Western Machine Works designed and built automatic labor saving machinery. They were owned and operated by Frank Schmidtz. View of machinery built by Western Machine Works.

Machinery industry--Tacoma; Machinery; Western Machine Works (Tacoma);

Peterson Boat Building was launching a 98-foot wooden tuna purse seiner in April of 1947 which was also capable of sardine seining. The fishing vessel was built for John and George Stanovich and Louis LeMont of San Pedro, California. The boat was christened as the "Golden West," with Mrs. John Stanovich as sponsor. Mrs. Stanovich is pictured above holding her bouquet and the champagne bottle just before the ship christening. After completion, the "Golden West" was headed south to fish for tuna on behalf of the French Sardine Co. (T. Times, 4/2/47, p. 9 & Pacific Fisherman, Jan. 1948, p. 185). TPL-8924

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stanovich, John--Family; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Peterson Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

The Cheney Stud brand carries a stud horse imprinted on the ends and faces of Cheney Studs, it quickly became recognized throughout the industry as a sign of top quality. The demand for eight foot Cheney Studs dramatically increased while the availability of suitable tie lumber for the portable mills and the market for railroad ties decreased. Exterior view of Cheney plant, Cheney Studs are stacked up, hoisting machinery is in center.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lumberyards--Tacoma; Lumber--Tacoma; Building materials industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hoisting machinery; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Cheney Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

Cheney Lumber Co. was a modern stud mill, providing Tacoma and national industries with the building material most needed. Cheney had been at their current site since 1942, they were located on the west side of Port of Tacoma Road, north of East 11th Street. Exterior view of pier with studs, laborers and hoisting pulleys and equipment.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lumberyards--Tacoma; Lumber--Tacoma; Building materials industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hoisting machinery; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Cheney Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

Loading a shipment of lumber from Cheney Lumber Company was made easier by the Cheney's facilities and dock on Sitcum Waterway. Cranes could load directly from railroad cars with tracks on the dock. TPL-5677

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lumberyards--Tacoma; Lumber--Tacoma; Building materials industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hoisting machinery; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Cheney Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

Ben B. Cheney founded Cheney Lumber Co. in 1936. The Cheney Co. was originally established to manufacture railroad ties. Timber was purchased and resold to small portable tie mills manufacturing ties for both domestic and foreign markets. Cheney eventually set out to strategically redevelop the 12 foot stud, prices would drop and less lumber would be wasted, making the 8 foot stud quite popular. Exterior view of Cheney plant, lumberyard and docks.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lumberyards--Tacoma; Lumber--Tacoma; Building materials industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Piers & wharves--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Cheney Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Shipping--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The Tacoma Afifi Shriners were boarding a special train at Union Depot and heading to Helena, Montana for the Pacific Northwest Shrine Association Annual Conclave. They would first travel to Spokane, where additional train cars would be added and Spokane Shriners would travel with them to Helena. The Shriners would be sleeping in the train cars during their trip, due to a shortage of lodging in Montana. View of Afifi Shriners with their families seeing them off at Union Depot (T. Times, 4/25/47, p. 1).

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Railroads--Tacoma; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad's "Hiawathian" would make daily round trips between Tacoma and Avery, Idaho. This new train had a modern diesel engine, with two pistons to each cylinder, which came together on compression and separated on explosion. The two crankshafts are geared together at one end, and the lower crankshaft is the main one that drives the generator and air compressor on the same shaft (T. Times, 2/26/47, p. 3-A).

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Railroad cars--Tacoma; Railroads--Tacoma; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma);

Cheney Lumber Company. New construction of large residences on a cleared hillside.

Cheney Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dwellings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Construction--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Cheney Lumber Company. Three loggers in one of the Cheney Lumber camps prepare to bring down another large tree to be cut into lumber. Ben B. Cheney started the Cheney Lumber Company 1936. Prior to this time large amounts of wood were wasted in the production of railroad ties and studding used in construction. Mr. Cheney was troubled by this and had an idea that by making studding in a standard 8 foot length much of the waste could be saved. He went to the tie mills and bought their waste and cut it into studs, thereby making an industry. Cheney Lumber Company's 7 plants produced 1 million studs per day. Ben Cheney was credited with standardizing architecture in America with his methods for mass-producing studing. (TNT, 6/11/1960)

Cheney Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trees; Woodcutting;

Aerial view of Cheney Lumber Company, also the Port of Tacoma Dock with Cheney ties.

Cheney Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Port of Tacoma Dock (Tacoma); Aerial photographs; Ships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1940-1950; Marine terminals--Tacoma--1940-1950; Waterfronts; Industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Douglas Fir Plywood Association. Two men stand by a display for K-Veneer and its uses. Numerous new plywood products were exhibited such as surfacings for panels and combination products, some manufactured from sawdust and other substances previously considered waste. (T.Times, 6/11/1947, p.1)

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Demonstration of farm machinery, Machinery Manufacturing and Sales Inc., Bob Airey. Logs are moved up to a portable sawmill along a chain conveyor belt. Men operate the machinery while others watch the machinery in operation. Harrison Brothers, building materials and excavating contractors, are seen on the adjacent property at 225 Wakefield Drive. Taller buildings are seen in the background. TPL-3826

Logs; Machinery; Machinery industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Machinery Manufacturing & Sales, Inc. (Tacoma);

Pacific Boat Building Company, sea trials of "Sun King". A view of Sun King's starboard side. Pacific Boat Building Company was operated by John B. and Robert J. Breskovich and Joseph S. Rosin at this time. TPL-8933

Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Pacific Boat Building Company, sea trials of "Sun King". An aerial view of Sun King showing her decks. This tuna clipper was 112 ft. x 26.5 ft. x 14 ft. She was built for Joseph Fernandes and Sun Harbor Packing Company of San Diego. She was a sister ship of Sun Voyager and had a 550 h.p engine. (Pacific Fisherman Yearbook 1949, p. 301 & 320) TPL-8932

Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Boat Building Company. "Lynda" and "Eileen" water trials. The two fishing boats are seen on Commencement Bay. TPL-8926

Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Boat Building Company. "Lynda" water trials. TPL-8927

Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Firemen Wally Johnson, of the Milwaukee Road, poses with the grateful woman that he rescued. Johnson scooped her up off the track, saving her life. The pair pose standing in front of a train. Chicago Milwaukee St. Paul Railways had made Tacoma its chief manufacturing point in the west. They had 300 acres with an extensive work shop and terminals, located near the tideflats. They offered transcontinental service and daily departures to Chicago.

Railroad employees; Aged persons--Tacoma; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma);

Pacific Iron and Steel Works, Joseph E. Lansburg, 1602 Canal St. (now Portland Ave.) Manufacturing plant interior. Wheels connected to each other lie on a track to facilitate movement of materials throughout the machine shop.

Machine shops--Tacoma--1940-1950; Foundries--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pacific Iron & Steel Works (Tacoma);

This photograph, which dates from around 1890, was reproduced by Richards Studio in March of 1946 under the direction of Ernest G. Heinrich, the owner of Heinrich Locker & Ice Co. It is a view of a man with two boys, wearing hats, sitting by railroad tracks. Ernest Heinrich is the boy seated on the lap of Bill Plummer. Mr. Plummer was the bridge watchman for the St. Paul & Duluth Railroad Bridge across the St. Croix River in Rushseba Minnesota, Chisago County. The other boy is unidentified. The trio are at the ferry landing. TPL-3566

Railroad tracks; Children & adults; Smokestacks; Heinrich, Ernest G.--Family;

Younglove Fruit & Produce Co. was founded by E. A. Younglove in 1907. They moved in 1935 to a larger better equipped building that allowed them access to rail and water transport systems. Their new location made them one of the most complete and efficient wholesale food distributing centers on the Pacific Coast. View of produce, photo ordered by Robert Baker, manager of Younglove Fruit and Produce Co.

Farm produce--Tacoma; Agriculture--Tacoma; Fruit industry--Tacoma; Younglove Grocery Co. (Tacoma);

A. H. Cox & Co. at St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. logging operation at Puyallup. A log train transports the logs from the logging grounds to the sawmill plants located in Tacoma. The logs are then dumped into a log pond where they are stored. View of log train cars, with laborer making some final checks, mountain view in background.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Machinery; Logs; Woodcutting--Puyallup; Railroad tracks--Puyallup; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Rainier, Mount (Wash.)

Full size glued up plywood beams are set up where they will be tested to determine how much pressure they can withstand without collapsing. View of unidentified man testing plywood at Parkland, photo ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Plywood; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Testing--Tacoma; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Northern Pacific Railway was awarded the President's Safety Plaque for 1945 for practicing the virtues of safety. G. L. Ernstrom, General Mechanical Superintendent for the company came from St. Paul, Minnesota to present the award. View of ceremony with Northern Pacific shop employees gathered to celebrate the honors (T. Times, 5/9/46, p. 5).

Railroad companies--Tacoma; Railroad shops & yards--Tacoma; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Celebrations--Tacoma; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma);

Northern Pacific Railway was awarded the President's Safety Plaque for 1945 for practicing the virtues of safety. Northern Pacific employees were paid compliments for their safety consciousness. View of ceremony with Northern Pacific shop employees gathered to celebrate the honors (T. Times, 5/9/46, p. 5).

Railroad companies--Tacoma; Railroad shops & yards--Tacoma; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Laborers--Tacoma; Celebrations--Tacoma; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma);

An aerial view of Philadelphia Quartz' plant on the Tacoma tideflats. Philadelphia Quartz, with its plants in Berkeley, Los Angeles and Tacoma, was the leading producer of soluble silicates. Its products were used in paper mills, soaps, detergents, high octane gasoline, plywood, corrugated boxes and television sets. Silicates were the unknown product that made modern conveniences possible.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Minerals; Philadelphia Quartz Co. of California (Tacoma); Aerial photographs;

Independent Insulation, Inc., exterior of plant. Independent Insulation produced rock wool as insulation for factories and homes. Rock was poured in at one end of the production line and it came out as rock wool at the other end. Three kinds of rock; copper slag from the Tacoma smelter, quartz silica and basalt, with limestone added as a flux, were layered with coke, and heated to 2,600 degrees farenheit. The molten stream which flowed off was broken up by live steam under pressure. (TNT 3/22/1946; 3/30/1947)

Factories--Fife--1940-1950; Independent Insulation, Inc. (Fife);

Independent Insulation Inc. of Fife produced rock wool to be used for insulation in factories and homes. Three kinds of rock - copper slag from the Tacoma smelter, quartz silica, ands basalt - were layered with coke and limestone, as a flux, and heated to 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit. Once molten the rock was combined under pressure with live steam; it shot out of a man-made volcano and into a long blowing chamber. The rock emerges from the furnace in molten globulets and the speed at which it is cooled creates its thread-like texture. (TNT 3/22/1946; 3/30/1947)

Factories--Fife--1940-1950; Independent Insulation, Inc. (Fife);

In July of 1946, a young logger, holding an adze, leans against the base of a newly cut old growth douglas fir. The base of the tree is almost 14 feet in diameter. A section from the trunk of this tree was shipped to the Northwest Door Company in Tacoma where it was displayed. The tree was found southwest of Mt. Rainier in the center of western Washington at 1,050 feet elevation. Its lowest branch was 95 feet above ground level. However, the tree had been damaged by natural causes and was shattered 198 feet from the base and beginning to rot. Its rings showed the tree to be about 586 years old. (TNT 8/21/1946, pg. 1)

Logs; Forests--Washington; Lumber industry--Tacoma

ca. 1946. A section of Douglas Fir tree trunk almost 14 feet in diameter arrives at the Northwest Door Co. plywood plant. Marilyn Maras (now Cade,) daughter of Anthony "Spike" Maras, peeks from the top of the trunk, showing by comparison the huge size of the log. The log was cut by the Davis & Maras Co. from the Northwest Door Co.'s logging lands southwest of Mt. Rainier. A section of the log remained on display at Northwest Door from 1946 - 1965, when it was moved to the Lakewood branch of the Pierce County library.

Logs; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Northwest Door Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Tree stumps--Tacoma--1940-1950; Logging trucks--1940-1950; Maras, Marilyn;