room is shown. A display of "Authorized Assessories" stands along the wall at the left and Coca-Cola and cigarette vending machines stand along two of the other walls. A man is adjusting a sign promoting GMAC Insurance Plans.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Insurance; Waiting rooms--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Model of new Mueller-Harkins Buick showroom. A view of the architectural model of the new automobile dealership that was being built at Sixth Avenue and Saint Helens Avenue. Toy automobiles, gasoline pumps and people are included to show how the new facility was to be used. This model still exists inside the building on Saint Helens Avenue in Tacoma, which now houses USA of Yesteryear vintage automobile sales (1998).

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Architectural models; Toys; Model cars;

Copy of four views of communications equipment installed in Muller-Harkins. Studio, Nelson. Mueller-Harkins was nearly ready to open their new Buick showroom and service department. Mr. W.C. McKewen was the company's service coordinator working in the dealership's control tower. He lost his arm during military service in World War II and now works with an artificial arm. (T.Times, 12/12/1948, p.8)

Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); McKewen, W.C.; Control rooms--Tacoma; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Artificial limbs;

Copy of four views of communications equipment installed in Mueller-Harkins. Studio, Nelson. Service area at Mueller- Harkins Buick Agency. Elevated " Service Master " command post overlooking the bays. Pneumatic tubes for service orders, panels with lights and switches, service chart and microphone are shown. Mr. W.C. McKewen is at the controls.

Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); McKewen, W.C.; Control rooms--Tacoma; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On-the-spot photographs at new Mueller-Harkins Building, Condon Co., Kay Shinn. An interior view of the collision shop at Mueller-Harkins where a crumpled fender gets a new finish. Several men are at work in the body shop. Parts bins are located along the wall at the left and one of the men has removed a panel or door from an automobile to take out a dent in the metal. The panel is attached to a dolly for ease of movement. (T.Times, 12/26/1948, p.28)

Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On-the-spot photographs at new Mueller-Harkins Building, Condon Co., Kay Shinn. An interior view of the service department at Mueller-Harkins. Two automobiles, one a two-tone coupe and the other a convertible, are ready for servicing in two of the bays outfitted with hoists and several different nozzles possibly for air, water and other liquids for automobiles.

Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On-the-spot photographs at new Mueller-Harkins Building, Condon Co., Kay Shinn. An interior view of the service department at Mueller-Harkins showing the several service bays available and the ramp up to street level on the far right. Several cars can be parked under cover until their owners return for them.

Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On-the-spot photographs at new Mueller-Harkins Building, Condon Co., Kay Shinn. An interior view of the service department at Mueller-Harkins. An employee is painting the exterior body of an automobile. The windows and other vulnerable parts of the car have been covered with paper.

Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On-the-spot photographs at new Mueller-Harkins Building, Condon Co., Kay Shinn. An interior view of the service department at Mueller-Harkins.

Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On-the-spot photographs at new Mueller-Harkins Building, Condon Co., Kay Shinn. An interior view of the service department at Mueller-Harkins where Joe Elliott is taking notes from a display that is coming from the "Visualiner". This modern device gave a graphic picture of the front-end alighment of vehicles connected to it. See A37167-1. (T.Times, 12/26/1948, p.28)

Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Elliott, Joe;

On-the-spot photographs at new Mueller-Harkins Building, Condon Co., Kay Shinn. An interior view of the parts department at Mueller-Harkins. Two men stand at the counter asking for help with parts while two men behind the counter assist them. Two more men are working in the shelving area and several more are seen in the background behind glass windows.

Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma;

Turntable at Mueller-Harkins, DFPA, Edith Leik. Men are laying a large, circular piece made of plywood that will be the base for one of the turntables under highlighted automobiles at the new Mueller-Harkins Buick dealership. This turntable is seated in the circular showroom window.

Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Laborers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Turntable at Mueller-Harkins, DFPA, Edith Leik. A view of the motor and assembly for the display turntables at the new Mueller-Harkins Buick dealership. The building was to have floor-to-ceiling windows in the showroom and two turntables to highlight two of the current automobile models.

Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Construction--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Mueller-Harkins has been an authorized Buick dealership in Tacoma since 1916. The new Mueller-Harkins Buick Service Center was a one-stop-shop for all your Buick automotive needs. The new facilities offered their customers: a waiting room, inter-com system, new car showroom, used car showroom, used car reconditioning shop, super service station, retail store catering to car and home owners, and a large top floor parking area. View of 1917 D-45 Buick automobile at the new Mueller-Harkins Buick dealership, photo ordered by Condon Company Incorporated, an advertising agency (T. Times, 12/3/48, p. 8-9).

Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Buick automobile; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Advertising agencies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma);

The new Buick Service Center was celebrating their grand opening with an open house. The new 1949 Buicks would be on display, this center was being called "America's Finest Automotive Service Center". Left to right, unidentified man, W. C. Baldwin, R. A. Mueller and J. A. Mueller; photo ordered by Condon Company Incorporated, an advertising agency (T. Times, 12/3/48, p. 8-9).

Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Buick automobile; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Advertising agencies--Tacoma; Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma);

Interior view of the new Mueller-Harkins Motor Company building, the company was having an "Open-House" to celebrate the near completion of the new facilities; people are gathered around the new 1949 Buick automobiles in the Mueller-Harkins new car showroom. Mueller-Harkins Motor Company's new service center is being referred to as "America's Finest Automotive Service Center" (T. Times, 12/3/48, p. 8-9).

Buick automobile; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Events--Tacoma; Windows--Tacoma; Showrooms--Tacoma; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma);

December 4, 1948 was the grand opening of the new Mueller-Harkins Motor Company building at 455 Saint Helens Avenue. The Buick dealership, with its modern design and walls of glass, was owned and managed by Rudolph A. and John A. Mueller. Potential customers could easily see the cars on display in the well lit showroom. In 1953 the building was sold to Brus Buick Company, and in 1994 it was purchased by the U.S.A. of Yesterday Motor Car Company. (T. Times, 12/3/48, p. 8-9).

Buick automobile; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Events--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Showrooms--Tacoma; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma);

The new full service Buick Center had just opened up in Tacoma in late 1948. Mueller-Harkins Motor Company was offering their customers a one-stop automotive center. Exterior view of Texaco service station, this service station was part of the new Mueller-Harkins Motor Company facilities; view of four Texaco gas pumps; Firestone tires and automotive supplies in store (T. Times, 12/3/48, p. 8-9).

Buick automobile; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Texaco (Tacoma); Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma);

Interior at Mueller-Harkins, new service center. Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Mrs. Link. Mueller-Harkins had installed the newest methods of communicating within their service department. The new facilities for the Buick dealership included a signal-lighting system. An employee in the "Service Master" command post which was elevated over the entrance to the service area would alert staff of the needed servicing for an entering automobile by pressing the on button for the board hanging in the shop. After the automobile had been taken to the proper work area the light was turned off.

Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Communication devices; Signal lights--Tacoma;

Interior at Mueller-Harkins, new service center. Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Mrs. Link. W.C. McKewen is seen from behind while he is at work in the "Service Master" command post. Mr. McKewen is able to see the automobiles as they are driven in for servicing and he uses the microphone to communicate with other workers in the area. Pneumatic tubes are over his left shoulder for special orders and he has a full console of communication controls in front of him.

Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Communication devices; Signal lights--Tacoma;

In December of 1948 W.C. "Mac" McKewen was the coordinator at the new Mueller - Harkins Motor Company dealership at 455 Saint Helens Avenue. From his glass walled control tower, he controlled the work flow on the shop floor. Mr. McKewen was trained as a mechanic and assumed that's what he would do for most of his life. His life changed during World War II, when he and his Major walked into a booby trap at Bougainville, where he lost his arm. Mac was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. He came to Tacoma after he was discharged from the Army, and it was here he met and married his wife. (T. Times, 12/12/48, p. 8).

Artificial limbs; Amputees--Tacoma; Buick automobile; Control rooms--Tacoma; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; McKewen, W.C.;

Anyone interested in a full service automotive center had to go to Mueller-Harkins Buick Motor Company where they offered all types of services and the fastest, most efficient customer service. Mueller-Harkins also had the modern dynamometer, which reproduced actual road conditions that helped vehicle testing. Interior view of service area at Mueller-Harkins Buick Agency where a Buick is being washed by the "Washmobile" which was a "De Luxe Car Wash." An unidentified dealership employee is operating the equipment. (T. Times, 12/26/48, p. 28)..

Buick automobile; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Car washes--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma);

Service area at Mueller- Harkins Buick Agency. Car going through the "Washmoblie", automatic car washing machine. Bare concrete walls, reflection of outdoor advertising for the agency in window at top right in photo.

Buick automobile; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma);

Mueller-Harkins' motto was "Service that you can depend on", their service center was one of the finest in the country. Interior view of service area at Mueller- Harkins Buick Agency, upholstery area with two men working on recovering an auto seat, rolls of fabric on rack, sewing machines and work benches (T. Times, 12/26/48, p. 28).

Buick automobile; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma);

W. C. McKewen was trained as a mechanic and assumed that's what he would do for most of his life. McKewen's life changed during World War II, after he and his Major walked into a booby trap at Bougainville, where he lost his arm. W. C. McKewen was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, he came to Tacoma after he was discharged from the Army, here he met and married his sweetheart. W. C. McKewen is now the most efficient coordinator working in the Mueller Harkins Buick dealership control tower. View of W. C. McKewen sitting at his control tower at the Mueller-Harkins building (T. Times, 12/12/48, p. 8).

Artificial limbs; Amputees--Tacoma; Buick automobile; Control rooms--Tacoma; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma)--Employees ; McKewen, W.C.;

Mueller-Harkins Motor Company have been authorized Buick distributors since 1916. Interior view of service department at Mueller- Harkins Buick Agency; machine shop area, work benches with grinders, a drill press and other power tools, parts cleaning sink, four unidentified mechanics working on Buick authorized parts (T. Times, 12/26/48, p. 28).

Buick automobile; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma);