On May 8, 1920, six employees of the Postal Telegraph Cable Company at 1105 A Street were mounted on their bicycles and ready to deliver messages to local businesses and residents. The messengers are all dressed in uniform including caps. The man standing in the doorway of the firm is possibly L.L. Craft, manager. The Postal Telegraph Cable Co. was located across the street from the Federal Building whose reflection can be spotted on the large store window.

Postal Telegraph Cable Co. (Tacoma); Messengers--Tacoma; Bicycles & tricycles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cyclists--Tacoma; Delivery boys--Tacoma;

An example of tables built by the Northern Novelty Manufacturing Co. was displayed outdoors in early November of 1920. The fold-down table was compact enough to fit in small places. Northern Novelty had opened for business in January of 1920 and by October of that year, had expanded their plant on South Wilkeson in order to manufacture wooden toys. G35.1-025

Northern Novelty Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Tables;

January 1, 1921 brought with it the proud news that the Tacoma branch of the Standard Oil Company had the enviable record of being 100 per cent accident free in their tank truck department. The eight trucks plus proud drivers and company officials were photographed lined up in front of what appear to be numbered garage doors. This record was especially notable since the trucks operated every day and night, delivering gasoline to the garages and service stations of the city. Their combined mileage was around 4,221 miles per month. They held the best record on the Pacific Coast. (TDL 1/9/1921, pg. 4-C) G66.2-137

Standard Oil Co. of California (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fuel trade--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Jewelers at work at Mahncke & Co. By 1920, Mahncke & Co. had been in business at 914 Pacific Avenue for ten years. The pioneer jewelry firm, established in 1883, was owned and operated by Franz, William G., and Louis A. Mahncke. In 1923 the store would move a short distance away to 919 Broadway where it would remain for decades. Mahncke & Co. would be taken over by Friedlanders in 1956.

Mahncke & Co. (Tacoma); Jewelry stores--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Silver display at Mahncke's. Rows of sterling silver and silver plate vases, tea sets, plates, trays and coffee pots were attractively displayed at pioneer jewelers, Mahncke & Co., in November of 1920. Mahncke & Co. was located at 914 Pacific Avenue. Established in 1883, it was "The Store That Quality Built." (TNT Ad -11-5-20, p. 4)

Mahncke & Co. (Tacoma); Jewelry stores--Tacoma--1920-1930; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tableware;

The water tower pictured above in September of 1921 was located at the American Wood Pipe Co., 3200 So. Cedar St. The coils of wire in the foreground are to be used to wrap wooden irrigation pipes. American Wood Pipe Co. manufactured machine banded and continuous stave wood pipe for irrigation projects, municipal water systems and power plants. In addition, the company also manufactured American steam pipe casing for insulating underground steam pipe. The firm's officers included Vaughan Morrill, president, and Cyrus Happy, Jr., secretary. American Wood Pipe was located on six acres on Center Street which had a large manufacturing district at the time. The firm was organized in January of 1913 by Mr. Morrill and J.H. Regan, both of Tacoma, and did some $32,000 in business the first year. Some seven years later, the plant was considered the largest single wood pipe factory in the world and had done $1,000,000 in business the past year. In addition, American Wood Pipe had built its own cresoting plant in 1921 at a cost of $40,000 and installed a $20,000 sprinkling system. There were about 70 employees and a monthly payroll of $10,000. G36.1-106

American Wood Pipe Co. (Tacoma); Water towers--Tacoma; Wire; Pipes (Conduits)--Tacoma;

A truckload of coal is being delivered to the Lucerne Block, 901 Tacoma Avenue South, by Economy Fuel in August of 1921. The fuel company's driver pauses his shifting of the coal to gaze at the camera. The coal is being deposited in the building's coal bin through a coal hole in the sidewalk. The buildings across the street would be demolished in the early 1950s so the County-City Building with jail could be built on the site. In the far background is Central School now used by the Tacoma School District as its Administrative Building.

Economy Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Fuel trade--Tacoma--1920-1930; Coalholes--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Central School (Tacoma);

Members of the Phantom Club enjoyed a banquet on April 1, 1922. The club, apparently consisting only of men, was made up of employees from the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. G64.1-012

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Banquets--Tacoma--1920-1930;

April, 1922, view of one end of a large boiler, manufactured by the Birchfield Boiler Co., 2503 E. 11th St. The company had opened at this Tideflats site in March of 1921 and was run by H.E. Warren, President, and E.E. Birchfield, Vice-President. They built steel heating boilers and performed welding and boiler repairs. Birchfield boilers were in heavy demand in 1922. The company had been receiving orders at the rate of one per day since May 1st and the plant was forced to put on a double shift to handle the demand. Later they would expand into building steel ships. G36.1-136 (TDL 6-26-22, p. 6-article)

Birchfield Boiler, Inc. (Tacoma); Boilers; Boiler industry--Tacoma;

Tommy's Produce Stand, run by the Inouye family, was one of several businesses located in the Sanitary Public Market, 1108-14 Market St., in 1922. The Sanitary Public Market, designed by architects Heath & Gove, was constructed in 1917 for $20,000. There downtown residents could shop for fish, local produce, coffee, and baked goods. Tommy's Produce Stand had fresh corn, celery, cauliflower, home-grown tomatoes and melons on sale on this particular September day in 1922. TPL-1375; G39.1-138; BU-12209;

Tommy's Produce Stand (Tacoma); Sanitary Public Market (Tacoma); Japanese American families--Tacoma; Japanese Americans--Tacoma;

Display of furnaces and fans. The National Blower & Sheet Metal Co. (then called National Blower Pipe Co.), established in 1890, was located in the industrial Tideflats at 1127-31 Saint Paul Ave. The firm manufactured blower and ventilation systems and also did business in general sheet metal. The display pictured above in September of 1922 included venlitating, exhaust and blower fans which were electrically driven and a Superior Furnace. G35.1-068

National Blower & Sheet Metal Co. (Tacoma); Machinery industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fans (Machinery); Furnaces--Tacoma;

Walker Cut Stone Co. operations. Walker Cut Stone had just completed building a new plant located at 2403 Center St. in 1923. Workers are shown plying their trade on July 16, 1923. Walker Cut Stone supplied the tons of Wilkeson sandstone used in the construction of Olympia's Temple of Justice and its stone would be used in the Bank of California building and the Walker Apartments. The hard surfaced stone was brought in from the Company's quarry near Wilkeson, cut to size with a stone saw, milled into a shape and hand carved into finished shape with ornamentation. Prior to Robert Walker, no one had been able to utilize the hard stone. He designed special tools for cutting the stone. TPL-9101; G33.1-113

Walker Cut Stone Co. (Tacoma); Building materials industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Walker Cut Stone Co. Employees of the Walker Cut Stone Co. stand outside their new plant located at 2403 Center St. on August 21, 1923, with samples of their stone work mounted on a Pierce-Arrow commercial truck. The durable sandstone was brought in from the company's quarry near Wilkeson and then cut and formed by workers in Tacoma. TPL-962; G75.1-184; G33.1-120

Walker Cut Stone Co. (Tacoma); Building materials industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Pierce-Arrow trucks;

Walker Cut Stone Co. Parked outside the new Walker Cut Stone Co. plant on Center St. in August of 1923 is a Pierce-Arrow heavy duty commercial truck displaying two pieces of stone work. The man standing near the truck's hood is believed to be company owner, Robert Walker. The two other men in the photograph have not been identified. TPL-963; G75.1-185; G33.1-121

Walker Cut Stone Co. (Tacoma); Building materials industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Pierce-Arrow trucks;

Window display - H.D. Baker Co. The H.D. Baker Co. window is filled with materials promoting the new $100 price for the Victor adding and listing machine. Noting that this was the "biggest value $100 ever bought," a free trial and easy payments were promised. The Victor had a capacity of $1,000,000. The H.D. Baker Co., established in 1905, was located downtown on A Street. In addition to the Victor, the firm also sold typewriters. G56.2-171

H.D. Baker Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Office equipment & supplies; Window displays--Tacoma--1920-1930; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1920-1930; Signs (Notices);

C.S. Barlow & Sons, Inc. exhibit at Puyallup Fair. The C.S. Barlow & Sons, Inc., company had an exhibition booth at the 1923 Western Washington Fair which included samples of household finishes, sheetrock, tools and promotional materials. Originally known as the Tacoma Trading Co., it was renamed C.S. Barlow & Sons in 1917. The building materials firm was located at 1715 Dock St. G33.1-109

C.S. Barlow & Sons, Inc. (Tacoma); Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1920-1930; Exhibit booths--Puyallup; Building materials;

Circular tank located at Tacoma Gas & Fuel Co. property in the Tideflats on February 14, 1924. Standard Oil Co. plant in the distance. Construction had begun in late 1923 of a new $250,000 plant on 4 1/2 acres on South River Road. The above tank is a 250,000 cubic feet gas tank. The old Tacoma Gas & Fuel plant was to be abandoned next summer upon the connection of mains to the new plant. G35.1-046; TPL-258 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 10-7-23, 8-E-article; TNT 1-24-24, p. 6-article)

Tacoma Gas & Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Fuel tanks; Storage tanks--Tacoma;

Exterior view of the Water Power Furniture Manufacturing Co., located on Steilacoom Lake, as pictured in March of 1924. The plant was situated on what is approximately 8700 Edgewater Dr. S.W., Lakewood. The firm was listed in the 1917-22 City Directories but not in the following 1923 or 1924 years. Edward C. Hill, president of the manufacturing company, had apparently moved on to the South Tacoma Mill Co. as its secretary/treasurer, per the 1923 City Directory. TPL-2700; G35.1-004

Water Power Furniture Co. (Lakewood); Furniture industry--Lakewood;

Water Power Furniture Manufacturing Co. Situated on the banks of Steilacoom Lake was the Water Power Furniture Manufacturing Co. facility per this March, 1924, photograph. Its approximate address was 8700 Edgewater Dr. S.W., Lakewood. G35.1-012

Water Power Furniture Co. (Lakewood); Furniture industry--Lakewood; Lake Steilacoom (Wash.);

Raising the sunken ship "Rubaiyat." Hart Construction Co. rig used in the raising of the sunken steamer "Rubaiyat" which went down with the loss of four hands on September 29, 1923. The ship, which sank within 30 seconds of capsizing in Commencement Bay, lay in 35 fathoms of water, or more than 200 feet, and was thought initially not able to be salvaged. The "Rubaiyat" was valued at $20,000. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 9-30-23, p. 1-article) G49.1-017

Hart Construction Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery;

Acme Transfer & Storage Co. advertised in the 1924 City Directory that "We Move Anything Any Time Any Place." Pianos and furniture deliveries were their specialty. Items were stored in a steam heated warehouse to prevent rust and mold. The company was located at 901 Tacoma Avenue South. This view of one of their delivery trucks was taken on March 23, 1924, in front of the Lucerne Building. G66.2-112

Acme Transfer & Storage Co. (Tacoma); Moving & storage trade--Tacoma--1920-1930; Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Acme Transfer & Storage delivery truck as viewed on March 29, 1924. The moving company was located at 901 Tacoma Avenue South with telephone number Main 722. Its delivery trucks were decorated with advertising that stated plainly the types of jobs accepted and their competitive rates. Acme Transfer & Storage was operated by Fred Sheldon. Photograph ordered by Heilig Advertising. G66.2-111

Acme Transfer & Storage Co. (Tacoma); Moving & storage trade--Tacoma--1920-1930; Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930;

This is what the intersection of South 33rd and "G" Sts. looked like the evening of March 18, 1925, at 6:13 p.m. The street in the foreground is "G" St. with several cars and a streetcar in the distance. Tacoma Steam Laundry is the large building to the left on South 33rd and Waddy's Battery Hospital and the Bye Thompson Motors (Ford dealership) across the street facing "G." Photograph ordered by Tacoma Rail & Power. G60.12-040; TPL-2417

Streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma Steam Laundry (Tacoma); Waddy's Battery Hospital (Tacoma); Bye Thompson Motor Sales Co. (Tacoma);

Interior view of Hirsch Cycle Co. shop. Hirsch Cycle, managed by Clarence Potter, was the local Harley-Davidson motorcycle and Columbia bicycle dealership. On February 6, 1925, five Harleys were parked on the stained concrete floor of the firm's repair department. Four men, probably employees, are also in the room. Hirsch Cycle was located at 1010-12 Tacoma Avenue South. G66.1-145

Hirsch Cycle Co. (Tacoma); Motorcycles--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Walker Cut Stone located at 2403 Center Street employed a large number of skilled stonecutters at their plant in Tacoma. They were photographed in March of 1925, hand carving the hard surfaced stone. The sandstone, quarried in Wilkeson, was used by the tons in such edifices as the Temple of Justice in Olympia, Bank of California, and the Walker Apartments. G33.1-115; TPL-3182

Walker Cut Stone Co. (Tacoma); Building materials industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Tommy's Produce Stand. Tommy's stall , located for several years in the Sanitary Public Market, 1108-14 Market St., sold fresh produce and plants grown locally. Employees of Tommy's posed next to the vegetable-laden tables in April of 1925. G39.1-140; TPL-5698,

Produce stands--Tacoma; Tommy's Produce Stand (Tacoma); Japanese American families--Tacoma; Japanese Americans--Tacoma;

Pacific Tel & Tel Co. at 1101 Fawcett Ave., interior. A long row of women are seated before their switchboards in this June of 1925 photograph while the women standing behind them are perhaps giving instruction. Telephone operators for decades were primarily women. (scan from negative, no print on file) TPL-10529

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); Telephone operators--Tacoma--1920-1930; Telephone companies--Tacoma--1920-1930;

An addition to the industrial facilities located in Tacoma's Tideflats was the Associated Oil Co. plant and offices, built in 1925 for $500,000, under the direction of E.F. Fitzgerald, superintendent of construction. They were located on the waterfront overlooking the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway. View of East "D" St. with smoke billowing from several mills; boat passing by Associated Oil plant. TPL-1348; G9.1-048

Associated Oil Co. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1920-1930; Petroleum industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; City Waterway (Tacoma);

Elevated view of Associated Oil plant and extensive docks along the City Waterway (now Thea Foss Waterway), across from Commercial Dock #1. In June of 1926, the recently built Associated Oil Co. office and plant was located on the north end of East "D" in Tacoma's industrial Tideflats. F.E. McClaren was agent in charge. The oil storage and distributing plant for the Southwest Washington region had large tanks for holding fuel oil and gasoline plus a huge concrete warehouse for storing oil in steel drums. TPL-6485; G9.1-002 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 1-3-26, 8-E-article)

Associated Oil Co. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1920-1930; Petroleum industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; City Waterway (Tacoma);

Exterior view of large Carstens Packing Co. plant taken in mid-August of 1926. The meat packing firm was located at 1623 East "J" St. in the Tideflats, now the site of the Northwest Detention Center. Carstens relocated to Tacoma in 1903 and would later be known as the largest meat packing company on the West Coast with plants in Tacoma, Spokane and Seattle. In 1926 Carstens put forth plans to build a new four-story unit to hold the sausage factory, sausage coolers, lard refinery and smoke houses, beef coolers and beef sales coolers. The company sought to replace annually older, outdated buildings with permanent reinforced concrete construction. The gradual replacement meant that no sections of the plant would be out of commission before their replacements were erected. Fires in 1914, 1916 and shortly after caused the company to incur $750,000 in losses. The replacement of wooden buildings by concrete structures would make the plant more modernized as well as fireproof. (TDL 3-27-26, p. 10-article; TNT 3-31-27, p.6-article)

Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Meat industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;