South Tacoma Motor Company, Mr. Sheehan. General view of dealership at night. The new 1949 Chevrolets are on display in the showroom. A neon sign stands at the corner of the building with a searchlight piercing the night sky. Several people look in on the showroom from the sidewalk.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma); Chevrolet automobile; Showrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950;

South Tacoma Motor Company. General manager Guy K. Sheehan sells a young couple an automobile. A young man signs a purchase agreement for a new car while his wife looks on. They are seated at the desk of the general manager of the automobile dealership. During the four days the dealership held their open house displaying the new 1949 models of Chevrolet they took more than 100 orders. (T.Times, 1/24/1949, p.16)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma); Sheehan, Guy K.; Couples--Tacoma--1940-1950; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Deals;

Equipment at Mueller-Harkins, Walker Manufacturing Company, Racine, Wisconsin. Mueller-Harkins Buick Agency, service area. Two late 1940s Buicks are in for servicing. The service bays are outfitted with grease racks, a roll-away lube cart, and overhead hoses for air, water, grease, etc.

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

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);

The new Mueller-Harkins building was four stories high, and had a clean arrangement which was designed to speed up work. Interior view of Mueller-Harkins Buick Agency's executive or sales offices; two offices with window between them, one man working in each office, identical desk clocks, certificate "Mueller Aviation ... authorized Sea Bee Dealer ... Republic Aircraft Co." on wall (T. Times, 12/26/48, p. 28).

Buick automobile; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Office workers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma);

Mueller-Harkins' employees had their lunch and recreation room located in a round glassed-in tower. Mueller-Harkins promised fast and efficient service to their customers. Interior view of service area at Mueller-Harkins Buick Agency's painting booth, unidentified man with breathing apparatus sprays a well-masked older coupe (T. Times, 12/26/48, p. 28)..

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

Winthrop Motor Company, Plymouth and De Soto dealers. General view of the showroom with a crowd admiring a 1949 De Soto as a salesman shows off the engine. Neon signs hang in the windows, one announcing Diamond T Trucks, and advertising signs and banners in showroom.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; DeSoto automobile; Winthrop Motor Co. (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

S.L. Savidge Company, Dodge and Plymouth Dealers at 9th and Lenora in Seattle. A view of the service area showing automobile lift racks, several late 1940's Dodge automobiles being serviced, and a banner for a clearance sale on Philco Auto Radios and Seat Covers.

Automobile dealerships--Seattle; Dodge automobile; S.L. Savidge Co. (Seattle); Vehicle maintenance & repair--Seattle;

Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company was completing a company wide expansion and building program in 1949. The expansion would allow the company to serve their customers better. Exterior view of Mobilgas service station in Milton where a sign indicates a public telephone booth is available next to the gas station. Photograph ordered by Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company.

Automobile service stations--Milton; Telephone booths--Milton; Telephone companies--Tacoma; Telephone industry--Tacoma; Roads--Milton; Automobiles--Milton; Signs (Notices); Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma);

Associated Oil Service Stations, Omundson & Crosby, Station #633. The service station features three gasoline pumps under the permanent covering. A large double garage door opens into the service area. Men's and women's restrooms are available along the side of the station. The Associated Oil "Flying A" is seen over the station. TPL-1890

Associated Oil Service Stations (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Omundson & Crosby Gas Station (Tacoma); Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1940-1950; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Associated Oil Service Stations, Charlie Walker's Associated Service, station #634. This elevated view shows the busy corner location of the station as well as the convenient drive through garage with doors on both the front and back. Two automobiles have pulled in for gasoline and one is parked next to the garage with another seen behind the building on the right.

Associated Oil Service Stations (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Walkers Associated Service Station (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Irwin Jones truck building, Walt Dunlap, Irwin Jones Motor Company. The final touches are being added to the new truck division building of the Irwin Jones dealership. Clearing the site for this new building was begun in January 1948. The new facility contains 65,000 square feet with a new-truck showroom, showroom for used cars, large service and parts department, offices, a body shop and a paint shop. They have easy access to railroad tracks with a spur in the rear and will be able to unload new Dodge engines and trucks easily. (T.Times, 10/7/1948, p.13) TPL-9226

Irwin-Jones Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Progress photographs;

Sanford Nash building, Mr. Grindahl. A side view of the building showing the entrance on Broadway and how the building covers the block to have a lower entrance on Commerce Street. The lower level housed the service department. Signs advertised the "Airflyte for '49" and the "Nation's Newest Car".

Sanford-Nash, Inc. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Nash automobile; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Puyallup Motor Company, Lincoln/Mercury dealer. General view in July of 1947 of modernistic building at night, new automobiles in lighted showroom. The ceiling-to-floor glass windows provided clear access to the models on display.

Puyallup Motor Co. (Puyallup); Automobile dealerships--Puyallup--1940-1950; Lincoln automobile; Mercury automobile; Automobiles--Puyallup--1940-1950;

Sconce Advertising for Titus Motor Company. The interior of a parts store featuring Ford batteries, Ford charcoal briquettes, automobile engines and other automobile parts.

Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma;

Annual Christmas party at Sanford Nash Company. Sanford Nash has been Tacoma's Nash dealership since 1918. The dealership's President was Harold A. Sanford, Rolf T. Nixon was the Vice President and General Manager. View of Sanford employees and their children in chairs, advertising materials on walls, Christmas decorations and neon signs in windows, Nash emblem banner in center background.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Christmas decorations; Parties--Tacoma; Families--Tacoma-1940-1950; Sanford-Nash, Inc. (Tacoma)--Employees;

Sanford Nash Company celebrated the holiday season with their annual Christmas party. Sanford Nash sold new and used Ramblers and Nash automobiles, they had a service department for maintenance and repairs, and sold parts and accessories. Nash vehicles were said to be the "World's Most Economical Full-Sized Car". View of two unidentified Sanford Nash employees, they have just opened their Christmas gifts.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Parties--Tacoma; Christmas presents; Sanford-Nash, Inc. (Tacoma)--Employees;

Sanford-Nash Company was having their annual Christmas party for their employees and their families. Sanford Nash was an authorized Nash dealership in Tacoma. View of Santa Claus distributing presents to young girl, man gets next gift from under Christmas tree. Many adults and children in chairs, advertising materials on walls, Christmas decorations and neon signs in windows.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Christmas trees--Tacoma; Santa Claus--Tacoma; Parties--Tacoma; Families--Tacoma; Sanford-Nash, Inc. (Tacoma);

Display of new trucks at Titus Motor Company, Mr. Monrad, Sconce Advertising. The 1948 models included a one-half ton panel, a two ton chassis, a 3 ton chassis and a F-8 heavy duty. The F-7 and F-8 models, both new in 1948, were powered by 145 hp motors. All the 48's featured the "million-dollar" body (because dies used in their porduction cost that much), new car comfort, quarter-glass side windows for no-draft ventilation and a one piece windshield. (T.Times, 1/16/1948, p.7)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ford trucks; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma);

Titus Motor Company parts delivery department was also experiencing an increase in their services with the increased demand of the popular rebuilt Ford engines. Interior view of Vanette delivery truck from cab looking to rear, cabinets and shelves for parts, overhead panel holding gaskets in lowered position, similar panel in closed position at top in photo. View of black enamel, visor vanity mirrors and gas tank locking cap assembly kits in left forefront compartments.

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

New Shell Oil Company station, Shell Oil Company, Mr. Rutledge. A night-time view of the exterior of the new Brazeau's Shell Service Station at 6th and Fife Streets. The station has two pumps at the island in front and two automobiles are in the bays, one up on a rack. One of the attendants is looking out at the street and another is checking the front tire of one of the automobiles.

Automobile Service Stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Brazeau's Shell Service Station (Tacoma); Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Night--Tacoma; Night photographs;

Showroom at City Motor Company, Oldsmobile, Anson Hart. An 1898 automobile is included in the display of the new 1948 Oldsmobiles, perhaps a way of introducing the Oldsmobile "98" class of automobiles. Oldsmobile was America's oldest motor car manufacturer with over five decades of design and construction development. The "98"'s were the upper tier of the Oldsmobile line. They carried a newly designed high-compression head. All the 1948 models were equipped with coil springs at all 4 wheels, rigid X-member reinforced frame, double-action hydraulic shock absorbers, proven knee-action front wheel units, four-way stabilization to prevent side sway at high speeds and dual-control center steering. (T.Times, 2/16/1948, p.8 and TNT, 2/15/1948, p.A-7) TPL-3555

City Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Showrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Oldsmobile automobile;

Showing of 1949 Lincolns, Robert Sconce Advertising Agency. Men are peering under the hoods of the new 1949 model Lincolns. The 1949's featured 152 hp, V-8 engines. Several men also look inside the drivers side of the front seat. The new models had a curved instrument panel with back-light illumination, curved windshields and hydraulically controlled seat adjustment. The Cosmopolitan Town Sedan also had push button windows. The luxury automobiles have wide, white-wall tires. This is a night view from outside the showroom through plate glass windows. (T.Times, 4/15/1945, p.26) TPL-1516

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ray Ridge Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Mallon Motor Company, interior of service area showing equipment installed by Equipment Sales Corporation. Lift racks, motor oil tanks, overhead hoses, etc.

Business Enterprises - Tacoma - Automobile Dealers - New Automobile Dealers - Ford Dealers - Mallon Motor Company

July 3, 1947, saw the opening of Cliff Anderson's new Chevron gas station in Spanaway. The station had two gas pumps and a one-bay compartment for vehicle maintenance and repair. Its address was not provided. (scan of original negative, no print on file)

Automobile service stations--Spanaway; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Spanaway;

Titus Motor Company had the new 1949 Ford sedan on display, this new model was more economical and featured many new and innovative options. The new cars were being referred to as the "Radically New '49 Fords." View of man standing by a Ford truck at Titus Motor Company, photo ordered by Sconce Advertising Agency (T. Times, 6/9/48, p. 2). TPL-10258

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Showrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ford trucks; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sales personnel--Tacoma--1940-1950; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Sconce Advertising (Tacoma);

New Shell Station at 6th and Mason, Shell Oil Co., Mr. Holm. A daytime view of the new service station was taken on April 29, 1948 from street level showing the two garage doors open, banners flying and the two gasoline pumps with "Shell" signs, shaped like shells, on top. At night the Shell signs were lit.

Marty's Shell Service (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

New Shell Station at 6th and Mason, Shell Oil Co., Mr. Holm. Another day-time view of the new service station. It is on the corner of Sixth Avenue and Mason. Residences line the street across from the service station. Two tall light poles will provide plenty of illumination during the dark, wet northwest weather.

Marty's Shell Service (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Irwin-Jones Motor Company, a Nalley's Potato Chip delivery truck. The Dodge truck has the name, "Ray Beeber Food Sales, Klamath Falls, Oregon", on the side of the door. The covered back end of the truck has painted signs for "Nalley's" and "Nalley's fresh Potato Chips, Fresh-Crisp-Delicious".

Irwin-Jones Motor Co. (Tacoma); Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dodge trucks;

Tacoma Auto Sales Company, Pontiac and Cadillac dealers, exterior view from southeast of Commerce Street facade showing service entrance. A neon "Pontiac Cadillac Service" sign hangs over the entrance and many automobiles are parked at the curb.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Auto Sales Co. (Tacoma); Pontiac automobile; Cadillac automobile;