ca. 1915. Firestone tire service truck at Tacoma Speedway circa 1915. The location was the Tacoma Speedway, about seven miles from Tacoma. The occasion was probably the three auto races which composed a great part of the summer Montamara Festo. The Firestone service vehicle was there in all likelihood to supply replacement tires to the cars which raced 100, 200, and 250 miles respectively. A new "lattice" track was in use. It had replaced the old dirt track in 1914 but racers still had to deal with unexpected difficulties such as splinters. Two million feet of lumber, board measure, consisting of Washington fir, were used for the new track. Speedway construction was a relatively new process at that time. (speedway construction information: Standard Oil Bulletin, Vol. 3, ca. 1915)

Firestone Tire; Trucks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920;

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);

S. Shumate & Sons of Olympia lined up a small fleet of Kenworth trucks plus a trailer while in Tacoma on April 18, 1932. The trucking firm's drivers carried along a small dog as a passenger in truck #4. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Kenworth. G66.2-103

Trucks--1930-1940; S. Shumate & Sons (Olympia); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940;

A shining black hearse from the Allen Motor Co. was parked in front of the Mellinger funeral home on April 17, 1931. A black-clad driver is waiting patiently at the wheel of the sleek Studebaker. The C.C. Mellinger Co. colonial-styled mortuary, located at 510 Tacoma Avenue South, was built in 1909 for $65,000 by noted architects Heath & Twichell. The firm was established by Ohio native Charles C. Mellinger who first began on a small scale in Tacoma in 1897. The company grew quickly to become one of the largest in the city. G26.1-135; TPL-1743 Hunt: "Charles C. Mellinger," History of Tacoma, p. 580-582)

C.C. Mellinger Funeral Directors (Tacoma); Morgues & mortuaries--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hearses--Tacoma--1930-1940; Studebaker automobile;

Seven Tacoma Inter-city Auto Freight Co. delivery trucks and their drivers lined up in downtown Tacoma in August of 1919. The company's motto was apparently "You Need It (Service) We Give It." The freight company's address was listed as 2312 A Street in the 1919 telephone book. In the background of this photograph are the F.S. Harmon furniture company and Hunt & Mottet hardware and sporting goods store. G66.2-131

Tacoma Inter-city Auto Freight Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1910-1920; Moving & storage trade--Tacoma--1910-1920;

In September of 1928 the Tacoma News Tribune in partnership with the Colonial and Rialto Theaters sponsored a promotional contest in conjunction with the release of Bebe Daniels newest movie, "Hot News." Nine pretty young Tacoma misses posed with a new Durant-Star coupe, one of the contest prizes, in front of the Central Motors building at 605 Saint Helens Avenue. Prizes in the contest totaled $2,600, a tidy sum in 1928. The girl standing in the rumble-seat of the new car (third from the left) has her hand on the crank of a newsreel movie camera. As a side note, a new 2-door Durant Star could be purchased in 1928 from Central Motors, a Star and La Salle dealership, for $628 with delivery in Tacoma.

Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Signs (Notices); Contests--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Storefront window featuring Plymouth accolades. On August 23, 1929, the large glass window of this automobile dealership was plastered with complimentary remarks about the smooth performance of Plymouth cars. The dealership welcomed passersby to stop and read what people had to say about the Chrysler Motors product. Photograph ordered by A. H. McConnell, Plymouth distributor in Tacoma and Pierce County. He also represented the Dodge Bros. line. The Plymouth agency and Dodge Bros. agency were once under the same roof but the Plymouth agency had recently moved to separate quarters adjacent to its former home. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 8-18-29, 4-E-article on Plymouth distributorship)

Plymouth automobile; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1920-1930; Window displays--Tacoma--1920-1930; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1920-1930;

A City Fuel truck with a load of wood is third in line as this October 14, 1929, photograph was taken on an unidentified street. Sandwiched between the small City Fuel truck and a heavy-duty truck from the company is a large cement mixer. The mixer is on a trailer being hauled by the heavy-duty truck. Photograph ordered by City Fuel Co., 1947 Jefferson Ave. TPL-3669; G43.1-180

City Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fuel trade--Tacoma--1920-1930; Concrete mixers--Tacoma;

Standard Fuel Co. recently added the Model A Ford truck and the Ford coupe shown above to their fleet of vehicles. The firm's proprietors, Bernard F. and R.B. Christian, purchased the vehicles from Leonard's, a South Tacoma Ford dealer. Their sister Mary, a bookkeeper for the company, posed between the two Fords on May 17, 1929. She is in the industrial Tideflats around E. 11th St., near Standard Fuel operations. Photograph ordered by Leonard's of South Tacoma, authorized dealers of Ford and Fordson. TPL-2693; G35.1-071 (T.Times, 5-25-29, p. 20)

Ford automobile; Ford trucks; Christian, Mary; Standard Fuel Co. (Tacoma);

Theatrical performers, the Maylon Players, pose with a new Reo Flying Cloud from the Winthrop Motor Co. on June 19, 1929. The car silently appeared on the Heilig Theater stage while the actors were rehearsing and they could not resist remarking about its fine features. They are: Maurice Penborn (on car), Will Maylon at the wheel, Joyce Booth (in car), Margaret Nixon, Paul Bardsley, Caroline Edwards and Arthur Siegrist, seated. G11.1-060 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 9-23-29, 8E)

Reo automobile; Maylon Players (Tacoma); Actors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Winthrop Motor Co. (Tacoma); Penborn, Maurice; Maylon, Will; Booth, Joyce; Nixon, Margaret; Bardsley, Paul; Edwards, Caroline; Siegrist, Arthur;

Parked directly in front of the Boland photography studios on August 6, 1929, was a gleaming black Washington Cooperative Egg & Poultry Association truck. Per the advertising on the truck, the co-op's eggs went directly from the farm to customers. G6.1-093

Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Washington Co-op Egg & Poultry Association (Tacoma); Boland The Photographer (Tacoma); Photographic studios--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Prominent businessman John S. Baker has bought the first set of General dual balloon tires from the Sutherland Co., local General distributors, for his 1928 Packard "8" sedan. Mr. Baker was reportedly pleased with the smooth ride and enhanced appearance of his already striking automobile. Previous tires on the car only lasted 6,000 miles before showing extensive wear. Photograph ordered by the Sutherland Co. G11.1-033 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 11-25-28, 4-G)

Packard automobile; Tires; Baker, John S.--Associated objects;

Twenty-four years and going strong ran the headline in the Tacoma Sunday Ledger on May 12, 1929, referring to this 1905 five-passenger Reo touring car. Although the vehicle was certainly "old enough to vote," it performed well with a full load, pulling up steep Saint Helens Avenue in high gear. Mayor James G. Newbegin (standing left) shook hands with driver George W. Miller, vice-president of Winthrop Motor Co. The Reo's passengers included salesman Oscar Seabloom, Reo truck department assistant manager Jimmy Gilchrist, and salesman Bob Scott. The car had been on display in the showrooms of the Winthrop Motor Co., local Reo distributors, and inspected by many Tacomans who had fond memories of the car. Photograph ordered by Winthrop Motor Co. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 5-12-29, p. 13) G32.1-087

Reo automobile; Newbegin, James G.; Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Miller, George W.; Signs (Notices); Shaking hands--Tacoma; Winthrop Motor Co. (Tacoma);

Fleischmann's Yeast vehicle parked outside of Mutual Motors, then at 816-24 South "K," on May 8, 1929. The shiny Ford, recently purchased from the agency, was decorated with the familiar yeast box as advertisement along with the saying "Eat it for health." Photograph ordered by Mutual Motors. G11.1-017

Ford automobile; Mutual Motors (Tacoma); Fleischmann's Yeast (Tacoma);

Mack truck and trailer on display. This Mack truck had recently been put into service by the Olympia-Tacoma Auto Freight Co. in July of 1928 for quick freight service to Seattle-Tacoma-Olympia-Aberdeen and Shelton. The heavy duty Mack truck had a sterling reputation for reliability and durability. Trucking goods was becoming more popular and the Mack company, who had already received accolades during WWI, was at the foreground in developing larger capacity vehicles capable of higher highway speeds. The Olympia-Tacoma Auto Freight Co., bonded carrier and member of the Washington Motor Freight Assn., had a large trailer hitched to the main truck body. Both the truck and trailer were equipped with Booster brakes in addition to regular braking equipment. Goodyear balloon tires provided extra carrying capacity. G66.2-105 (www.macktrucks.com) (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 7-22-28, 4-G)

Mack trucks; Olympia-Tacoma Auto Freight Co.; Shipping--1920-1930;

A Dodge Victory Six from Burns-Campbell Motors, South Tacoma dealers, is parked adjacent to a Bergen Bromley Flying Service airplane on June 23, 1928 that had Tommy Burns in the rear cockpit. The other man was not identified but may have been Harold Bromley, Mr. Burns' flight instructor. Tommy Burns had just completed his solo flight that day. The Bergen Bromley Flying Service operated out of the Tacoma Municipal Airport in Lakewood. TPL-1667; G12.1-040 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 7-8-28, 2-G)

Dodge automobile; Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Bergen Bromley Flying Service (Tacoma); Burns, Tommy;

Trucking of goods by highway was another method of shipping that became popular in the 1920's as roads and vehicles improved. Mack trucks, already known for their durability and reliability pre-and-post WWI, were used for quick delivery of freight. The company realized the demand for larger capacity and higher speed haulage and firms like the Olympia-Tacoma Auto Freight Co. were starting to use the sturdy Mack trucks for business. This Mack truck shown above on July 6, 1928, had an attached trailer, doubling the amount of goods that could be transported. For additional safety, both truck and trailer were equipped with Booster brakes to supplement regular braking equipment. G66.2-106B (www.macktrucks.com) (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 7-22-28, 4-G, alternate photograph & article)

Mack trucks; Olympia-Tacoma Auto Freight Co.; Shipping--1920-1930;

75-year-old James Mayne, a pioneer lumberman, posed proudly with a new Graham-Paige four-passenger coupe on July 12, 1928. He selected the "614" recently from Angle-Mulligan Motor Co. Mr. Mayne, a 50-year local resident, was very active and used his car to cover his entire southwest Washington territory. G11.1-047 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 7-22-28, G-7)

Graham-Paige automobile; Mayne, James;

A tow truck from the Rialto Garage is prepared to haul away a small airplane on July 19, 1928, from the Fircrest golf course. It was apparently the first wrecked airplane transported by an auto wrecker locally. The biplane from Victoria, B.C., was damaged when it made a forced landing. The plane, piloted by A.H. Wilson and accompanied by Ernest Eve, president of British Columbia Airway, Ltd, was northbound following the national air tour stop here. It is unknown how badly the airplane was damaged. L-R are pilot Wilson, Gordon Hager and Lawrence Aus of the Rialto Garage, and Mr. Eve. TPL-2023; G12.1-026 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 8-12-28, G-3)

Wreckers (Vehicles)--Fircrest; Towing--Fircrest; Rialto Garage (Tacoma); Airplanes--Fircrest; Aircraft accidents; Wilson, A.H.; Hager, Gordon; Aus, Lawrence; Eve, Ernest; Fircrest Golf Club (Fircrest);

A cordial invitation for "Hotel-Men" to meet in Tacoma, the "lumber capitol of the world," on May 8-9, 1928, was attached to the rear of a black sedan in early April of 1928. "Al" (Albert C.C. Gamer) was listed as the "official scout" and was preparing to depart for California to invite other hotel executives to the two-day convention at the Winthrop. The 20th annual convention of the Washington State Hotel Association with Oregon State Hotel Association participating, opened on Tuesday, May 8th. Pointing to the vehicle's advertisement are managers: (l-r) Ray Clark of the Winthrop Hotel, A.C.C. Gamer of the Olympus Hotel, and Emerson Wakefield of the Carlton Hotel. G24.1-026 (for another view of men and car, see Boland B18312) (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 5-6-28, 4-A, article & alternate photograph)

Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Signs (Notices); Gamer, Albert C.C.; Wakefield, Emerson; Clark, Ray;

Gesturing toward an oval advertisement on the back of a parked sedan in April of 1928 are three well known hotel managers: (l-r) Emerson Wakefield of the Carlton Hotel, A.C.C. ("Al") Gamer of the Olympus and Ray Clark of the Winthrop. The sign invites "Hotel-men" to convene in Tacoma, the "Lumber Capitol of the World," May 8-9th. "Al" is the "official scout." He would be making a tour throughout California in the vehicle to invite other hotel managers to the convention. The gathering will take place at the Winthrop Hotel. G31.1-103 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 5-6-28, 4-A)

Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Signs (Notices); Gamer, Albert C.C.; Wakefield, Emerson; Clark, Ray; Meetings--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Fageol truck at Atlas Foundry. An unidentified driver sits behind the wheel of a Fageol Flyer truck on April 9, 1928 at the Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. plant, 3012 South Wilkeson St. in Tacoma. Fageol trucks were first manufactured in 1917 in Oakland, California. The models ranged from 1.5 tons to 10 tons. Fageol had recently opened a branch at 503 Puyallup Avenue to handle sales and service of their trucks. The Atlas Foundry truck shown above is believed to be a Fageol Flyer 6. It was light but built using heavy truck design. (TDL 4-17-1928, p. 5-full page ad, no photo)

Fageol trucks; Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma);

A long parade of Washington Co-operative Association trucks is making a turn onto what is believed to be the Western Washington Fairgrounds on September 22, 1927. Advertising on the vehicles state that the co-op sells food, and buys feed. G6.1-092

Trucks--1920-1930; Washington Co-op Egg & Poultry Association (Tacoma);

This couple seem to be enjoying their new automobile parked outside a wooded area, perhaps South Park, in early October of 1926. The vehicle, with the woman behind the wheel, is a roomy four-door. G11.1-077

Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930;

On October 17, 1926, the Tacoma Sunday Ledger ran a picture of the Peninsula Stage Company's 17-passenger coach parked outside the First Baptist Church, 902 Market St. The new bus chassis was built by the Studebaker Company which already had a fine reputation in passenger cars. The Peninsula Stage Company had three buses on the Bremerton-Tacoma run, with stops in Gig Harbor, Purdy, Burley, and Port Orchard. Owner R.L. Stubbs indicated that his prior experience with Studebaker cars prompted him to purchase the new bus. Photograph ordered by the B.H. Kennedy Co. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, October 17, 1926, G-7) G66.1-078

Buses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Studebaker automobile; First Baptist Church (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Grain Co. had recently taken delivery of a new Reo two-ton heavy duty Speed Wagon. The vehicle, advertising Pyramid Flour, was parked outside of local Reo dealer Winthrop Motor Co., 201-07 Saint Helens Ave. on October 1, 1926. The Speed Wagon had a special body built by Standard Auto Works of Tacoma. Tacoma Grain superintendent P.W. Jochimsen (seated behind the wheel) stated that his company had used Reo equipment for years and when it became necessary to purchase another delivery truck, the firm chose this capable vehicle. The man standing behind the vehicle was not identified. TPL-239; G34.1-131 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 10-10-26, 6G)

Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Winthrop Motor Co. (Tacoma); Pyramid Flour (Tacoma); Jochimsen, Peter;

Side view of stage from the Motor Transit Co. as photographed on October 8, 1926. Called a "chain car," it provided transportation from LaGrande to Enterprise to Wallowa Lake. Luggage may have been carried on top of the vehicle with a tarp for protection from the weather. Photograph ordered by Modern Auto Body. G66.1-032

Buses--1920-1930;

On July 14, 1926, Vaudeville performer "Countess Sonia," at the wheel of her new Hudson Brougham, posed with her fellow thespian Alex Sherer outside of the Pantages Theater, 901 Broadway. Their act entitled "Countess Sonia in the Revue Satiricon with Alex Sherer" was packing them in at the theater through Sunday. They purchased the Hudson in Seattle the previous week and continued the rest of their trip over the vaudeville circuit in it, ending up back in New York City in the fall. The 1926 Hudson sold over 228,000 units and was the first vehicle to introduce the starter button on the instrument panel. By 1929, the company was third in sales, behind General Motors and Ford. The local distributor for the Hudson was the Allen Motor Co. Photograph ordered by Allen Motor Co. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger 7/18/1926, pg. G-4) G67.1-140

Automobiles--1920-1930; Hudson automobile; Sherer, Alex; Pantages Theater (Tacoma);

Two C.S. Barlow & Sons Mack trucks parked at wooded site in Gig Harbor in August of 1926. Barlow & Sons was an old Tacoma firm, established in 1882, which dealt in building material and supplies including coal, sand, gravel and blasting powder. The sturdy Mack trucks were capable of heavy duty hauling work, which often included plowing through thick muddy terrain. G66.2-148

Mack trucks; C.S. Barlow & Sons, Inc. (Tacoma);

Old Mack truck at South 23rd and Pacific in August of 1926. This empty truck was probably used as a bus for the South Tacoma area. One of the front tires is flat. Another photograph of the same vehicle was taken a few days later at the same location, see Boland B15463. The tire has been repaired. Photograph ordered by Mack Truck. G66.1-027

Mack trucks; Buses--Tacoma--1920-1930;