ca. 1908. Bicycle shop and Storage business. The bicycle shop is probably the Amzie D. Browning Bicycle & General Repairing business. The bicycle shop has an advertisment painted on it for the Tacoma Baking Co. Print is somewhat out of focus.

A new Firestone store opened in July of 1969 at 5939 Sixth Ave. in the Highland Hills shopping district. It offered complete car service including brake relining, shock absorbers, front end alignments, batteries and a 40% off tire sale. The facility had six bays so that waiting for service could be kept at a minimum. Dave McCallen, who had prior managerial experience at the Villa Plaza Firestone and an Oregon Firestone, was the store's manager. Photograph ordered by the News Tribune. (TNT full page ads 7-27-69, D-6, D-7; TNT article 7-27-69, D-9)

Firestone Store (Tacoma); Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Firestone grand opening. The staff of the Highland Hills Firestone, 5939 Sixth Ave., posed in front of their newly opened facility on July 28, 1969. Besides tires, Firestone offered complete auto service performed by qualified mechanics. Televisions, stereos, kitchen and laundry appliances were also sold at this location. Dave McCallen ( standing second from left ) managed the new store. He was assisted by office & credit manager Roger Boswell, passenger tire sales manager Robert Fisher and service manager Ken Badgley. Photograph ordered by Firestone. (TNT 7-27-69, D-9)

Firestone Store (Tacoma); Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma--1960-1970; McCallen, Dave;

Ball joint press and gauge in use at Bohannon's Bridgeport Service Station, 11026 Bridgeport Way S.W., Lakewood on September 29, 1969. Stress placed on ball joints made them one of the most common suspension parts to wear out. Bohannon's Bridgeport Service was owned and operated by James Bohannon. Photograph ordered by Lomac, Inc., Seattle.

Automobile equipment & supplies; Tires;

Frank Kimmerly, an employee of Sam's Tire Service, operates a Bean Visualiner on January 24, 1960, to align the front end of one of a fleet of trucks belonging to the Cammarano Brothers bottlers. The devise shows, by means of an optical light ray system, a graphic picture of the exact wheel alignment of a car or truck. Sam's Tire Service had a huge covered work area for truck tire service. Several of the largest trucks and trailers could be worked on at the same time. Sam's Tire Service had been at its 120 Puyallup Avenue address for many years. They celebated the grand opening of a new brake and front end service building and the modernization of the entire plant in early 1960. Owned by Sam Pupo and managed by his son, Frank, Sam's was well known for its tire and recapping service. (TNT 2-25-60, B-5-article, B-6-photograph)

Sam's Tire Service (Tacoma); Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1960-1970; Kimmerly, Frank; Trucks--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Firestone celebrated a grand opening of their facility in the Villa Plaza Shopping Center in 1957. Besides tires, the firm offered complete car service including brake relining, free brake adjustments and new batteries. In addition, lawn and garden supplies and housewares were available for purchase. It was the first Firestone store in the nation to to offer more than just automotive services and supplies. The modern one-story store was built using concrete block with a shed-type roof. Total square footage was 12,472. (TNT 4-7-57, B-9-article)

Firestone Store (Lakewood); Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Lakewood; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

A little fellow digs deep into a Rubbermaid Busy Bucket to perhaps pull out a winning ticket during the Villa Plaza Firestone grand opening festivities. Firestone was celebrating the opening of its new store in August, 1957, with three days of specials, including Philco freezers, refrigerators and electric ranges, as well as vacuum cleaners and Firestone deluxe super champion tires. Horse and buggy rides were also offered to families. Managed by Clyde M. Ryder, this Firestone was the first of its kind in the country for the Firestone Company. It carried a full recreation and sports line as well as the above mentioned home appliances and housewear needs. A complete line of tires was offered; customers could have brake, front end and battery work done. Photograph ordered by Firestone. (TNT 8-7-57, B-20)

Firestone Store (Lakewood); Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Lakewood;

Lucky families were able to catch a ride in a horse-drawn carriage during grand opening festivities at the new Villa Plaza Firestone. Firestone not only supplied tires and automotive necessities but also lawn & garden supplies and housewares as well. It was more than just a tire store and was the first of its kind in the country. Geared toward suburbanites, Firestone joined other well-known stores, such as Woolworth, J.C. Penney and Rhodes Bros., at Lakewood's newest shopping center, the Villa Plaza. Photograph ordered by Firestone. (TNT 8-7-57, B-20)

Firestone Store (Lakewood); Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Lakewood; Carriages & coaches--Lakewood; Horses--Lakewood--1950-1960;

The Auto Clinic, ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel. This location combined an auto repair shop with a five story "pigeon hole" parking structure. A hydraulic lift was used to "park" the cars in their places.

Auto Clinic (Tacoma); Automobile repair--Tacoma--1950-1960; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parking garages--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Auto Clinic, ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel. This location combined an auto repair shop with a five story "pigeon hole" parking structure. A hydraulic lift was used to "park" the cars in their places.

Auto Clinic (Tacoma); Automobile repair--Tacoma--1950-1960; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parking garages--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Front and side, Western Auto, Herb Sturtridge. A view of the Dr. Bostwick Building, front, and the Cornell House, rear, from across 8th Street. The site includes 111-19 South 8th Street and 715-17 Pacific Avenue. The building at 715-17 Pacific Avenue was built c. 1884 as the Dr. Bostwick Building. The separate building at 111-15 South 8th Street was built c. 1892-1910. The two buildings were later combined. North Pacific Bank Note Company purchased the building in 1919. The entrance to North Pacific Bank Note Company is shown on South 8th Street. Western Auto Supply Co, managed by Herb Sturtridge, occupies the street level storefronts.

Western Auto Supply Co. (Tacoma); Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies; North Pacific Bank Note Co. (Tacoma); Financial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Buildings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

William Farrell, Tacoma's first resident architect, arrived in the fall of 1883, immediately set-up his architectural office and was inundated with work. One of his first commissions was this brick building at 715-17 Pacific Avenue for Dr. Bostwick; the rear portion facing South 8th Street was added after 1893. Another of Farrell's commissions was the prestigious, new Chamber of Commerce Building at 12th and Pacific which necessitated hiring a partner, Carl August Darmer. Together, Farrell & Darmer designed many of the brick buildings built in the 1880s along the west side of Pacific Avenue between South 9th and 13th Streets. In this 1948 photograph, Western Auto Supply Company occupies the storefronts of the Dr. Bostwick Building and the Nelson Bennett Building at 713 Pacific. North Pacific Bank Note Company occupies the buildings' upper story.

Western Auto Supply Co. (Tacoma); Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies; North Pacific Bank Note Co. (Tacoma); Printing industry--Tacoma; Buildings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Farrell, William;

New wrecker in front of garage, Chet Dove c/o Art's Garage. A young man sits in the driver's seat ready to take the new wrecker out for a call in this October 25, 1948 photograph. The truck has a split-glass windshield, separate headlights attached to the fenders and an open grill in the front. The name of the garage is painted on the door and the AAA sticker behind the cab indicated they are approved by the American Automobile Association.

Art's Auto Repair (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Towing--Tacoma;

Turner Towing company façade with four vehicles, two antiquated tow trucks and a mechanic walking out from the garage area.

ca. 1926. Automobile involved in accident in front of Western Auto Supply Company circa 1926. Large crowd gathered at scene. An overturned vehicle is pictured on the left, while a damaged vehicle is pictured to the right. Western Auto Supply opened a store in the Cornell House in 1922. (filed with Argentum)

Western Auto Supply Co. (Tacoma); Traffic accidents--Tacoma--1920-1930; Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Staff at Western Auto Supply Company. The men are, standing left to right, H. F. Sturtridge, Cecil Albers, William McCallum and Arnold Blatt. Kneeling are, left to right, John Davis and Willis Peters. (T. Times, 7/13/1938, pg. 2).

Western Auto Supply Co. (Tacoma)--People; Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1930-1940; Automobile equipment & supplies--Tacoma--1930-1940;

This was how the Western Auto Supply Co., located at 715-17 Pacific Ave., appeared on July 11, 1938. Western Auto had operated at this same location near 8th and Pacific for about twenty years. They started out with a small storeroom on the corner and expanded steadily. Their newest business venture was a service department that worked on customers' cars. The entrance was located to the left in the photo. Personnel at the downtown store included manager H.F. Sturtridge, William McCallum, John Davis, Cecil Albers, Arnold Blatt and Willis Peters. (T. Times 7/13/1938, pg. 2)

Western Auto Supply Co. (Tacoma); Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1930-1940; Automobile equipment & supplies--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Western Auto Supply Company and North Pacific Bank Note Company located in building at 715-17 Pacific Ave. originally designed for Dr. Bostwick by William Farrell, Architect, about 1885. Western Auto occupied the ground floor storefronts, and North Pacific occupied the 2nd floor. The sign on the roof points the way to the Interurban and Bus Terminal. For I.F. Laukes, Pacific Bank Note Company. (filed with Argentum)

Western Auto Supply Co. (Tacoma); Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies; North Pacific Bank Note Co. (Tacoma);

Showing of new 1940 Fords at Titus Motor Company. Sales meeting, man in "It's Ford in '40" hat and white coat on stage, man with ribbon on coat and holding a package giving a third man an award. Over 50 men seated, many in "It's Ford in '40" hats. The meeting looks like it is being held in the service department of Titus Motor Co. (filed with Argentum)

Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Ford automobile;

Titus Motor Company staff and two State Troopers pose with a fleet of new Fords purchased by the Washington State Patrol in June 1939. The Patrol had converted the old Interurban Terminal at 702 A Street (seen at right) into their headquarters in 1937. Leon Titus is third from right.

Titus, Leon E.; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Washington State Patrol (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Titus Motor Company staff and two troopers with fleet of new Washington State Patrol Fords in front of Patrol offices by old Interurban Terminal at So. 7th & A St. Leon Titus at far right. Western Auto Supply/North Pacific Bank Note Co. at rear. (filed with Argentum)

Titus, Leon E.; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Washington State Patrol (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Titus Motor Company staff and two troopers with fleet of new Washington State Patrol Fords in front of Patrol offices by old Interurban Terminal at So. 7th & A St. Leon Titus at far right. Western Auto Supply/North Pacific Bank Note Co. at rear. TPL-7997

Titus, Leon E.; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Washington State Patrol (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Two baggage carts, loaded down with old tires, sit on the passenger platform at Tacoma's Union Station. In October of 1942, the U.S. Government began collecting all "excess" tires. By order of the Office of Price Administration, all motorists were required to sell or give to the Government all tires they had in excess of five. The Railway Express agencies at the nation's railroad stations collected the tires and sent them to Government warehouses. (T. Times)

Tires--Tacoma--1940-1950; Carts & wagons--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railway Express (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In October of 1942, the Railway Express Agency office on the track level of the Union Depot was swamped as motorists complied with the Office of Price Administration (OPA) and turned in all tires in excess of 5 per vehicle. F. W. Steere, left, foreman of the Agency and B.A. Benton, superintendent of the agency, compare two tires. One is almost new and the other good only for scrap. About 5% of the over 500 tires turned in the last few days were new, 70 % were usable and 25% were good only for scrap. (T. Times 10/19/1942, pg. 1)

Tires--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railway Express (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Steere, F.W.; Benton, B.A.;

Mattoon-Laverne Tire Company. Hawkinson Tire Tread Service. Three men stand by a stack of General Tires in front of the recapping facility. TPL-8358

Tire industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hawkinson Tire Tread Service (Tacoma); Tires;

Three men stand by the Hawkinson General Motors panel delivery truck in front of Hawkinson Tire Tread Service recapping facility. One holds a General Tire with advertising in the middle. Ordered by Mattoon-Laverne Tire Company. TPL-6381

Tire industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hawkinson Tire Tread Service (Tacoma); Tires; General Motors trucks;

Mattoon-Laverne Tire Company. Hawkinson Tire Tread Service. Three men stand by the Hawkinson panel delivery truck in front of the recapping facility. One holds a General Tire with advertising in the middle. This one-story brick building was built in 1927 as Cunningham Electric.

Tire industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hawkinson Tire Tread Service (Tacoma); Tires;

AAA Synthetic Tire Caravan. National and state American Automobile Association officials gather around a Pontiac and inspect the evenness and tire wear of synthetic and recapped tires. Tacoma is one of the stops on an around-the-nation testing tour. (T. Times, 3/3/44, p. 3).

Automobile equipment & supplies; Tire industry;

The American Automobile Association made a stop in Tacoma in February of 1944 as part of its around-the-nation Synthetic Tire Caravan tour. AAA officials were testing the evenness of tire wear on synthetic and recapped tires when driven at 35 miles per hour, the official maximum wartime speed. Tires manufactured by 15 different companies were being tested. Figures were to be made available to the public once testing was completed. Two Pontiac automobiles used in the tests are shown in the foreground. (T. Times, 3/3/44, p. 3).

Automobile equipment & supplies; Tire industry; Pontiac automobile; Testing--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Interior of Pease Brothers Garage. The garage was built in 1913 and in 1926 the Pease family renovated the facility and added an auto maintenance center, which included repairs and washing, in addition to storage. Repairs were done in the basement. View of unidentified auto mechanics surrounded by parts at Pease Bros.

Automobile equipment & supplies; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Pease Brothers (Tacoma);