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;

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;

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);

Lloyd Suiter Tire Company. Percy Dunlop, a representative of the National Institute of Treading Standards, visited the Lloyd Suiter Tire Company. Here he is checking the curing system of one of the large molds, a Lodi Recap Mold. L-R, Mr. Poston of Wilson Brothers Logging Company, Rudy Searle, shop foreman, Lloyd Suiter and Percy Dunlop. (T.Times, 6/6/1945, p.10), (See D19520-2 for an exterior view of building)

Tires; Lloyd Suiter Tire Co. (Tacoma); Searle, Rudy; Suiter, Lloyd; Dunlop, Percy;

Lloyd Suiter Tire Company. Percy Dunlop, a representative of the National Institute of Treading Standards, explains that "instrument tests show this to be a perfect section cure". L-R, Lloyd Suiter, Rudy Searle, shop foreman, and Percy Dunlop. (T.Times, 6/6/1945, p.10)

Tires; Lloyd Suiter Tire Co. (Tacoma); Suiter, Lloyd; Searle, Rudy; Dunlop, Percy;

Lloyd Suiter Tire Company. Percy Dunlop, a representative of the National Institute of Treading Standards, and Lloyd Suiter test a tread cure on a recapped tire. The tags on the tire are attached to thermocuple wires, testing tread cuts from one to six ply depths. L-R, Lloyd Suiter and Percy Dunlop. (T.Times, 6/6/1945, p.10)

Tires; Lloyd Suiter Tire Co. (Tacoma); Suiter, Lloyd; Dunlop, Percy;

Lloyd Suiter Tire Company. Lloyd Suiter and Percy Dunlop show the findings of their test on a cross-section cut of a recapped tire. Mr. Dunlop is a representative of the National Institute of Treading Standards from Washington, D.C. (T.Times, 6/6/1945, p.10)

Tires; Lloyd Suiter Tire Co. (Tacoma); Suiter, Lloyd; Dunlop, Percy;

This is the Turner Garage & Towing Company at 1222 Tacoma Ave South as photographed in September of 1945. The garage offered 24 hour towing as well as Standard Oil gasoline. It was located in the building built in 1925 for the Olympic Garage. The brick building to the right in the photograph was 1218-20 Tacoma Ave. So., the F.N. Wolf building, built in 1890. It had previously housed the Tacoma Athletic Club and Tait's Business College, but in 1945 it was home to Hansen Auto Repairs and the Wakefield Apartments. The sign on the side of the building states that the Wakefield has single and housekeeping rooms for $100 a week and up. The building has since been demolished and the site is now the parking lot for the Main branch of the Tacoma Public Library. The building housing the Turner Garage & Towing Co. subsequently contained the Tacoma Tent & Awning Co., Candid Photo Service and Labor Ready.

Turner Towing Co. (Tacoma); Automobile repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Wakefield Apartments (Tacoma);

Turner Garage and Towing Co., 1222 Tacoma Ave So., photographed in September of 1945. The garage offered 24 hour towing as well as Standard Oil gasoline. It was located in the building built in 1925 for the Olympic Garage. The brick building to the right in the photograph was 1218-20 Tacoma Ave, which has been demolished and is now the location of the parking lot for the Tacoma Public Library.

Turner Towing Co. (Tacoma); Automobile repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Turner Garage and Towing Co., 1222 Tacoma Ave So., photographed in September of 1945. The garage offered 24 hour towing as well as Standard Oil gasoline. It was located in the building built in 1925 for the Olympic Garage. In 2007, the building, now located next to the parking lot for the Tacoma Public Library, is vacant. It was previously home to Candid Photo Service from 1964 to 1995 and later Labor Ready.

Turner Towing Co. (Tacoma); Automobile repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Central Motors building shots. One story building showing both service and body shop entrances. The overhead sign indicated automobiles are "bought, sold and serviced". Over the door is painted, "Thru this door you'll Find the Best Used Cars in Town". TPL-1727.

Automobile repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Central Motors (Tacoma);

Puget Sound Auto Electric offered automobile radio installation, repairs, engine tune-ups, carburetor repairs and electrical servicing. They were a progressive and fast growing firm. Exterior view of Puget Sound Auto located at the corner of South 7th Street and Pacific Avenue, Nesbitt's orange soda billboard on right side.

Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Storefronts--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Puget Sound Auto Electric Co. (Tacoma);

Individual picture of employees at Ballou & Wright. Ballou & Wright offered motorists everything they might need. They had been in Tacoma for over fifteen years. View of unidentified employee from Ballou & Wright standing in front of McQuay-Norris valve springs and other automotive products.

Automobile equipment & supplies; Employees--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Ballou & Wright Wholesale Auto Parts (Tacoma);

Individual picture of employees at Ballou & Wright. Ballou & Wright always had one of the best selections of automotive parts. They had been in Tacoma for over fifteen years. View of unidentified employees from Ballou & Wright standing behind an Allen battery charger.

Automobile equipment & supplies; Employees--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Ballou & Wright Wholesale Auto Parts (Tacoma);

Standard Oil. Two women compare notes about a photograph. They are standing in front of shelves full of auto care products. RPM Motor Oil is stacked on the bottom shelves. Customers are admonished, "Don't wax it! Mac's it!".

Automobile equipment & supplies; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950;

New equipment at Titus Motor, Jim Will. The multiple boring bar pictured here rebores four cylinders at a time. This machine holds the engine block in such a way that it is rebored in exactly the same alignment as at the factory. After reboring, each cylinder is honed to a mirror finish. James W. Will was vice-president of the Titus Manufacturing Company at this time.

Automobile equipment & supplies; Titus Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Gasoline engines; Drilling & boring machinery; Drilling--Tacoma--1940-1950; Workshops--Tacoma--1940-1950;

W. C. Patterson, Leon E. Titus (right) and an unidentified man are looking at the 20,000 officially rebuilt Ford Motor. Titus was an official dealership for Ford autos and they had a large fully equipped service center. Leon Titus had just been selected as the representative for the Western Region at the Ford National meeting. W. C. Patterson was the district manager for the Ford Motor Company.

Automobile equipment & supplies; Engines; Ford automobile; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Patterson, W.C.; Titus, Leon E.;

Rebuilding Ford engine at Titus Motor, Times, Buzz. Two men are shown rebuilding Ford engines at the Titus Manufacturing Company. The plant was one of two in the northwest which Ford Motor Company had authorized to recondition Ford motors. Skilled mechanics put new life in old motors restoring them to factory-new shape. (T.Times, 2/20/1949, p.3)

Titus Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Gasoline engines; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Rebuilding Ford engine at Titus Motor, Times, Buzz. A man is operating one of the machines at Titus Manufacturing Company. During the past summer at least four motors a day were reconditioned at the facility. (T.Times, 2/20/1949, p.3)

Titus Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Gasoline engines; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Exterior of new building at Center and Lawrence, Titus Manufacturing Company, Mr. Leon Titus. When demand for rebuilt engines increased in July 1946, Titus Motor Company restructured their engine rebuilding department which became Titus Manufacturing Company. They had continued at 624 Broadway until 1949 but now have moved into their new facilities at Center and Lawrence Streets in Nalley Valley. A large Ford truck is parked in front of the loading dock.

Titus Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Several shots of visit by Miss Washington to Tacoma, Tacoma Auto Parts, Sam LeBid. Grand Opening of Tacoma Auto Parts. Mayor Val Fawcett, left in photo, with Miss Washington 1949, Libby Aldrich of Kelso, and an unidentified man. Miss Washington wears a floor-length gown, a crown and a corsage. A crowd stands in the background and banners have been hung in the windows. (TNT, 7/1/1949, p.B-4)

Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma;Tacoma Auto Parts (Tacoma);Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Beauty contestants--Washington; Aldrich, Libby;

Several shots of visit by Miss Washington to Tacoma, Tacoma Auto Parts, Sam LeBid. Grand Opening of Tacoma Auto Parts. Mayor Val Fawcett with Miss Washington 1949, Libby Aldrich of Kelso, wearing a floor-length gown and crown during drawing for door prizes which included a television set, car radio and an automobile sun shield. Boxes of "Hot Water Auto Heaters" stacked under tarp. Crowd in background, banners in windows. (TNT, 7/1/1949, p.B-4)

Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma;Tacoma Auto Parts (Tacoma);Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Aldrich, Libby;

Several shots of visit by Miss Washington to Tacoma, Tacoma Auto Parts, Sam LeBid. Grand Opening of Tacoma Auto Parts. Mayor Val Fawcett with Miss Washington 1949, Libby Aldrich of Kelso, during drawing for door prizes. Boxes of "Hot Water Auto Heaters" stacked under tarp. A crowd looks on from the background. (TNT, 7/1/1949, p.B-4)

Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma;Tacoma Auto Parts (Tacoma);Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Beauty contestants--Washington; Aldrich, Libby;

Tacoma Auto Parts celebrated the Grand Opening of their new store at the corner of South 25th Street and Pacific Avenue with drawings for door prizes which included a television set, car radio and an automobile sun shield. (TNT, 7/1/1949, p.B-4) TPL-6383

Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Tacoma Auto Parts (Tacoma);

Firestone Auto Supply is providing a free brake inspection to automobile owners. A wrecked car with two large signs above is used to advertise the special. A police car used for accident investigation is parked next to the wreck where five men are looking at one of the front wheels where the brakes may have been the cause of the crash. TPL-9367

Firestone Store (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Wrecks; Police--Tacoma--1940-1950; Investigation--Tacoma;

Firefighters from eight companies labored nearly four hours on the evening of November 9, 1949, combating the stubborn 2-11 fire which gutted the one-story brick facilities of the Avenue Tire Shop, located at 2311 Pacific Avenue. Loss to the tire shop, principally in ruined tires and damaged machinery, was estimated at $35,000. Adjacent properties, including Willner Clothing Company, also suffered damage. No injuries were reported. (TNT,11/10/1949, p.1-alt. photograph) TPL-9144

Avenue Tire Shop (Tacoma); Fires--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1940-1950;

A display of Mobil tire products was set up at the New Yorker in early January, 1953. Specific tires for snow, truck & bus, commercial and consumer usage were labeled for easy differentiation. A poster indicating that no money down was required at the time of purchase; a customer could take up to six months to pay off the tires. At least four chairs are facing the display; presumably, there would be a presentation extolling the virtues of Mobil products. Photograph ordered by General Petroleum Corp.

Tires; Tire industry--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices); New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); General Petroleum Corp. (Tacoma);

National Auto Parts window, 40th & Pacific. William C. Johnston was President-manager and Merle C. Johnston was Secretary-treasurer. The company sold parts for all makes of cars. This display window features a "get your vehicle ready for winter" theme, with U.S.I. & Super Pyro antifreeze and "Claw" tire chains. U.S.I. billed itself as the "world's safest antifreeze."

Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; National Auto Parts, Inc. (Tacoma);

National Auto Parts at 40th & Pacific. Employees pose with a large sign advertising U.S.I. permanent ethylene glycol anti-freeze, "the world's safest anti-freeze." William C. Johnston was President-manager of the store and Merle C. Johnston was Secretary-treasurer. The company sold parts for all makes of cars. U.S.I. anti-freeze contained more ethylene glycol than other brands, plus special inhibitors to stop rust, corrosion and clogging. TPL-5473

Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; National Auto Parts, Inc. (Tacoma);

A packed house at the Temple Theatre awaited Monk Watson's magic show on April 14, 1954. The evening's entertainment was sponsored by Miracle Power, an engine performance lubricant. Here Monk Watson gleefully holds a hand of playing cards while four others, possibly associated with National Auto Parts, display posters advertising Miracle Power's potency. A box full of Miracle Power cans is to the foreground along with the magician's props. Photograph ordered by National Auto Parts.

Automobile equipment & supplies; Posters; Watson, Monk; National Auto Parts, Inc. (Tacoma);