A night view of Mueller-Harkins Buick dealership decorated for Christmas. A Buick has been placed on top of the roof of the service marquee with trees and "Make this a Buick Christmas" banner. Glass-topped Texaco gas pumps, a Firestone neon sign, US Royal Master tire banner, and a motor oil display are also shown. The dealership's neon sign advertising Buick shines brightly on the vertical sign. TPL-10295

Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buick automobile; Christmas decorations; Window displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Titus Motor Company, service department. Ford sedan parked on lowered lift rack, man appears to be checking headlight alignment with an adjustable screen on a post. Man in automobile, another giving him instructions. Parts delivery van at rear.

Business Enterprises - Tacoma - Automobile Dealers - New Automobile Dealers - Ford Dealers - Titus Motor Company Tacoma Streets - Broadway

ca. 1957. Rowland Pontiac - Cadillac dealership. New Cadillacs in showroom, used Pontiacs, Cadillacs and other automobiles in carport area and outside. Neon service sign, moved here from Commerce St. side of old downtown location, at far right in photo. Rowland Pontiac-Cadillac was located on South Tacoma Way, the city's "auto row." Irwin-Jones Motor Co.'s Truck Department was the former occupant of this site.

Rowland Pontiac-Cadillac Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pontiac automobile; Cadillac automobile; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Boyd Motor Company, Rambler agency, general view of dealership. New Ramblers in front of building, advertising banners in windows, used car lot in background

Business Enterprises - Tacoma - Automobile Dealers - New Automobile Dealers - Nash / Rambler Dealers - Boyd Motor Company

Members of the sales, service and office crew of Kerr Motors in Bremerton. The group portrait of the staff, 21 men and three women, was taken to commemorate the Grand Opening March 6, 1936 of Kerr's new modern one stop service station on 4th St., near Washington Ave. Pictured left to right in the picture are, front row, William Weber, Sig Ness, Lincoln Morse, Paul Peirson, Harold Johnson and Earl Spiecker. Middle row- Everett West, Leslie Mottram. Les Klesper, Lorieta Mogford, S.L. Kerr-owner, Marie Gilbert, Frank McCarty, Charles Taylor and Loren Brown. Back row- Kenneth Spotts, Joe Thomas, Carlos Burton, Edgar Sandstrom, Vera Lamb, Arthur Hupp, Vernon Arndt, Earl Dyer and Joe Dick. The three year old company was growing rapidly, selling new Fords and used cars as well as supplies and service. The service station was located across the street from the dealership. For Bremerton Sun. (Bremerton Sun 3/5/1936, pg. 1)

Automobile dealerships--Bremerton--1930-1940; Kerr, Motors--Bremerton;

Repair shop machinery and equipment for factory representative, Sanford Nash. Specialized machinery for testing automobile performance has been placed up on a ramp where the rear wheels rest against a spinning column. Neon signs hang from the ceiling for "Engine" and "Motor Tune Up".

Sanford-Nash, Inc. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Lions Club annual dance at Rehn Motor Company, Mr. Harold Rehn, Gig Harbor. Couples are standing in front of the dance band while a few are dancing behind them during the 1949 Lions Club dance and bingo night at the Chevrolet dealership in Gig Harbor.

Automobile dealerships--Gig Harbor--1940-1950; Rehn Motor Co. (Gig Harbor); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lions Club (Tacoma); Dance--Gig Harbor--1940-1950;

A.E. Mulligan Company, Studebaker Dealers, Truck Department. Three new pickups nose out of the showroom. Neon signs and decals show through the windows and a sign is painted on the building facade. Henry Zuchow was newly named as manager of the truck department at Mulligans. He had worked for several years in a local manufacturing firm as a mechanical engineer and Mulligan's was happy to announce, "Zachow's engineering and design experience should be of great help to our customers in assisting them in designing truck bodies." (TNT, 6/9/1949, p.A-6)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; A.E. Mulligan Co. (Tacoma); Studebaker trucks;

Lions' Club annual dance at Rehn Motor Company, Mr. Harold Rehn, Gig Harbor. Players at Lion's Club Bingo Night at the Chevrolet dealership in Gig Harbor.

Automobile dealerships--Gig Harbor--1940-1950; Rehn Motor Co. (Gig Harbor); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lions Club (Tacoma); Bingo--Gig Harbor;

Lions' Club annual dance at Rehn Motor Company, Mr. Harold Rehn, Gig Harbor. People are standing outside Rehn Motor Company's showroom during the Lion's Club Bingo Night at the Chevrolet dealership in Gig Harbor.

Automobile dealerships--Gig Harbor--1940-1950; Rehn Motor Co. (Gig Harbor); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lions Club (Tacoma); Bingo--Gig Harbor;

Mueller-Harkins had been an authorized Buick dealership in tacoma since 1916; they had recently opened their one-stop automotive center at 455 Saint Helens Avenue in Tacoma's business district. View of progress on the "Buick" sign at Mueller-Harkins Motor Company, the dealership had their open house for their new and modern facilities in December 1948. Photo ordered by Comfort, Davis and Blangy, a real estate and insurance business in Tacoma.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Progress photographs; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Comfort, Davis & Blangy (Tacoma);

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;

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, overhead hoses, roll-away tool box and other equipment along the wall.

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

Winthrop Motor Company, Plymouth and De Soto dealers. View through agency windows, crowd admiring 1949 De Soto as salesman discusses its features. Neon signs in windows, advertising signs and banners and TV-like slide viewer in showroom. The 1949 Plymouths had a longer, 118", wheelbase, and a lower center of gravity. The body and frame were 23% more rigid and easier to park because of less overhang. Fenders flowed into the body but they were separate and detachable. (T.Times, 3/17,1949, p.17) TPL-9282

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

Tacoma Auto Sales, new 1949 Pontiacs, Mr. Bryson Gardner. Tacoma Auto Sales Company, Pontiac and Cadillac dealers, general view of showroom with customers admiring the 1949 Pontiacs. Tacoma Auto Sales advertised "Stream-Sweep fenders, automatic driving ease, and straight-eight or V-6 engines". (TNT, 2/13/1949, p.B-2)

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

Tacoma Auto Sales, new 1949 Pontiacs, Mr. Bryson Gardner. A general view of the showroom at Tacoma Auto Sales Company, Pontiac and Cadilac dealers, with customers admiring the 1949 Pontiacs. Tacoma Auto Sales reported that more than 7,500 persons had visited the showroom during the first four days of the initial showing of the new 1949 Pontiacs. (TNT, 2/3/1949, p.12)

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

Tacoma Auto Sales, new 1949 Pontiacs, Mr. Bryson Gardner. A night view of the exterior of Tacoma Auto Sales Company, Pontiac and Cadillac dealers, with a four-door 1949 Pontiac Chieftain Sedan parked at an angle in front. Neon signs are placed on the facade and the showroom windows have been painted over with a scene of a fence and barn with characters "peeking" at the new 1949s. New models were to be kept secret until they were revealed at the same time all over the United States. (TNT, 2/3/1949, p.12)

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

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;

Tacoma Auto Sales, new 1949 Pontiacs, Mr. Bryson Gardner. A night view of the agency with a 1949 Pontiac parked at curb including the neon signs on the facade, showroom windows painted over with a scene of a fence and barn with characters taking a look at the new 1949 Pontiacs.

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

Tacoma Auto Sales, new 1949 Pontiacs, Mr. Bryson Gardner. A close up of the showroom windows painted over with a scene of a fence and barn with characters "peeking" at the new 1949 Pontiacs. A medallion bearing the profile of Chief Pontiac is in window above painting.

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

1950 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery truck, "Nalley's Inc. Advertising Car LA-63" on display in South Tacoma Motor Company's showroom. Slogan "If It's Nalley's It's Good" and product names "Treasure Pickles" and "Beef Stew" are painted on this side.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma);Food industry--Tacoma; Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma); Chevrolet trucks;

A new Chevrolet panel truck for Nalley's, Inc. was on display at South Tacoma Motor Company. This advertising car for Nalley's, Inc. carries the company logo, "If It's Nalley's, It's Good," on both sides and the rear door. This view shows advertising for Lumber Jack Syrup and Tang.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma);Food industry--Tacoma; Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma); Chevrolet trucks; Advertising--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A shiny, new 1950 Chevrolet De Luxe 2 door sedan was on display in the showroom window at South Tacoma Motor Company in January of 1950. The transom above the large picture window was decorated with a banner, "Now on Display - New Chevrolet for '50". Peter Wallerich founded the South Tacoma Motor Company after he acquired a combined livery business and service store in 1919. He opened his new Chevrolet dealership at 5602 So. Tacoma Way in 1924. During the post-war boom of the 1950's, the South Tacoma Motor Company was selling 200 cars and trucks a year. (South on the Sound, Murray and Rosa Morgan) TPL-8566

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Chevrolet automobile; South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma);

South Tacoma Motor Company. A general view of the dealership at night. 1950 Chevrolets are on display in the showroom. A neon sign advertises the dealership at the corner while searchlights on the back of a truck pierce the night sky. South Tacoma Motor Company originated in the late 1800s as Union Street Livery. With the growing popularity of automobiles in the early 1900s, the owners combined the livery business with a service store and garage. Peter Wallerich acquired South Tacoma Motor in 1919. As of 1984 John Wallerich, Peter's grandson, headed the dealership. (South on the Sound, Murray and Rosa Morgan) TPL-6545

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Chevrolet automobile; Searchlights--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Painted window, Tacoma Auto Sales, Buck Gardner. The 1950 Pontiacs went on display at Tacoma Auto Sales the last week of November 1949. The Chieftain and Streamliner lines were continued with standard and de luxe styling, six- or eight-cylinder engines (up to 108 h.p.) and Hydra-matic or Synchro-Mesh transmissions. This General Motors make was named after the intelligent and formidable leader of the Ottawa Tribe, Chief Pontiac, who united four tribes to fight against the British army during the French and Indian War in 1763.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Tacoma Auto Sales Co. (Tacoma); Window displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Advertising--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The Tacoma Auto Sales Co., at 723 Broadway, sold new and used Cadillacs and Pontiacs. On December 26, 1949 they took out a full page advertisement in the New Tribune. The ad included this photograph of the mechanics from their service department. The service and parts department was at 722 Commerce, around the corner from the showroom. Between 1951 and 1953 the dealership changed hands, and became Mulligan Pontiac Cadillac Co. (TNT, 12/26/1949, p.10)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Auto Sales Co. (Tacoma)--Employees;

Group for Christmas ad in newspaper, Tacoma Auto Sales, Llewellyn Advertising Agency, Mr. Van Meter. A group portrait of 22 of the administrative and sales personnel from Tacoma Auto Sales. The men all wear business suits and the women wear either suits, or a sweater and skirt or blouse and skirt. This photograph was used in a Tacoma News Tribune ad December 26, 1949. (TNT, 12/26/1949, p.10)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Tacoma Auto Sales Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Sales personnel--Tacoma--1940-1950; Office workers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Titus handled many special orders and custom built trucks to accommodate all types of business needs. Interior view of Ford truck built for Hunt and Mottet Company, a wholesale sporting goods and hardware company. This new truck would allow for them to efficiently deliver to hardware stores throughout Western Washington. The truck has many compartments which help keep the company organized.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ford trucks; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hardware; Fishing & hunting gear; Sporting goods; Sporting goods industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Hunt & Mottet Co. (Tacoma);

Hunt and Mottet Company, a wholesale sporting goods and hardware company, had just purchased a new Ford truck from Titus Motor Company. This new truck would allow for them to efficiently deliver to hardware stores throughout Western Washington. Interior view of truck; fishing gear and other sporting goods are organized in the many compartments.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ford trucks; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hardware; Fishing & hunting gear; Sporting goods; Sporting goods industry--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Hunt & Mottet Co. (Tacoma);

Titus Motor Company was an authorized Ford cars and trucks dealership, in Tacoma for many years. Titus handled many special orders and custom built trucks to accommodate all types of business needs. Interior view of Ford truck built for Hunt and Mottet Company, a wholesale sporting goods and hardware company. This new truck would allow for them to efficiently deliver to hardware stores throughout Western Washington. TPL-5531

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Ford trucks; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hardware; Fishing & hunting gear; Sporting goods; Sporting goods industry--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Hunt & Mottet Co. (Tacoma);