A team of technicians, contractors and factory representatives were on hand in July of 1949 when the new 16 ton vault door was installed at the Pacific First Federal Savings and Loan Association, 1102-08 Pacific Ave. Transporting and installing the huge 32,000 pound steel door for the new safe deposit vault was a ticklish operation. The massive, complicated mechanism contained hundreds of gears, tumblers, wheels and other assorted gadgets. The door was 27 inches thick and approximately 8 feet square. In spite of its bulk and weight, it swung with ease. Shown installing the door, starting with the second man on the left, are Joseph Iko (kneeling), foreman in charge of transporting the door; M.L. Larson, contractor; J.T. Downs (on ladder), the manufacturer's representative, and James Opalecky, factory technician in charge of installing the door. The gentleman on the far left was not identified. (TNT, 7/30/1949, p.32) Condon Co., Kay Shinn
Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Vaults (Strong rooms)--Tacoma; Banks--Tacoma; Iko, Joseph; Larson, M.L.; Downs, J.T.; Opalecky, James;