The Brown & Haley Company has been making candy in Tacoma since 1913. Although they are internationally known for their Almond Roca, they have always made other brands of candy. Over the years they have sold Mountain Bars, Almond Buttercrisp, and - as this advertising photograph from 1946 shows - Johnny Peanut bars. Johnny Peanut was a peanut covered taffy bar, and a "Winnah".

Brown & Haley (Tacoma); Candy--Tacoma; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Packaging;

Almond Roca promoted as the perfect addition to your Easter Basket in this 1940 ad for Brown & Haley Easter Deal #4008. Ad features stuffed bunnies, Almond Roca in gift boxes and cutouts of ducks, bunnies and girls' faces.

Brown & Haley (Tacoma); Candy--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Brown & Haley Easter Day display. This ad promotes Almond Roca as the perfect gift for Easter. Three bunnies, three types of boxes, paper cut-outs of animals, children's baskets, round tin center bottom of display.

Brown & Haley (Tacoma); Candy--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950;

An unidentified account clerk with the Brown & Haley Candy Company was photographed in October of 1952 transferring sales data from ledger sheets to punch cards using a Remington Rand key punch machine. As Brown & Haley's business grew, they adopted computer technology to keep track of their clients' orders. Remington Rand, which was a competitor of IBM, offered a punch card that contained 90 columns; these cards were incompatible with IBM machines.

Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Brown & Haley (Tacoma); Office equipment & supplies; Calculators; Punched card systems; Office workers--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Offices at Brown & Haley Candy Co., for West Disinfecting Co. A young woman sits typing at a desk labelled "information." Surrounding her are office cubicles, separated by plate glass windows. Light fixtures are suspended from the ceiling. Brown and Haley was founded in 1913 by J.C. Haley and grew because of the company's insistence on quality. In 1948, the company underwent a 1/2 million dollar expansion. The company's most famous product was Almond Roca, but they also made the Mountain Bar, Olympic Mint and the Almond Butter Crunch Bar. The company pioneered packing in a vacuum packed tin for freshness. (TNT 9/4/1953, pg. C-15)

Confections; Candy; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Brown & Haley (Tacoma); Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; Office workers--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Although the company name "Brown & Haley" calls to mind their famous Almond Roca candies, the Brown & Haley Candy Company, 108-16 East 26th Street, has always made a variety of candy products. This photograph from September, 1953 shows seven women employees on the manufacturing line that made high quality, hand-dipped chocolates. The second woman on the line, counting from the right, has been identified as Katherine White. The last woman in the line has been identified as Mollie Tripple. TPL-8786

Confections; Candy; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Packaging; Assembly-line methods; Brown & Haley (Tacoma);

Remington Rand, daytime exposure of exterior of building, taken in April of 1955. The house on a rise next to the building that can be seen over the flat roof of Remington Rand is possibly 410 Saint Helens Ave., built in 1905 and now demolished. Remington Rand manufactured office equipment and furniture and had a complete repair department.

Remington Rand Inc. (Tacoma);

Built in 1902, and originally the home of the Stilson-Kellogg Shoe Company, this building at 108-16 East 26th St. became the new home of the Brown & Haley Candy Company in June, 1919. Harry L. Brown & Jonathan Clifford Haley formally organized the Brown & Haley Candy Co. in 1914 with Haley as president and chief salesman, and Brown as general manager and chief candy formulator. Harry Brown created the company's unique "English Toffee," later given the brand name "Almond Roca," in 1923. This photograph dates from 1948.

Candy product display by Harry Brown Confections. A gift box of assorted Brown delicacies, including chocolates, pecan caramel, Parisian Cream and Almond Omega. In 1944, the Haley family bought out the Brown family's interest in Brown & Haley. Harry Brown then formed his own company, working with his son Alvin and his brother Charles, his partner for over 30 years. He opened a plant at 1932 Pacific Ave.

The shipping department at Brown and Haley in September of 1921. In their pre-Almond Roca days, before 1923, the company manufactured a wide range of chocolates, taffy, mints and hard candies. Many of the chocolates were still marketed under the company's original moniker "Oriole Chocolates." Here workers in a long, narrow room sort candy packages of many shapes and sizes for delivery. A large sign in the background admonishes "No Smoking." G33.1-123

Oriole Chocolates (Tacoma); Candy--Tacoma; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Laborers--Tacoma; Brown & Haley (Tacoma);

The packaging department at Brown & Haley in September of 1921. Young women garbed pristinely in white robes and nurses caps, inscribed with the name "Oriole," wrap the hand dipped chocolates in foil and place them in packages. Trays of chocolates sit in front of the woman at the right, while boxes sit beside the women to the left, showing the two operations being performed in this department. At this time, the chocolates were still marketed under the name "Oriole Chocolates." G33.1-125

Oriole Chocolates (Tacoma); Candy--Tacoma; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Laborers--Tacoma; Brown & Haley (Tacoma);

Display of Brown & Haley chocolates. A stand full of Brown & Haley products is on display on October 7, 1955. There is a variety of chocolate in the form of creams, fruit & nut combinations, wafers, pure chocolate and well-known Almond Roca. A sign urges consumers to "give...and enjoy Brown & Haley Chocolates." The company has been in Tacoma since 1913 when Harry L. Brown and Jonathan Clifford Haley combined forces to form Brown & Haley. Their Almond Roca was the first candy hermetically sealed in coffee tins which allowed the company to promote and sell it extensively outside the Northwest. (History of Pierce County, Vol. 1, p. 428)

Brown & Haley (Tacoma); Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Candy--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Two women employees are working on the assembly line at Brown & Haley Candy Co., the "Home of Almond Roca". The crunchy, log-shaped, mostly butter, chocolate and almond coated delicacy was created in 1923 by an English candy maker working with Harry Brown. J.C. Haley delivered a pound of the company's new product to Tacoma's head librarian, Jacqueline Noel, who suggested that the Spanish word "roca" for rock seemed appropriate in light of the fact that almonds originated in the Mediterranean. Noel found a Sevillian coat of arms that inspired the Brown & Haley product logo. In 1926, Haley conceived the idea of packaging Almond Roca in cans and with the help of American Can Co., the candy was vacuum-packed. This kept the gold, foil-wrapped pieces fresh for up to three years. Today, Almond Roca is an international favorite and the Tacoma company of Brown & Haley is world renowned. TPL-5913

Confections; Candy; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Packaging; Assembly-line methods; Brown & Haley (Tacoma);

A brightly colored studio close up of a Brown & Haley Easter Egg candy was taken in December, 1955, possibly for use in advertising. The candy was photographed against a rosy tinted carpet-like backdrop. The Easter Egg bar had a smiling cartoon rabbit on the cover and cost a mere nickel. Brown & Haley was noted for their chocolate and Almond Roca products; they also made specialty candies like these as well. Photograph ordered by Brown & Haley.

Brown & Haley (Tacoma); Candy--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Harry L. Brown and J. C. Haley were the founders of Brown and Haley candy company. Although Almond Roca was their most popular item, they also made many other types of candy and chocolates. Brown and Haley chocolates became one of the finest chocolate products produced in America. View of candy maker using Armour's Cloverbloom butter.

Cookery--Tacoma; Candy--Tacoma; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Laborers--Tacoma; Butter; Brown & Haley (Tacoma);

Brown and Haley was founded by Harry L. Brown and J. C. Haley. They used the purest, richest chocolate, highest quality of nuts and only the best ingredients in candy making. Brown and Haley established a highly respected candy empire in Tacoma. View of Brown and Haley's two pound box of "Mary Ann" Chocolates.

Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Candy--Tacoma; Boxes; Brown & Haley (Tacoma);

Two views of candy packing machine at Brown & Haley plant, Fred Todd Company, Los Angeles, California. Women are seen in the candy factory packing Olympia Mints. The mints were one ounce and advertised as, "a giant chocolate mint, soft, creamy-cool center, rich dark chocolate coating - the most popular mint bar in the West". The women each wear coverings over their hair and aprons. After the end of the war Brown & Haley began making every kind of candy imaginable: peppermint sticks, lemon drops, gum drops, taffy chews, chocolate bars, fudges and caramels. After 1972 they began to specialize in three basic product lines: Almond Roca, Mountain Bars and boxed chocolates. As of 1989 Brown & Haley was the largest exporter of candy in America. (TNT, 8/23/1978)

Brown & Haley (Tacoma); Candy--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Olympia Mints;

Woman working with new equipment, a Remington Rand computer punch card sorter at Brown & Haley, candy manufacturers. Special shelving has been built above the motorized equipment to vertically stack the punch cards. The new method of data processing was one of the first steps in the development of the first business computer by Remington Rand in 1949.

Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Brown & Haley (Tacoma); Office equipment & supplies; Calculators; Punched card systems; Remington Rand Co. (Rowayton, Ct.);

ca. 1921. Brown and Haley delivery trucks picking up a shipment behind the factory around 1921. At this time, the company was still manufacturing its candy under the name "Oriole Chocolates." The trucks have both the name Oriole, and the company's logo of an oriole bird, as well as Brown and Haley on the sides. One truck has printing proclaiming that Oriole Honor chocolates are the "Best in the West." In the center of the picture is one of the famous "All roads lead to Rhodes" street signs. TPL-4408

Candy product display by Harry Brown Confections. Included in the picture are circular tins of Pecan Parisian Rolls, Almond Omega and Pecan Caramel Rolls. Each candy is individually wrapped, some in foil. In 1944, the Haley family bought out the Brown family's interest in Brown & Haley. Harry Brown then formed his own company, with his son Alvin and his brother Charles, and designed his own candy line. He opened his plant at 1932 Pacific Ave. and had a military contract before his plant even opened. (TNT 7/19/1944, pg. 1)

Candy product display by Harry Brown Confections. Included in the picture are circular tins of Pecan Parisian Rolls, Almond Omega and Pecan Caramel Rolls. Harry L. Brown learned the candy trade as a boy at Josslyn's in Tacoma. He was a shop boy with another famous Tacoman, Ray Gamble, who started the wood flour industry and gained fame as an amateur magician and collector. In 1907, Brown formed the Oriole Candy Company. He later partnered with J.C. Haley to become Brown & Haley in 1914. In 1944, after 30 years, the Haley family bought the Brown family interest in the company and Harry formed his own company and later became a partner in Rogers Candy Co. in Seattle. He died in 1979 at the age of 93. (TNT 7/19/1944, pg. 1; TNT 12/7/1979, pg. C-4)

Three flat bed trucks loaded with cases of Post Toasties. The signs on the side of two of the trucks say "This car load of Post Toasties for the John D. Hamilton Co., Tacoma, Wash. to be used in Hamilton's Dutch Treat and Gravy Bar. ...Biggest selling 5 (cent?) bars in the West." John D. Hamilton was J.C. Haley's, of Brown & Haley, brother-in-law. He learned candy making as a superintendent in the Brown and Haley plant. In 1923, he left to form his own candy company, Hamilton Candy. The company was in business until 1970. G33.1-124

Hamilton Candy Co. (Tacoma); Candy--Tacoma; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The packing department at Brown and Haley, also known as Oriole Chocolates, in September of 1921. Eight women, garbed in sanitary white; some with hats reading "Oriole." The women are surrounded by large boxes of the foil wrapped delicacies and the smaller boxes into which they will be packaged for consumers. The lone man in the back of the picture appears to be sampling the product. G33.1-127

Oriole Chocolates (Tacoma); Candy--Tacoma; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Laborers--Tacoma; Brown & Haley (Tacoma);

A September, 1921, peek inside the salesroom of candy wholesalers Brown and Haley and a display of the many fine candies made by their company Oriole Chocolates. The walls are covered by the boxes of the various candies made by the company. The candies are boxed in ornate boxes, many with portraits of young women on the covers. One of the candies featured is their new line of "Kiss Me Quick." With their lovely packages, the products appear to be luxury items or gifts. G33.1-130

Oriole Chocolates (Tacoma); Candy--Tacoma; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Brown & Haley (Tacoma);

Chocolate manufacturing at the Brown & Haley factory in September of 1921. At this time, most of the candy was made and packaged by hand. Automation was of the simple gear and pulley type shown here. Pulleys drive the machinery used to mix the chocolate. To the right are possibly the vats where the more solid chocolate is melted into a liquid, or large mixers where the liquid is mixed with the other ingredients for candy. The primary ingredients of chocolate candy are the liquid chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, sugar and milk. G33.1-126

Oriole Chocolates (Tacoma); Candy--Tacoma; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Laborers--Tacoma; Brown & Haley (Tacoma);

By 1919, Brown & Haley had moved its factory operation into a converted shoe factory at 108-16 E. 26th Street. The company was manufacturing a full line of chocolates, with the most famous being a chocolate and nut confection with a vanilla cream center marketed as "Mount Tacoma." In Seattle the candy bar was sold under the name of Mount Rainier, due to an old rivalry over the name of our landmark mountain. The same candy bar is still sold today under the name of "Mountain Bar" and it is one of the oldest candy bars still manufactured in the US. All of the chocolates and candies were still made by hand requiring a work force of skilled laborers, such as the one shown in the picture. He is possibly working with the cocoa beans, which are processed into chocolate liquor. G33.1-122

Oriole Chocolates (Tacoma); Candy--Tacoma; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Laborers--Tacoma; Brown & Haley (Tacoma);

Unidentified Brown & Haley salesmen, January 3, 1939. (filed with Argentum)

Brown & Haley (Tacoma)--People;

Remington Rand equipment at Brown & Haley. Woman seated at desk with two large account drawers pulled out looking over account papers. Desk has been designed specifically for account files which each have three file sections with metal tabs.

Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Brown & Haley (Tacoma); Office equipment & supplies; Desks; Office workers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Remington Rand Co. (Rowayton, Ct.);

A woman at Brown & Haley displays part of the billing system the company used from the Remington Rand Company. The desk has been designed specifically for account files with three file sections each that fit into the two open drawers.

Remington Rand Co. (Rowayton, Ct.); Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Brown & Haley (Tacoma); Office equipment & supplies; Desks; Office workers--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A woman at Brown & Haley displays part of the billing system the company used from the Remington Rand Company. She is adding a stack of punched cards to the Tabulating machine.

Remington Rand Co. (Rowayton, Ct.); Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Brown & Haley (Tacoma); Office equipment & supplies; Desks; Office workers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Punched card systems;