Plywood was a versatile product. It seemed like you could make anything out of plywood, including these charming store window Christmas cutouts. Two little wooden children, mouths wide open, are singing Christmas carols. This particular store was offering free Christmas plans using fir plywood for gifts, decorations and toys. A do-it-yourselfer could use the plans to create similar cutouts and then paint them in whichever colors he desired. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Plywood; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960;
A little girl touches a stuffed animal whose head emerges from a toy storage unit in a September 20, 1954, photograph. A variety of toys are scattered on the floor including a football helmet, glove, drum, dolls and books. These are probably going to be picked up and stored in the two wooden toy boxes. The boxes have wheels and are marked "delivery truck" and "moving van". It would make cleaning up faster and more fun as the toy chests are mobile; the child would be in charge of "driving" to pick up or deliver her toys. The "vehicles" could then be parked under the wooden desk for convenient storage. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Children playing with toys--Tacoma--1950-1960; Toys;
A special Plyscord Calculator was prepared by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association to help contractors or homeowners determine correct plywood thickness, nail size, nailing schedule, rafter spacing and FHA minimum property requirements necessary when roofing. Plyscord Roof Sheathing was 100% genuine Douglas Fir plywood. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Calculators;
A young model enjoys an appetizing snack as she lounges on an extended sofa in a September 13, 1954, photograph. The plates of food are placed on a four legged TV table whose ends are tilted upward. The TV table, made out of wood, was built at the right height for someone sitting in front of it or for use as a miniature coffee table. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Plywood; Tables; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
By the mid-1950's more and more people were becoming accustomed to "do-it-yourselfing" and the Douglas Fir Plywood Association encouraged them to use plywood for their building projects. Stores were devoting space to handyman supplies; pictured in July, 1954, is an unidentified model with displays of new Douglas Fir Plywood Handy Panels. These panels, at 2 ft. by 4 ft., were smaller then full size plywood sheets. They were easy to handle, select and use. They were clearly marked for size, grade and price. Plans were available to build your own storage units or versatile chests and often the work could be completed within a weekend. Stores were eager to help the customer who wanted to save money by doing the work himself. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (Handy Panels ad, Popular Science, December 1952, p. 248)
Plywood; Merchandise displays--1950-1960; Signs (Notices); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Do-it-yourself work--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Home portrait of the Weyerhaeusers. The couple pictured in this sepia photograph is John Philip ("Phil") and Helen Weyerhaeuser. They were enjoying a family gathering at their Thorne Lane residence on July 6, 1954. Phil Weyerhaeuser led the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company from 1933 to 1956, a span of time which included the changes brought about by the Great Depression and World War ll. He believed that the best way a forest products company could operate would be to own its own timberlands. Phil Weyerhaeuser passed away on December 8, 1956. The 1956 Weyerhaeuser Timber Company annual report was dedicated to him; he was lauded as "a man of exceptional vision, kindliness and executive talents. It was he who activated the philosophy of managing forest lands for perpetual growth and harvest. His influence in the industry and the American community will be felt for generations to come." (Twining, Charles E., Phil Weyerhaeuser, Lumberman)
Home portrait of the Weyerhaeusers. This sepia photograph of the large Weyerhaeuser clan was taken on July 6, 1954. Seated in the center of the picture are John Philip ("Phil") Weyerhaeuser, Jr., and wife Helen surrounded by children and grandchildren. Phil Weyerhaeuser was instrumental in leading the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company for over twenty years. His son, John Philip ("Flip") Weyerhaeuser, III, and family were visiting from St. Paul, Minnesota, and had spent two weeks at the Weyerhaeuser family home in American Lake. Another son, George, and family were also present for the gathering; they had traveled from Eugene, Oregon. (TNT 7-11-54, D-2)
Weyerhaeuser, John Philip--Family; Group portraits;
Logging pond at Port Piers. For R.E. Chase, 601 Tacoma Building. Two men standing on logs in log pond, pushing on logs with long poles. Industries to the right and in background. Photograph taken on May 11, 1939.
Douglas Fir Plywood Association created laboratories to maintain high quality standards of its plywood; plywood was constantly being tested for durability and to detect any flaws. View of sheets of plywood in the D.F.P.A. warehouse undergoing testing. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Plywood; Product inspection--Tacoma; Testing--Tacoma;
An employee of the Douglas Fir Plywood Association appears to be monitoring gauges while doing product testing at the association's laboratory in March, 1954. Douglas Fir plywood was undergoing constant testing for durability and to maintain quality control. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Plywood; Product inspection--Tacoma; Testing--Tacoma; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Workers are laying plywood in apparent preparation for testing by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association's laboratory in March, 1954. Nearly all sections of plywood have been fastened with only a few sheets left to attach. Plywood was constantly being tested to assure consumers and the industry that all standards were being met.
Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Testing--Tacoma; Product inspection--Tacoma;
United States Plywood Corp.'s logging operation at Kosmos, Wa., eight miles southeast of Morton in south central Lewis County. A close up of the timber with ropes and pulleys used to move timber. Covered areas and shacks are at the base of the timber, including a large tank.
Plywood; Lumber industry--Kosmos--1950-1960; United States Plywood Corp. (Seattle);
United States Plywood Corp.'s logging operation at Kosmos, Wa., eight miles southeast of Morton in south central Lewis County. A tall timber is circled by ropes and pulleys. A piece of large hoisting machinery can be seen. The ropes possibly helped bring down the trees down safely when the timber was cut.
Plywood; Lumber industry--Kosmos--1950-1960; United States Plywood Corp. (Seattle);
The extensive timber area owned by United States Plywood Corp. at Kosmos, Washington serves as the background for a personality shot of Mr. Jess Hurd who was photographed on March 2, 1954. Kosmos was once the headquarters for the logging operations of U.S. Plywood Corp. on the Cowlitz River, eight miles southeast of Morton in south central Lewis County. U.S. Plywood expanded in the post war years, acquiring plants at Mapleton, Ore., Anderson, Ca., two plants in the buy out of Associated Plywood Mills, Inc. and a veneer peeling plant at Kosmos, Wa. Their extensive timber holdings at Kosmos supplied the raw wood for their plywood plants. (Corrected identification provided by a reader)
Plywood; Lumber industry--Kosmos--1950-1960; United States Plywood Corp. (Seattle); Hurd, Jess;
Plywood used for diecutting base at Ridgeway Lithographing Co., ordered by the DFPA (Douglas Fir Plywood Association.) Lithography is a process of printing from a plane surface, such as a smooth stone or metal plate, where the image to be printed is ink-receptive and the blank areas are ink-repellant.
St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Co., for the Condon Co. Advertising Agency. A man stands at an assembly table with the packing of a box of plywood fanned out. The box contains Plyaloy Siding, an exterior plywood product. The "Tree Life Forest Products" logo belongs to St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. Other boxes contain Knotty Pine plywood,Textured One-Eleven, Moire and Select Cabinet Stock.
St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Plywood; Clapboard siding;
A workman at the Mountain Lumber Company stands on a stack of boards as a crane swings them through the air in this photograph from February 1939. The Mountain Lumber Company, at 919 East F. Street, was built in 1924 and began cutting lumber in February of 1925. The main mill building was destroyed by fire in July of 1931. The company re-opened before the end of the year, and they were part of Tacoma's busy waterfront until the mid-1940s.
The Mountain Lumber Company, February 1939. The Mountain Lumber Company, at 919 East F. Street, was built in 1924 and began cutting lumber in February of 1925. The main mill building was destroyed by fire in July of 1931. The company re-opened before the end of the year, and they were part of Tacoma's busy waterfront until the mid-1940s.
This photograph of the Mountain Lumber Company, located at 919 East F Street on the Tacoma tideflats, was taken on February 3, 1939. Paul Billings, born in Lyndon, Kansas, moved to Tacoma in 1920 and opened the Mountain Lumber Co. in 1924. The mill was rebuilt after it burned in a spectacular fire in 1931. In January of 1950 Mountain Lumber was purchased by the Dickman Lumber Company.
St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Company milled lumber used by 20th Century Construction Company in building DeLong School. View of wood beams in early construction phase.
St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Company milled lumber used by 20th Century Construction Company in building DeLong School. Worker placing lumber on top of wood beams. Early construction phase.
St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Company milled lumber used by 20th Century Construction Company in building DeLong School. Interior view of office building or house. Plan for school on panel; signs leaning against wall describing concrete subfloors.
St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Company milled lumber used by 20th Century Construction Company in building DeLong School. View from off-site of building under construction with rough framing and roof beams in place.
Plywood was used for sheathing and concrete forms during construction at the new Custer School. The school was designed by Lea, Pearson & Richards. The building was dedicated September 30, 1953. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Reinforced concrete construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Custer School (Lakewood);
