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;

ca. 1933. Walker Chevrolet Company. View of showroom, three automobiles, advertising posters, auto parts display, fancy transom with Chevrolet logo over doorway. Ordered by Mr. Donahue. (WSHS)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1930-1940; Walker Chevrolet Co. (Tacoma); Chevrolet automobile;

Marjorie Pierce, dressed in a fur coat, leans against a large and elegant 1933 Chrysler 4-door sedan in front of the new showrooms of American Motor Company at South 9th and K Street. Building features Doric columns interspersed with spindled show windows. American Motors would open their Chrysler and Plymouth dealership at this new location on November 20, 1933. TPL-7160

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1930-1940; American Motor Co. (Tacoma); Chrysler automobile; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fur garments; Pierce, Marjorie;

On November 20, 1933, American Motors, Inc. of Tacoma moved their Chrysler/Plymouth dealership to 824 K St. (now 824 Martin Luther King Jr. Way). Built in 1925 by Mutual Motors, the building offered large showrooms, a fully equipped service department and a service station. The dealership lasted at this location for only two years, and in 1939 the building was taken over by the Olympic Dairy Products Co. Note the street car lines in from of the building.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; American Motor Co. (Tacoma); Depressions--1929;

The Daimler-Knight limousine in the center of this photograph was once owned by England's King George V. It was met at Tacoma's city limits by Harry Manley and two local police officers who escorted it to the Manley Motor Company at South 9th and Fawcett where it was to be on display April 22-23, 1927. The vehicle had been built for the King in 1910 at a price tag of $17,000 and had been used continuously for 14 years. It was still capable of doing 60 mph and had 174,000 miles while in service to the king. The odometer on it had over 196,000 miles by the time it reached Tacoma. Behind the limo is a Willys-Knight 66-A "foursome." Pictured left to right are Sgt. Charles Rhors and Officer Harold Thornberg on motorcycles, R.J. Tarte (Motor Transport Co.- Seattle), Capt. Fred Gardner, Police Chief M.D. Guy, Harry Manley, James Teale (Willys-Knight) and shop foreman Joe Willett. (T.Times 4/23/1927, pg. 9) (Argentum)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1920-1930; Willys-Knight automobile; Daimler-Knight automobile; Manley Motor Co. (Tacoma); Manley, Harry; Rhors, Charles; Thornberg, Harold; Tarte, R.J.; Gardner, Fred; Guy, M.D.; Teale, James; Willett, Joe;

ca. 1926. In 1926 a new Jubilee Moon 6-60 from the Bye Thompson Motor Sales Company located at 3320 South G Street took on the steep K Street hill. The K Street hill between Center Street and South 27th had such a steep grade that it was used as a testing ground for the power of new cars. The Jubilee Moon was produced to celebrate 20 years of manufacturing by the Moon Motor Co. (1905-1929) of St. Louis, MO. The car, which sold for under $1,000, was reported to be of European design adapted to American traffic needs. The Moon and Diana motor car agent in Tacoma was the Bye Thompson Motor Sales Company; Bye Thompson was president of the company which sold and serviced the vehicles. This steep, rugged portion of K St. closed about 1960. Holy Rosary Church can be seen in the background. (filed with Argentum) (information on the Moon Jubilee from an August 7, 1926 ad in the Saturday Evening Post)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1920-1930; Bye Thompson Motor Sales Co. (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Moon automobiles; Dirt roads--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1927. Whippet Automobile on Coast to Coast trip in front of Manley Motor Company Inc. Manley was the official dealer for Overland and Willys-Knight automobiles. The Whippet automobile was manufactured from 1926-1931 by Willys Overland. The Whippet was an affordable vehicle designed to compete with Ford's Model T. (filed with Argentum)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1920-1930; Manley Motor Co. (Tacoma); Whippet automobile;

Titus Motor Company throws a party celebrating the new 1940 Fords. A line has formed to receive free hot dogs and sodas at the celebration. Many of the attendees wear "It's a Ford in '40" caps.

Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ford automobile;

This Elizabethan-style brick building at 616-24 Broadway in downtown Tacoma was designed by Roland Borhek. Built for the Pacific Car Co. in 1919, it was taken over in 1938 by the Titus Motor Co. In recent years it has been home to several car rental dealers. Roland E. Borhek was the primary architect for many Tacoma buildings including the Rialto Theater and Jason Lee Intermediate School.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies; Electric signs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma);

South Tacoma Motor Company, four men around a desk in office. It is not clear whether or not final paperwork is being processed for a sale. South Tacoma Motor Company was a Chevrolet dealership which had been a longtime fixture on South Tacoma Way. Photograph ordered by John Handy Organization, Detroit.

South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1960-1970;

South Tacoma Motor Company, view of showroom from glassed-in office area. 1968 Chevrolets on display: Chevelle 4-door in foreground, Nova SS at left center, two Impalas at right. Vintage Chevrolet roadster in left background. Photograph ordered by John Handy Organization, Detroit.

South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1960-1970; Chevrolet automobile; Showrooms--Tacoma--1960-1970;

South Tacoma Chevrolet opened a used car division at 6001 South Tacoma Way in 1964. View of inventory, small office building, tidy landscaping. Their new Motor Mall was located on paved lots totaling nearly 40,000 square feet. Sam Price was the manager of the used car lot. The contemporary styled building was designed by architect William Hocking and was decorated with bamboo trees and other Asian plantings. A large ad placed in the News Tribune on January 30, 1964, indicated that South Tacoma Chevrolet's fine used cars carried the famous Chevrolet "OK" used car warranty ensuring complete inspection, reconditioning, and thorough servicing. (TNT 1-30-64, C-3, Ad D-7)

South Tacoma Chevrolet (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1960-1970; Automobiles--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Dick Lewis Pontiac-Cadillac, Olympia. May 21, 1964, night view of A-frame showroom. Water feature in foreground, Cadillac and Pontiac Bonneville convertible, second level balcony, artwork and electric candelabra visible through glass gable end. Photograph ordered by the Weyerhaeuser Co.

Automobile dealerships--Olympia--1960-1970; Automobiles--Olympia--1960-1970; Dick Lewis Pontiac-Cadillac (Olympia);

Dick Lewis Pontiac-Cadillac agency, Olympia, interior view of service area. Mechanic works on a Cadillac Sedan de Ville on May 21, 1964. Pontiac T-34 and Tempest convertible are on lift racks in background. Photograph ordered by the Weyerhaeuser Co.

Automobile dealerships--Olympia--1960-1970; Automobiles--Olympia--1960-1970; Dick Lewis Pontiac-Cadillac (Olympia); Mechanics (Persons)--Olympia;

Dick Lewis Pontiac-Cadillac, Olympia. Man in bow tie, glasses and Cadillac blazer, possibly owner Dick Lewis, leans on fender of a Cadillac on May 21, 1964. A-frame showroom in background. He is also pictured with a small child near a pond on dealership property in D141760-54. Photograph ordered by the Weyerhaeuser Co.

Automobile dealerships--Olympia--1960-1970; Cadillac automobile; Dick Lewis Pontiac-Cadillac (Olympia);

Dick Lewis Pontiac-Cadillac, Olympia, May, 1964, interior view of second floor waiting room under steep pitched ceiling of natural wood. Modernistic furniture clashes with colonial smoking stands and wall lights. Room overlooks showroom and glass gable end. The car showroom was built in an A-frame style, befitting the exterior's extensive natural landscaping. Photograph ordered by Weyerhaeuser Co.

Automobile dealerships--Olympia--1960-1970; Dick Lewis Pontiac-Cadillac (Olympia);

ca. 1969. South Tacoma Motor Company, Used Car Division. Small ultra-modern sales office with covered driveway, several Chevrolet Impalas, a Chevelle SS, a Buick, a Volkswagen Squareback wagon, parked on lot. Although the building is named "South Tacoma Chevrolet," this was actually the used car division of South Tacoma Motor Co. The structure had been designed by architect William Hocking and had several plants of Asian variety. The 1969 City Director indicates that Beryl K. Price was manager of the lot. Photograph ordered by Harry S. Pearson, Seattle.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1960-1970; Automobiles--Tacoma--1960-1970; South Tacoma Chevrolet (Tacoma); South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1969. General daytime view of South Tacoma Motor Co. dealership. Located at So. 56th and South Tacoma Way, the South Tacoma Motor Co.'s brick and concrete facility occupied a full block. It was one of the oldest businesses in Tacoma as it started out as a livery service in the late 1800s. The Wallerich family acquired the then combined livery and automobile firm in 1919. This view, believed to be taken in the summer of 1969, focuses on the dealership's multi-glass showroom filled with new Chevrolet automobiles. Photograph ordered by Harry S. Pearson, Seattle.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1960-1970; South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma); Facades--Tacoma--1960-1970; Chevrolet automobile;

ca. 1969. Exterior view of South Tacoma Motor Co.'s new and used trucks, believed to be located at So. 54th and Washington, during the summer of 1969. Customers looking for specialists in Chevrolet service could venture out to three South Tacoma Motor Co. locations. New and used trucks could be purchased at the company's So. 54th and Washington location where all trucks sold had undergone Chevrolet's "OK" program, ensuring that they had been thoroughly inspected, reconditioned and serviced. The South Tacoma Motor Co. was a well-established Tacoma firm owned and operated by the Wallerich family. Photograph ordered by Harry S. Pearson, Seattle.

South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1960-1970; Trucks--Tacoma--1960-1970;

James Will, of Titus-Will Ford, stands next to the large engraving commemorating one of the co-founders of the firm, Leon E.Titus. Mr. Titus, who passed away in 1966, was one of Tacoma's best known automobile dealers. The pair opened a downtown Ford dealership in 1938. Titus Motor Co. offered Ford trucks and cars at its downtown Tacoma location for decades. The dealership moved to its Tacoma Mall-area location next to I-5 in 1967. Photograph ordered by Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, Michigan.

Titus-Will Ford (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1960-1970; Engravings; Titus, Leon E.--Associated objects; Will, James W.;

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;

Tacoma Auto Sales Company, Pontiac and Cadillac dealers. View from northeast of Commerce Street facade showing service entrance. Neon "Pontiac Cadillac Service" sign, many automobiles parked at curb, including a cab from East Tacoma Taxi Company.

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

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;

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);

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;