Star Iron & Steel operations. A Star Iron & Steel employee in overalls and gloves is shown operating an unidentified machine at the company plant in March of 1971. Star Iron & Steel was a longtime Tacoma firm with origins in the 1920s. Cranes, hoists and special machinery made up 70% of Star Iron & Steel's annual volume. The company also specialized in fabricated steel and aluminum. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel. (TNT 12-13-70, C-21 - article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Machinery;

Workers are preparing to move a floating bulkhead in early February of 1971 from its construction site at 326 Alexander Ave. to the Port of Tacoma waterfront. It appears that rubber segments are being laid to help with traction. The bulkhead was manufactured by Star Iron & Steel Co. for the U.S. Corps of Engineers. It would be towed by tugboat down the coast and up the Columbia River to a dam on the Snake River. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co. (TNT 2-6-71, p. 21- article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Retaining walls--Tacoma;

A worker makes one final check before the heavy-duty Northwest Hauling Co. truck departs from Star Iron & Steel's tideflats location on February 3, 1971, with a floating bulkhead in tow. After a stop at the Port of Tacoma, the bulkhead would be towed by tug to its final destination at the Little Goose Lock & Dam on the Snake River. Although Star Iron & Steel was perhaps best known for its manufacture of cranes and hoists, it also accepted other contracts; this $165,000 contract was from the U.S. Corps of Engineers. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co. (TNT 2-6-71, p. 21- article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Retaining walls--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Scenes from the steel industry. By 1969, Star Iron & Steel had been in their Port Industrial location for six years. The larger facility at 326 Alexander Ave. made it possible for the company to increase payroll and accept more jobs. One of the projects in February of 1969 was to build winch components for Everett Alumina Crane. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hoisting machinery;

Scenes from Star Iron & Steel. Star Iron & Steel was one of the northwest's oldest steel fabricating firms. It was well known for the quality of its cranes, especially the heavy duty cranes manufactured for the Navy during WWII. In February of 1969, one of its projects was to manufacture winch components for the Everett Alumina Crane. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hoisting machinery;

Star Iron & Steel operations. An unidentified Star Iron & Steel Co. employee at work in the company's machine shop in January of 1970. He wears thick safety gloves, sturdy boots and protective outer clothing. He has one hand on the control box and the other on a long piece of metal. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1970-1980; Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Machinery;

Overhead view of trolley assembly at Star Iron & Steel. Trolley No. 1 and No. 2 are being assembled for the Webbers Fall Lock & Dam Crane on February 28, 1969. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hoisting machinery;

A small convoy of trucks prepares to leave Star Iron & Steel, 326 Alexander Ave., loaded with manufactured products on March 13, 1968. Star Iron was well known for its crane production and other heavy duty equipment. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1960-1970; Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Crane under construction at Star Iron & Steel Co. The Star Iron & Steel plant was located in new quarters at 326 Alexander Ave. in the Port Industrial area. Custom designing and manufacturing special equipment, cranes, and hoists was its primary business. During July, 1964, gantry cranes weighing 50 and 350 tons were being manufactured by Star Iron & Steel. Gantry cranes were similar to overhead bridge cranes except that the bridge for carrying the trolly or trolleys was rigidly supported on two or more legs running on fixed rails or other runway. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hoisting machinery;

Architectural office of Star Iron & Steel Co. Men are shown working at desks with architectural plans spread out. One large table in the foreground has an architectural blueprint held down by a book of standards and notepad. Star Iron's new one-story office building was separated from the 100,000 square foot plant to reduce noice level. Star Iron had been in the Tacoma area for decades and was one of the oldest steel fabricating firms in the Pacific Northwest. They built cranes and specialized equipment to handle everything from salmon to missiles. Crane capacities ranged to more than 350 tons. Besides cranes, the company made radio, tv, and power transmission towers, steel for buildings and bridges, and equipment for the lumber industry including log barkers, hydraulic presses, power operated grapples and chip handling buckets. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel. (TNT 9-1-61, B-10, TNT 7-24-63, A-11)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Offices--Tacoma--1960-1970; Blueprints; Books;

Interior of Star Iron & Steel plant. Elevated view on May 1, 1963, of interior of the Star Iron & Steel plant shows fabricated steel products ready to be assembled. Star Iron, well-known for crane construction, also made towers, hydraulic presses, power operated grapples, and fabricated steel for buildings, bridges and grandstands. They had built a larger plant on Alexander Avenue in 1963.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Interior of Star Iron & Steel Co. plant on Alexander Ave. in the Port Industrial area. this is a general view of the machine shop area which has over 15,000 square feet of well lighted, heated space. Founded in 1908, Star Iron & Steel was one of the oldest steel fabricating companies in the Pacific Northwest. Cranes, hoists and special machinery were custom designed and manufactured. In July, 1964, Star Iron & Steel were busy constructing 50 and 350 ton gantry cranes. Gantry cranes are similar to overhead cranes with the same strength and durability but are raised above the floor by support legs mounted on the end trucks. There was ample space in the machine shop area also for assembling crane trolleys, hoists, drive trucks and other mechanical equipment. TPL-9626 (SIS booklet, c. 1965)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hoisting machinery;

Busy interior of plant believed to be Star Iron & Steel. Assembly line setup of men and fabricated steel products. Star Iron was well known for their heavy crane construction but also made towers, power operated grapples, and parts for buildings, bridges and grandstands. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel.

Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970; Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Star Iron & Steel. On January 14, 1970, a series of photographs were taken regarding plant operations at Star Iron & Steel, 326 Alexander Ave. This is believed to be the building housing the aluminum fabrication unit. The interior looks very crowded with a variety of aluminum products. Founded in 1908, Star Iron & Steel was one of the oldest steel fabrication plants in the Pacific Northwest. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--1970-1980; Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Star Iron & Steel. This is believed to be the aluminum fabrication plant at Star Iron & Steel in early 1970. The interior appears crowded with stacks of aluminum with metal shavings and piles of debris in the photograph's foreground. Star Iron & Steel, a long established Tacoma firm, had moved to more spacious quarters in the Port Industrial area in 1963. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1970-1980; Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Star Iron & Steel, general view around shop. On July 18, 1968, Star Iron & Steel was in the process of constructing a 250-ton bridge crane for Kerr Lock & Dam, located in Oklahoma. They had also just landed a 6.4 million dollar contract to build four 100-ton floating cranes for the Navy. Star Iron & Steel was well known for their custom designing and manufacturing of hoists and cranes. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Close-up of Star Iron & Steel Co. machinery, possibly a shovel, taken on November 15, 1968, at the company plant in Tacoma's Tideflats. Star Iron & Steel was a well-known local manufacturer of hoisting machinery. It had been in Tacoma since 1918 and had moved to its new location in the Port Industrial area in 1963. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970; Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hoisting machinery;

Preparations are being made to transport a floating concrete bulkhead from Star Iron & Steel Co.'s plant at 326 Alexander Ave. in early February of 1971. The 25-foot high bulkhead appears to be placed on beams equipped with wheels. It would be hauled to the Port of Tacoma and then towed by tug to the Snake River for use on the Little Goose Lock & Dam. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co. (TNT 2-6-71, p. 21 - article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Retaining walls--Tacoma;

Gate hoist. Gate hoist on display at Star Iron & Steel, 326 Alexander Ave., on September 16, 1971. The hoist would be headed out to the Columbia River for use on the Bonneville Dam. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Hoisting machinery;

On a wet and bleak day in March, 1968, Star Iron & Steel Co. employees tested a new 100-ton gantry crane meant for dam work. The men are dwarfed by the sheer size of the crane located outside of company headquarters at 326 Alexander Ave. in the Tideflats. The heavy crane, standing 64 feet high, actually weighs in at 125 tons. It was built for the Army Corps of Engineers to handle powerhouse intake and spillway gates on the Little Goose Lock & Dam on Snake River. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co. (TNT 3-17-68, C-21)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery; Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Gate hoist. The above gate hoist was built for use on the Bonneville Dam, Columbia River, by Star Iron & Steel Co. of Tacoma. Hoist is shown on September 16, 1971, prior to shipment. Star Iron & Steel had contracts of about $14 million for 1971. The firm would be sold late in September to Breeze Corporations, Inc. of New Jersey. Star Iron & Steel would be a wholly owned subsidiary of Breeze and continue to operate under present management. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel. (TNT 9-22-71, D-14 - article on sale to Breeze)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Hoisting machinery;

Scenes from the steel industry. Star Iron & Steel Co. of Tacoma was in the process of manufacturing winch components for Everett Alumina Crane in the early part of February, 1969. Work was being done primarily in building 532. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hoisting machinery;

Henry M. Botnen of Star Iron & Steel Company examines a large hoist drum being manufactured for the royal government of Afghanistan in October of 1972. The drum has been placed in a lath and is undergoing truing. Star Iron & Steel, located at 326 Alexander Avenue on Tacoma's tideflats, was a decades-old company whose work involved steel fabrication and heavy crane manufacture. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co. (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Botnen, Henry;

Exterior - Star Iron & Steel. Star Iron & Steel Co. would move into new quarters in the Port Industrial area in 1963. Bldg. 407 shown above in this April 9, 1963, photograph, held the company's offices, which were in a separate building from the large plant. Owned by Edward N. Allen, Star Iron was one of the oldest steel fabricating companies in the Pacific Northwest. They specialized in building cranes, hoists, towers, and equipment for the lumber industry. During WWII, they made some of the heaviest and largest cranes for the U.S. Navy. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel. (TNT 7-24-63, A-11)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Facades--Tacoma--1960-1970; Signs (Notices);

Interior of new Star Iron & Steel Co. plant on Alexander Avenue. Richards Studio notes indicate these are "fixed wheel gates" in process of being assembled. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Star Iron & Steel - complete engineering, structural shop and machine shop facilities. Notes from the Richards Studio indicate that their photographer took this April 13, 1963, view of the new Star Iron & Steel Co. facilities from one of the company's own overhead cranes. Several cranes and steel structures are visible as well as the waterways separating the industrial Tideflats area from downtown businesses. Star Iron had moved from its longtime E. 11th St. location to the Port Industrial area that year. The new plant was ideally located for shipment of its products by truck, rail or water. Employment at the plant had apparently more than tripled from 63 to 250 since the move to a new location. It had cost $500,000 to double the plant capacity. Star Iron & Steel was one of the oldest steel fabricating businesses in the Pacific Northwest, having been founded in 1908. It specialized in custom design and manufacture of cranes, hoists, and special machinery. Star Iron's products were shipped for installation throughout the United States and also to foreign countries. There was a total of 97,000 square feet under roof currently being used with another 54,000 square feet available for future expansion. (TNT 7-24-63, A-11; SIS booklet, c. 1965)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970; Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hoisting machinery;

Pencil in hand, an architect at Star Iron & Steel Co. surveys a model of a steel sign and girts on April 9, 1963. His glasses rest on a large sheet holding design data. Besides being well-known for their hoisting machinery, Star Iron also built towers, fabricated structural steel for buildings, bridges, and grandstands, and equipment for the lumber industry. They moved from their longtime location on E. 11th St. to Alexander Avenue in the Port Industrial area in 1963. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Architectural models; Blueprints; Eyeglasses;

A "Porta Tower" built by Star Iron & Steel extends at a 45 degree angle in a September 19, 1963, photograph taken outside company headquarters. Porta Towers were described as mobile steel spur trees that replaced spar trees in logging operations. A "Porta Tower" could be erected and ready to work in two hours, much less time than it would take to rig a spar tree. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel. (TNT 10-13-63, B-9)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel;

Built by Star Iron & Steel, an imposing 90 foot "Porta Tower" is parked outside of company headquarters on September 19, 1963. Star Iron & Steel was well known for its crane and tower construction. The "Porta Towers" would be utilized as mobile steel spur trees. "Porta Towers" were self-erecting and ready to work in two hours. Star Iron & Steel had been founded in 1908 at 435 E. 11th St. It moved to its new quarters in the Port Industrial area in 1963. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel. (TNT 7-24-63, A-11, TNT 10-13-63, B-9)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel;

Fabrication and boring mill at Star Iron & Steel. Two men shown at work at Star Iron & Steel, 326 Alexander Ave. in the Port Industrial area, on August 8, 1966. They may have been working on "B" and "A" cranes. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970; Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hoisting machinery;