Scenes from Fick Foundry. Three employees of Fick Foundry, 1005 East D St., are properly wearing safety goggles to prevent eye injuries while they are in the process of pouring molten metal to form castings. Two of the men are tipping a bucket of liquid while using a metal grasping device while the third nudges the molten metal out with a thin rod. Photograph ordered by Winston Fournier & Associates, Dallas.

Fick Foundry Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1960-1970; Founding--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Scenes from Fick Foundry. An unidentified worker at Fick Foundry, 1005 East D St., is pictured on October 16, 1969, one-handedly stirring a metal container of boiling liquid hung from a winch. Masses of steam obscure the contents. Drops of the molten metal escape the container and some appear to land on or near the worker. Photograph ordered by Winston Fournier & Associates, Dallas.

Fick Foundry Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1960-1970; Founding--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hoisting machinery;

Molten liquid is being poured into molds at Fick Foundry, 1005 East D Street, in October of 1969. In business since 1924, Fick Foundry were producers of "quality static and centrifugal castings in most ferrous metals, and close tolerance aluminum centrifugal castings." The company had suffered through three major fires and was rebuilt each time. It would finally close in the late 1980's. Photograph ordered by Winston Fournier & Associates, Dallas.

Fick Foundry Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1960-1970; Founding--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hoisting machinery;

Scenes from Fick Foundry. A Fick Foundry employee is pictured on October 16, 1969, in a workshop area of the foundry. What appears to be a giant propeller lies on a long rectangular work table before him. Fick Foundry had long been established at 1005 East D St. and were manufacturers of metal castings for machine, marine and general use. Photograph ordered by Winston Fournier & Associates, Dallas.

Fick Foundry Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Scenes from the steel industry. Star Iron & Steel Co. of Tacoma was in the process of manufacturing winch components for Everett Alumina Crane in the early part of February, 1969. Work was being done primarily in building 532. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hoisting machinery;

Scenes from Star Iron & Steel. Star Iron & Steel was one of the northwest's oldest steel fabricating firms. It was well known for the quality of its cranes, especially the heavy duty cranes manufactured for the Navy during WWII. In February of 1969, one of its projects was to manufacture winch components for the Everett Alumina Crane. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hoisting machinery;

Scenes from the steel industry. By 1969, Star Iron & Steel had been in their Port Industrial location for six years. The larger facility at 326 Alexander Ave. made it possible for the company to increase payroll and accept more jobs. One of the projects in February of 1969 was to build winch components for Everett Alumina Crane. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hoisting machinery;

Scenes from the steel industry. View of crane work at Star Iron & Steel Co. Star Iron & Steel was one of the northwest's oldest fabricating companies. In February of 1969, the company was involved in manufacturing winch components for the Everett Alumina Crane. This crane may have been eventually used by the Port of Everett to move alumina ore, one of the port's chief imports. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hoisting machinery;

Close-up of Star Iron & Steel Co. machinery, possibly a shovel, taken on November 15, 1968, at the company plant in Tacoma's Tideflats. Star Iron & Steel was a well-known local manufacturer of hoisting machinery. It had been in Tacoma since 1918 and had moved to its new location in the Port Industrial area in 1963. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970; Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hoisting machinery;

Star Iron & Steel, general view around shop. On July 18, 1968, Star Iron & Steel was in the process of constructing a 250-ton bridge crane for Kerr Lock & Dam, located in Oklahoma. They had also just landed a 6.4 million dollar contract to build four 100-ton floating cranes for the Navy. Star Iron & Steel was well known for their custom designing and manufacturing of hoists and cranes. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970;

A small convoy of trucks prepares to leave Star Iron & Steel, 326 Alexander Ave., loaded with manufactured products on March 13, 1968. Star Iron was well known for its crane production and other heavy duty equipment. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1960-1970; Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Another view of the giant crane shown in D153667, Image 1. Cranes manufactured by Star Iron & Steel underwent rigorous testing before they were released to buyers. The Army Corps of Engineers required that the crane be fully assembled and operable before delivery. Once performance testing was completed, the crane would be dismantled and shipped. This 100-ton crane was destined for work on the Snake River at the Little Goose Lock & Dam. Similar cranes were built by Star Iron & Steel for usage on the Hoover, Mossyrock, Mayfield, Grand Coulee, Shasta and Bonneville dams. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co. (TNT 3-17-68, C-21)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery; Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970;

On a wet and bleak day in March, 1968, Star Iron & Steel Co. employees tested a new 100-ton gantry crane meant for dam work. The men are dwarfed by the sheer size of the crane located outside of company headquarters at 326 Alexander Ave. in the Tideflats. The heavy crane, standing 64 feet high, actually weighs in at 125 tons. It was built for the Army Corps of Engineers to handle powerhouse intake and spillway gates on the Little Goose Lock & Dam on Snake River. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co. (TNT 3-17-68, C-21)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery; Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Overhead view of trolley assembly at Star Iron & Steel. Trolley No. 1 and No. 2 are being assembled for the Webbers Fall Lock & Dam Crane on February 28, 1969. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hoisting machinery;

Conveyor system pictured at Port of Tacoma in January, 1967. Built by Star Iron & Steel of Tacoma, the elevated conveyor equipment is set up to load and unload materials to the domed storage tank in the background. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Conveying systems--Tacoma--1960-1970; Storage tanks--Tacoma;

Fabrication and boring mill at Star Iron & Steel. Two men shown at work at Star Iron & Steel, 326 Alexander Ave. in the Port Industrial area, on August 8, 1966. They may have been working on "B" and "A" cranes. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970; Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hoisting machinery;

Bushnell Co. of Jacksonville, Florida, supplied crane service to this tower under construction at an unspecified harbor in this undated photograph. Customer print was copied on September 17, 1963, for Star Iron & Steel Co. of Tacoma.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery;

Built by Star Iron & Steel, an imposing 90 foot "Porta Tower" is parked outside of company headquarters on September 19, 1963. Star Iron & Steel was well known for its crane and tower construction. The "Porta Towers" would be utilized as mobile steel spur trees. "Porta Towers" were self-erecting and ready to work in two hours. Star Iron & Steel had been founded in 1908 at 435 E. 11th St. It moved to its new quarters in the Port Industrial area in 1963. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel. (TNT 7-24-63, A-11, TNT 10-13-63, B-9)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel;

A "Porta Tower" built by Star Iron & Steel extends at a 45 degree angle in a September 19, 1963, photograph taken outside company headquarters. Porta Towers were described as mobile steel spur trees that replaced spar trees in logging operations. A "Porta Tower" could be erected and ready to work in two hours, much less time than it would take to rig a spar tree. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel. (TNT 10-13-63, B-9)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel;

Star Iron & Steel - complete engineering, structural shop and machine shop facilities. Notes from the Richards Studio indicate that their photographer took this April 13, 1963, view of the new Star Iron & Steel Co. facilities from one of the company's own overhead cranes. Several cranes and steel structures are visible as well as the waterways separating the industrial Tideflats area from downtown businesses. Star Iron had moved from its longtime E. 11th St. location to the Port Industrial area that year. The new plant was ideally located for shipment of its products by truck, rail or water. Employment at the plant had apparently more than tripled from 63 to 250 since the move to a new location. It had cost $500,000 to double the plant capacity. Star Iron & Steel was one of the oldest steel fabricating businesses in the Pacific Northwest, having been founded in 1908. It specialized in custom design and manufacture of cranes, hoists, and special machinery. Star Iron's products were shipped for installation throughout the United States and also to foreign countries. There was a total of 97,000 square feet under roof currently being used with another 54,000 square feet available for future expansion. (TNT 7-24-63, A-11; SIS booklet, c. 1965)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970; Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hoisting machinery;

Exterior - Star Iron & Steel. Star Iron & Steel Co. would move into new quarters in the Port Industrial area in 1963. Bldg. 407 shown above in this April 9, 1963, photograph, held the company's offices, which were in a separate building from the large plant. Owned by Edward N. Allen, Star Iron was one of the oldest steel fabricating companies in the Pacific Northwest. They specialized in building cranes, hoists, towers, and equipment for the lumber industry. During WWII, they made some of the heaviest and largest cranes for the U.S. Navy. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel. (TNT 7-24-63, A-11)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Facades--Tacoma--1960-1970; Signs (Notices);

Architectural office of Star Iron & Steel Co. Men are shown working at desks with architectural plans spread out. One large table in the foreground has an architectural blueprint held down by a book of standards and notepad. Star Iron's new one-story office building was separated from the 100,000 square foot plant to reduce noice level. Star Iron had been in the Tacoma area for decades and was one of the oldest steel fabricating firms in the Pacific Northwest. They built cranes and specialized equipment to handle everything from salmon to missiles. Crane capacities ranged to more than 350 tons. Besides cranes, the company made radio, tv, and power transmission towers, steel for buildings and bridges, and equipment for the lumber industry including log barkers, hydraulic presses, power operated grapples and chip handling buckets. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel. (TNT 9-1-61, B-10, TNT 7-24-63, A-11)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Offices--Tacoma--1960-1970; Blueprints; Books;

Pencil in hand, an architect at Star Iron & Steel Co. surveys a model of a steel sign and girts on April 9, 1963. His glasses rest on a large sheet holding design data. Besides being well-known for their hoisting machinery, Star Iron also built towers, fabricated structural steel for buildings, bridges, and grandstands, and equipment for the lumber industry. They moved from their longtime location on E. 11th St. to Alexander Avenue in the Port Industrial area in 1963. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Architectural models; Blueprints; Eyeglasses;

This aerial view of the Atlas Foundry and Machine Company (now Atlas Casting and Technology) at 3012 So. Wilkeson St. dates from July 1941. The Atlas building, near the center, is located between Center Street (at the left) and So. Tacoma Way. I-5 has yet to be built on the ridge of open land at the far right. [Also dated 08-26-1941]

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1940-1950; Aerial photographs;

Aerial view of Atlas Foundry and Machine Company looking west along railroad tracks and northwest along Center Street. Nalley Valley. [Also dated 08-26-1941]

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1940-1950; Aerial photographs;

This aerial view of the large Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. plant in Nalley Valley and the area south of Center Street was taken in July of 1941. Atlas' address was listed as 3012 South Wilkeson Street which is the street running vertically on the left. The plant lay between South Tacoma Way (top) and Center St. (at photograph's bottom) The Lincoln Heights housing development would be carved out of the mostly wooded area south of the plant. At the top of the photograph is the area which would become the Tacoma Mall. [Also dated 08-26-1941]

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1940-1950; Aerial photographs; Aerial views;

Views of Atlas Foundry and Machine Company. The foundry was established in 1899.

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1940-1950; Aerial photographs;

By July of 1941, when this photograph was taken, the sprawling Atlas Foundry had already been located at South 30th and Wilkeson Streets for almost 40 years. Their complex of buildings was located between Center Street (the road showing at the bottom) and South Tacoma Way in the Center Street Industrial District at the east end of "Nalley's Valley". The Atlas Foundry was built right next to the Northern Pacific Rail Road tracks which ran past their north side. The dirt road going up the hill at left-center is Wilkeson Street. [Also dated 08-26-1941]

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Views of Atlas Foundry and Machine Company looking south from hill above Nalley Valley. [Also dated 08-26-1941]

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Molten showers were not an unusual occurrence at the Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel works in Seattle. The steel manufactured at Bethlehem's facilities was used in many structures locally, including the Alaska Way Viaduct and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The Bay area's Carquinez Straits Bridge utilized Bethlehem Corporation's steel in the approaches to the bridge and Bethlehem's shipbuilding division in Quincy, Mass., produced the steel used in 25,000 to 106,500-ton tankers. Bethlehem plants nationwide were booming and a new basic steel research center was being built in the adjoining site to Lehigh University in Pennsylvania to carry on vital new research projects. (TNT ad, 1-2-58, B-8)

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); Steel industry--Seattle; Industrial facilities--Seattle;