A new Dodge delivery truck from Griffith Motor Co. has been purchased by the Tacoma Fish & Packing Co. in March of 1924. The Dodge was selected for its fine qualities of appearance, dependability and economy. Tacoma Fish & Packing was located at 1107 Dock St. and were wholesale dealers in fresh, smoked and frozen fish. The occupant in the vehicle was not identified. Photograph ordered by Griffith Motor Co., Dodge dealership. G34.1-056 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 4-13-24, G-7)

Dodge trucks; Tacoma Fish & Packing Co. (Tacoma);

An unidentified woman is pictured on March 23, 1924, hopping from one Rickenbacker coupe to another. The coupes came with 4-wheel brakes, a relatively new idea. Photograph ordered by Sound Motor Co. G32.1-065

Rickenbacker automobile;

Three F.S. Harmon Co. delivery trucks are on display in early February of 1924. Each has a different billboard on one side: Upholstered furniture deluxe, Day-An-Nite davenport and Blabon linoleums. The F.S. Harmon warehouse is visible in the rear. G66.2-130

Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930; F.S. Harmon Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

A Cleveland Six convertible, with its top down and groaning under the weight of 19 staff members of the Richardson Motor Company, made the rounds of downtown Tacoma in February of 1924, inviting residents to guess the weight of the load, exclusive of the car. The person with the closest guess would win $25.00. The vehicle and its enormous load are shown stopped in front of Clarke's Tire Service at 731 St. Helens Ave. , one of its stops up and down the hilly streets. Benjamin Bailey's entry came the closest to picking the actual combined weight of 3,234.5 pounds, missing it by only 3.5 pounds, and he was awarded the $25 prize. Names of the Richardson staff were listed in the February 10th edition of the Sunday Ledger. G32.1-112; TPL-3700 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-3-24, 2G; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-10-24, G-7-article)

Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Richardson Motor Co. (Tacoma)--employees; Clarke's Tire Service (Tacoma); Contests--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Legendary fighter pilot and race car driver, Eddie Rickenbacker, established his own automobile manufacturing company for a short time which produced coupes and sedans named after himself. To drum up publicity for his new car, three local women drivers were used to handle a seven-day continously run endurance marathon as pictured above in December of 1923. Margaret Hickey was the first driver when the endurance run began at 12:31 p.m. in front of City Hall on December 3, 1923. Irma Mottau and Helen Selden would take over at 4-hour intervals. The women did not break speed limits and were not limited to particular routes so drove from Des Moines to Olympia and points between in often rough weather. To ensure that the motor was not tampered with, and not turned off, Sheriff Tom Desmond and Police Captain Fred Gardner sealed the hood of the Rickenbacker coupe prior to the start of the run. The seal would not be broken until the end of the run, at 12:31 p.m. on December 10th. The three women, with Helen Selden as the finishing driver, were greeted at the finish line by over 500 people at the conclusion of the 2,642 mile marathon. A classic 4-passenger coupe like the above sold for $2325 at the time of the race. Local distributor of the Rickenbacker was the Sound Motor Co., Sixth & Tacoma, who sponsored the race. G11.1-006 (photograph is also labeled B9060) (TDL 12-11-23, p. 5)

Rickenbacker automobile; Signs (Notices);

Sheriff Tom Desmond and Police Captain Fred Gardner were photographed in early December, 1923, sealing the hood of a black Rickenbacker coupe with General Cords that bears the sign "Non-stop Endurance Run Car/Seven Day Continuous/Driven Only By Women/Rickenbacker of course." The seal on the hood would not be broken by the police officers until the end of the race at 12:31 p.m., 7 days later. The engine would run continuously. The Rickenbacker was named after war ace and racer, Eddie Rickenbacker. Three women, Margaret Hickey, Helen Selden and Irma Mottauare are seated in the car. All daughters of prominent Tacoma families, they would each take 4-hour driving shifts during the 7-day/168 hour endurance run. Women were chosen instead of more experienced male drivers to prove the Rickenbacker's reliability and ease of handling. TPL-180; G11.1-052 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 12-2-23, G-5, 8-G, 9-G-articles; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 12-9-23, G-3; TDL 12-11-23, p. 5-article)

Rickenbacker automobile; Signs (Notices); Desmond, Tom; Gardner, Fred; Hickey, Margaret; Selden, Helen; Mottau, Irma;

Model Bakery's motto was "Where Quality and Purity Counts." Their delivery truck and driver are pictured on a foggy November day in 1923. Model Bakery was located at the corner of So. 38th & Yakima Ave. It was owned by Gust and Thora Westerdale. Because the bakery had previously been pleased with other dependable Dodge commercial vehicles, they decided to purchase a new model due to its improved appearance, larger seats, and easier riding. TPL-951; G33.1-002 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 11-18-23, 8-G)

Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Dodge trucks; Model Bakery (Tacoma);

New Dodge on display. A shiny new Dodge touring car is parked outdoors on November 5, 1923, with a young man at the driver's seat and another man standing next to the front passenger's door. Photograph ordered by Griffith Motor Co., Dodge dealers.

Dodge automobile;

Model T Ford parked outside building believed to be located on Wheeler-Osgood Co. property, 1216 Saint Paul Ave., on October 30, 1923. The side of the car has been marred with letters either printed in the dust or scratched in the paint. G11.1-058

Ford automobile;

A sleek new closed car Studebaker is parked outside of Home Electric Co., 1321-23 A Street, on September 13, 1923. Standing next to the Big Six coupe is Edward L. Salmson, president of the firm. He had bought a car from B. H. Kennedy, local Studebaker distributor, twelve years before and has just purchased this 1924 model. The Big Six coupes (5-passenger) sold for $2550, per Mr. Kennedy's ad in the Tacoma Sunday Ledger of September 23rd. Photograph ordered by B.H. Kennedy. G11.1-018 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 9-23-23, G-5)

Studebaker automobile; Home Electric Co. (Tacoma); Salmson, Edward L.;

Three Nalley's delivery trucks are lined up outside the company plant on July 7, 1923. Two of the three drivers are visible behind the steering wheels. Nalley's trucks were decorated with the company's slogan, "If it's Nalley's it's Good." An uncropped version of this photograph ran in the Tacoma Sunday Ledger on July 15, 1923. Nalley's had added more Dodges to their fleet including a touring car and a panel business car (not pictured above) . They had accepted delivery from the Pierce County distributors of Dodge Bros. vehicles, Griffith Motor Co. Low upkeep expense and proven dependability were factors in choosing the Dodge Bros. brand. (print has been damaged) (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 7-15-23, 6-G)

Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Nalleys, Inc. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Gas & Fuel Co. Two Tacoma Gas delivery trucks were photographed, possibly at the company's plant near 22nd and Dock St., in June of 1923. The Chevrolet trucks have advertising for "Smoothtop" gas stoves posted on the sides. Tacoma Gas & Fuel Co. had recently taken delivery of the two trucks from Wallace Chevrolet Co., local Chevrolet distributors. The company had used Chevrolet vehicles in the past and praised their economical features. G35.1-045 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 7-1-23, 4-G)

Tacoma Gas & Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Chevrolet trucks;

ca. 1923. A sturdy GMC truck served as the Yakima stage in 1923 with stops in Prosser and Toppenish. It was parked outside of a Tacoma Standard Oil Co. station at the time of this Boland photograph. A large multi-business billboard is in the background featuring a clothing store and the Washington Cycle & Supply Co. Photograph ordered by Pioneer Auto Works. G66.1-031

Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Buses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Billboards--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Model Bakery truck on display. This Model Bakery delivery truck was parked outdoors on March 26, 1923. It had recently been purchased from Griffith Motor Co., the downtown Dodge dealership, and joined a fleet of Dodge Bros. cars operated by the bakery. Model Bakery was located at the corner of South 38th and Yakima Avenue and was owned and operated by Gus Westerdale. Their motto was "Where Quality and Purity Counts." TPL-3198; G33.1-003 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 4-22-23, C-5)

Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Dodge trucks; Model Bakery (Tacoma);

A new Dodge sedan is parked on an unpaved road next to a wood framed home on March 26, 1923. Neither the man standing next to the vehicle nor the house, with partial address of 3718, was identified. Photograph ordered by Griffith Motor Co.

Dodge automobile; Houses--1920-1930;

An unidentified woman, foot on the running board, prepares to enter a closed coupe parked on the circular driveway outside Capt. Olaf Olson's home at 223 North Yakima Ave. on December 18, 1922. The brick Spanish-Colonial home, originally built for lumberman E.J. McNeeley in 1906, was designed by the Tuttle Brothers architectural firm. In the photograph's background are the Lewis & Clark Apartments, 717-719 North 3rd St. G11.1-040

Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Olson, Olaf--Homes & haunts; Lewis & Clark Apartments (Tacoma);

Display of Maxwell automobiles. Hoisted on top of a small stage is a Maxwell touring car. The Maxwells were distributed in Southwest Washington by the American Automobile Co. The tops were removable if so desired and the new "California" or all weather top, dark maroon in color, was guaranteed to last the lifetime of the car. The Maxwell automobile also came in enclosed models. This display of automobiles may have been in preparation for the Wesern Washington Fair, October 2-9, where new 1923 cars would be exhibited at the Auto Show. G32.1-135 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 4-30-22, C-3-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger 4-23-22, C-5-article)

Maxwell automobile; Automobile shows;

A driverless automobile is parked under towering trees with a sign advertising "The Lakes" on May 19, 1922. This is in reference to the Benbow Inn at The Lakes (Resort) located between Tacoma and Mount Rainier near Kapowsin. Cottages and a large inn were situated on the property along Lake Tanwax. They catered to families providing recreational activities and relaxation for all. This photograph was used in an article describing Benbow Inn which ran in the News Tribune a couple years later, on July 31, 1924. G38.1-057 (TNT 7-31-24, B-2)

Automobiles--Kapowsin; Trees--Kapowsin; Signs (Notices); Benbow Lakes Resort (Kapowsin);

The Wilson-Dawson-McFarland Co. Dodge van is parked outside of the two-story cottage at 514 North "G" St. on April 1, 1922. Four men, including the driver, solemnly gaze at the photographer. The painters have their ladders ready to possibly paint the cottage which was built circa 1890. Photograph ordered by the Griffith Motor Co. TPL-1842; BU10, 150; G37.1-098 (also the same as G28.1-172 and G66.2-121)

Dodge automobile; Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Painting--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Parked outside the City Pound's office at So. 27th & D on February 18, 1922, is a new 1922 Dodge closed-car sedan with Walter Havelock Campbell Griffith, president of Griffith Motor Co., standing nearby. A sign fastened to the rather decrepit building warns of a "vicious dog" inside. Mr. Griffith had graciously donated use of his Dodge cars for photographers and writers to use that month in documenting animal care in Tacoma, focusing on the Tacoma Humane Society, a Tacoma Community Chest agency. G10.1-064 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-26-22, 1-C)

Griffith, Walter Havelock Campbell; Dodge automobile; Tacoma City Pound (Tacoma); Signs (Notices); Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

This stray dog eyes the new 1922 Dodge sedan driven by Griffith Motor Co. president, Walter Havelock Campbell Griffith, as it is parked by the City Pound Office at South 27th & "D" on February 18, 1922. The man holding onto the excited dog is unidentified. The Community Chest was gearing up for its annual fund raiser in support of 28 relief agencies including the Tacoma Humane Society. Mr. Griffith had donated the use of several of his new Dodges to transport photographers and writers in order that the need for animal care could be better publicized. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-26-22, 1-C)

Griffith, Walter Havelock Campbell; Dodge automobile; Dogs--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

A new Dodge coupe, with Tacoma businessman H.J. Salmela at the wheel, is parked on the brick roadway outside the Griffith Motor Co., 728-30 Broadway, on February 11, 1922. Griffith Motors was the authorized dealer for Dodge Brothers motor cars. A new car was still a relative rarity back in the early 20s and local newspapers often ran photographs of happy customers with their new purchases. Mr. Salmela was already the owner of three six-cylinder cars but chose the Dodge coupe for a practical purpose, as best suited for a motor trip to San Diego and a tour of the entire state of California. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-26-22, 4-C)

Salmela, H.J.; Dodge automobile; Griffith Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Parked outside Griffith Motor Co. on August 16, 1921, is a Dodge Bros. automobile with oversized Federal brand evaporated milk can on display. The Federal Condensed Milk Co. advertised that their milk was safe for all to drink with the slogan "It's Pure That's Sure." W.J. Clifford, advertising manager for the milk company, has his hand on the steering wheel while peering out the glassless window frame. Mr. Clifford has had his Dodge for two years and indicates that he finds the vehicle most satisfactory and well suited for his travels through Washington, Oregon and Idaho. G6.1-075; TPL-912 (T.Times 8-27-21, p. 7)

Griffith Motor Co. (Tacoma); Dodge automobile; Advertising--Tacoma--1920-1930; Clifford, W.J.;

A veteran of the road, F.A. Read, is pictured in the "Official Car" of the Automobile Club of Western Washington. It was fortunate for him that on this rainy day in June of 1921 his 490 Chevrolet roadster with special built body came equipped with a hardtop. Automobile tires were much narrower then, as viewed above, and he prudently carried a spare which was mounted outside the driver's side. Mr. Read, an employee of the Automobile Club of Western Washington, spent most of his time mapping new roads which involved much travel. He appreciated his Chevrolet for its low operating cost and ability to roam where other vehicles may have had difficulty. G11.1-050 (T.Times 7-2-21, p. 10)

Chevrolet automobile; Tires; Read, F.A.;

Four Mack trucks form a small convoy as they transport small tanks in May of 1921. Several soldiers are atop of the parked vehicles. The men, trucks and tanks were probably photographed at Camp Lewis. The Tacoma Sunday Ledger had reported on February 27, 1921, that one of the newest arrivals at Camp Lewis was the Fourth Company of Tanks, consisting of 25 tanks, 25 Bull Dog Mack trucks and 88 men and officers. The trucks were all 5-ton Macks which were used to transport the 6-ton American Renault-make tanks on long journeys and in actual warfare, would carry them to the frontline. All privates in the Fourth Company of Tanks were either machinists or automobile mechanics and would be fully capable of keeping the Mack trucks in top shape. TPL-2507; G69.1-153 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-27-21, C-1-article)

Trucks--Camp Lewis; Mack trucks; Tanks (Military science)--Camp Lewis;

In March of 1921, Herman "Burt" Pagel, a driver for the Betsy Ann Bakery, was photographed with one of the bakery's small fleet of delivery trucks. The Betsy Ann Bakery, then located at 2513-15 Sixth Avenue, was founded by Edward Hall, Edward Pickert and Napoleon Raquer in 1920. The company quickly outgrew its building and built a new bakery at 2805-07 Sixth Avenue which opened in 1922. Betsy Ann's was in business until 1933. Photograph ordered by the Griffith Motor Co. TPL-910; G33.1-001 (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Dodge trucks; Pagel, Herman; Betsy Ann Bakery (Tacoma);

Charles Blancherie, manager of S.B.& H. Candy Co., poses with his new Scripps-Booth automobile outside the Seymour Conservatory in Wright Park on November 11, 1920. He had recently accepted delivery of the vehicle from Tacoma Motors Co. Mr. Blancherie was a very satisfied Scripps-Booth owner; this model was his third purchase. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 11-14-20, C-6) G11.1-044

Blancherie, Charles; Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Seymour Conservatory (Tacoma); Wright Park (Tacoma);

City of Tacoma Light Department's "Trouble Car" parked outside Griffith Motor Co., 728 Broadway, in early August of 1920. Griffith Motors was a Dodge dealership. The newly purchased Dodge automobile would probably be used to transport utility workers to locations experiencing problems. It was one of many Dodges placed in public service. TPL-6701; G43.1-028 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 8-22-20, C-8)

Dodge automobile; Griffith Motor Co. (Tacoma); Tacoma City Light (Tacoma);

Three delivery trucks are parked along the side of the South Tacoma "Road" in March of 1920. Two of the three drivers stand near their vehicles while the third remains in the truck. The first truck in line, "No. 2," apparently has its route listed on the exterior of the truck, extending from Hoquiam to Seattle. The trucks may have been sold by the J.F. Hickey Motor Co. of Tacoma. G66.2-136

Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930;

On March 5, 1920, Dorothy (Mrs. Allen B.) Conrad and small son, Allen B., Jr., were prepared to take a spin in their new Stephens Six, purchased recently from the R.L. Stephens Motor Co. Mrs. Conrad, with fur stole, is seated behind the wheel of the roadster. The little boy is standing on the car's running board next to the open passenger door. Mr. and Mrs. Conrad were proprietors of the Blue Bird Electric Shop and resided at 3112 N. 17th St. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 3-21-20, C-4) G11.1-022

Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Conrad, Dorothy; Conrad, Allen B.; Families--Tacoma--1920-1930;