Showroom at City Motor Company, Oldsmobile, Anson Hart. A large, artificial cake with artificial candles stands next to the drapery covered frame announcing the "Futuramic" Oldsmobile. The "Futuramic" series of "98" Oldsmobiles was the top of the line for Oldsmobile. The "Dynamic" was for medium price buyers. General Motors' hydra-matic drive, providing automatic shifting in all forward speeds, hydraulic controls for raising and lowering the windows and adjusting the position of the front seat were optional equipment throughout the Oldsmobile line. (T.Times, 2/16/1948, p.8 and TNT, 2/15/1948, p.A-7) TPL-3555

City Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Showrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Showroom at City Motor Company, Oldsmobile, Anson Hart. The new 1948 model Oldsmobile offered many new developments: a streamlined body design with increased front and rear visibility with curved glass, wider seats, more luxurious upholstery and interior trim. Powered by a 115 hp, 8-cylinder engine, this automobile was known as the "Futuramic" series "98" Oldsmobile. (T.Times, 2/16/1948, p.8) TPL-1653

City Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Showrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Oldsmobile automobile;

Showroom at City Motor Company, Oldsmobile, Anson Hart. An 1898 automobile is included in the display of the new 1948 Oldsmobiles, perhaps a way of introducing the Oldsmobile "98" class of automobiles. Oldsmobile was America's oldest motor car manufacturer with over five decades of design and construction development. The "98"'s were the upper tier of the Oldsmobile line. They carried a newly designed high-compression head. All the 1948 models were equipped with coil springs at all 4 wheels, rigid X-member reinforced frame, double-action hydraulic shock absorbers, proven knee-action front wheel units, four-way stabilization to prevent side sway at high speeds and dual-control center steering. (T.Times, 2/16/1948, p.8 and TNT, 2/15/1948, p.A-7) TPL-3555

City Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Showrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Oldsmobile automobile;

The unidentified staff of the Oven Sweet Bake Shop, 8221 So. Tacoma Way, Lakewood, stand behind display cases containing fresh-baked pies, cookies, doughnuts, rolls and heart-shaped cakes. The bakery opened for business in February of 1948. The heart-shaped floral stand at the back of the shop has a ribbon wishing, "Success". The owner of the bakery may have been Mr. Filigini. The bakery only remained in business for about one year.

Oven Sweet Bakery (Tacoma); Bakeries--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sales personnel--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cakes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cookies--Tacoma; Doughnuts; Pies; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Showcases;

Blanket window at Weisfield's Commerce Street side, Virginia Knowland, Simmons Blanket. Weisfield and Goldberg's store had two entrances, 924 Commerce Street and 925 Broadway. The window display includes a bedroom suite including a vanity with mirror and stool, bed and bedside table and dresser. The emphasis is on the Simmons Electronic Blanket, however. The blanket was said to keep an even temperature even if the room temperature changed.

Weisfield & Goldberg, Inc. (Tacoma); Window displays; Furniture stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jewelry stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Blankets; Beds; Furniture;

Store front at 925 Broadway, Weisfield & Goldberg, Virginia Knowland. A view of the exterior of Weisfield and Goldberg's building. The store front windows display jewelry and the upper windows display appliances on the left and furniture on the right. Signs advertise their new rug department. A large clock is centered over the store front and has neon signs for "Diamonds", "Watches", and "Weisfield & Goldberg". Automobiles are parked in front of the store.

Weisfield & Goldberg, Inc. (Tacoma); Window displays; Jewelry stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Appliances; Furniture; Clocks & watches; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Furniture stores--Tacoma; Appliance stores--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Showing of 1949 Lincolns, Robert Sconce Advertising Agency. Three of the new 1949 model Lincolns are parked in the showroom. The Lincoln Cosmopolitan and the Lincoln represented the latest concept in luxurious motoring with wider wheelbases (125" for the Cosmopolitan and 121" for the Lincoln). The automobiles were wider to provide road-hugging comfort. The paint on the new automobiles is highly reflective as well as the large amounts of chrome. A neon sign points the way to a cashier. (T.Times, 4/15/1948, p.26)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lincoln automobile; Mercury automobile; Ray Ridge Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Model of new Mueller-Harkins Buick showroom. A view of the architectural model of the new automobile dealership that was being built at Sixth Avenue and Saint Helens Avenue. Toy automobiles, gasoline pumps and people are included to show how the new facility was to be used. This model still exists inside the building on Saint Helens Avenue in Tacoma, which now houses USA of Yesteryear vintage automobile sales (1998).

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Architectural models; Toys; Model cars;

Showing of 1949 Lincolns, Robert Sconce Advertising Agency. Men are peering under the hoods of the new 1949 model Lincolns. The 1949's featured 152 hp, V-8 engines. Several men also look inside the drivers side of the front seat. The new models had a curved instrument panel with back-light illumination, curved windshields and hydraulically controlled seat adjustment. The Cosmopolitan Town Sedan also had push button windows. The luxury automobiles have wide, white-wall tires. This is a night view from outside the showroom through plate glass windows. (T.Times, 4/15/1945, p.26) TPL-1516

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ray Ridge Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Showing of 1949 Lincolns, Robert Sconce Advertising Agency. A crowd has come out at night to admire the new 1949 Lincolns and Mercurys at Ray Ridge Motors. Lincoln and Mercury were the first to have their new models for 1949 available for the public as early as April of 1948. Neon signs attached to the building facade are bright against the dark evening. TPL-1516

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ray Ridge Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mercury automobile; Lincoln automobile;

The Bank of California was the first bank in Tacoma to offer drive-up banking to its customers. Alfred B. Cummings, owner of Porter-Cummings Co., Inc. a men's clothing store, drove his car along Court A between 10th and 11th Streets behind the bank and handed his deposit to Wallace H. Waite, teller. Publicity shots ordered by Mr. Hernly, Batsford, Constantini & Gardner, Seattle. (T.Times, 3/23/1948, p.9)

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cummings, A.B.; Waite, Wallace H.; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Mr. A.B. Cummings, owner of Porter-Cummings Company, men's clothiers, decided to try the newly opened drive-up banking services at Bank of California in March of 1948. The teller, Wallace H. Waite, is protected by a special bullet-proof glass window and steel bars. Mr. Cummings liked the new service, the first of its kind in Tacoma, and predicted it would help relieve congestion from customers parking along Pacific Avenue to stop for a short visit to the bank. Bank of California had been at this downtown location since 1928 and the drive-up window was located in the alley back of the bank. (T.Times, 3/23/1948, p.9-article & alternate photograph)

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cummings, A.B.; Waite, Wallace H.; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Float entered in Daffodil Parade, Griffin Fuel Company. The horse-drawn wagon was decorated in daffodils and the young women wore dresses and hats from the turn of the 20th century. The two men driving the team of horses turn to see what all the fun is about. A portion of the Griffin Fuel Company facilities are seen in the background.

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1948 : Tacoma); Costumes; Horse teams--Tacoma--1940-1950; Horses--Tacoma; Carts & wagons--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tideflats property, Shell Oil Company. Storage tanks for Shell Oil, Mobilgas, and Union Oil are seen on the left hand side. Washington Steel & Welding (701 East D Street) is to the left of center and Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. (820 East D Street) is along the waterfront on the right. Other industrial sites are seen along the tideflats of Tacoma. TPL-8462

Shell Oil Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Storage tanks--Tacoma; Fuel tanks; Tacoma Tideflats (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Waterfronts--Tacoma;

Anderson Fuel truck in front of Titus, Titus Motor Company, Henry Zachow. The new Ford truck has been outfitted with a bed that can be raised and lowered to dump materials when making deliveries. G. Andersen Fuel advertised "Snappy, Speedy Service" and that they were dealers in wood, coal and heating oils.

Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hoisting machinery;

Tacoma Athletic Commission Dinner for Gretchen Kunigk Fraser. Tacoma skier Gretchen Kunigk Fraser, winner of 1948 Olympic Gold and Silver medals for Alpine skiing, in a publicity photo for the Tacoma Athletic Commission on April 5, 1948. Gretchen is seen here with her mother, Clara Kunigk, of Tacoma. The man on the left is not identified. The man on the right is possibly her brother, Bill Kunigk. The Tacoma Athletic Commission honored Gretchen Fraser with a dinner/reception at the Top of the Ocean; over 600 people were in attendance.

Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fraser, Gretchen Kunigk, 1919-1994; Skiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Celebrations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Kunigk, Clara;

Tacoma Athletic Commission Dinner for Gretchen Fraser. Gretchen Fraser, winner of the 1948 Olympic Gold Medal for the special slalom, was the first American skier to win an Olympic event. Here she is seen presenting the Tacoma Athletic Commission perpetual trophy for the Women's Daffodil Cup race to Janette Burr, winner and holder of the National Women's downhill title. The perpetual trophy was to be known as the Gretchen Kunigk Fraser Trophy. (TNT, 4/6/1948, p.14)

Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fraser, Gretchen Kunigk, 1919-1994; Skiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Medals; Celebrations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Burr, Janette;

Tacoma Athletic Club Dinner for Gretchen Fraser. More than 600 people jammed the Top of the Ocean to pay tribute to the Olympic Champion, Gretchen Kunigk Fraser. The Tacoma Ski Team was also honored that evening. Several young men line the outdoor stairway to the top of the Top of the Ocean singing and holding ski poles. (TNT, 4/6/1948, p.1) TPL-2220

Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fraser, Gretchen Kunigk, 1919-1994; Skiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Medals; Celebrations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Ski Team (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma);

On April 5, 1948, the Top of the Ocean had out a Welcome banner for Gretchen Kunigk Fraser, the first American skier to win an Olympic event. Mrs. Fraser won a Gold Medal (first place) for the special slalom and a Silver Medal (second place) for the Alpine combined downhill and slalom in the 1948 Winter Olympics. The Tacoma Athletic Commission was hosting a dinner at the Ruston Way restaurant for Mrs. Fraser. More than 600 people, including Tacoma mayor C. Val Fawcett, crammed the restaurant to its ceilings to honor the former Tacoma resident. (T.Times, 4/6/1948, p.5) TPL-2220

Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fraser, Gretchen Kunigk, 1919-1994; Skiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Celebrations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma);

New West Coast Grocery Company building at Chehalis, DFPA, Mrs. Leik. West Coast Grocery has built another building using reinforced concrete for their operations, this one in Chehalis. Two large garage doors cover the loading dock when not in use and light can enter from large windows close to the roof.

West Coast Grocery Co. (Chehalis); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Reinforced concrete construction--Chehalis--1940-1950;

Building and pipe yard, American Plumbing, George Hill. The exterior of the American Plumbing and Steam Supply Company. The four-story brick building was built in 1911. Darmer and Cutting were the architects and the Cornell Brothers were the contractors. Walsh and Gardner Plumbing Company was the first owner. American Plumbing and Supply moved to this location in 1921 from its earlier location at 1750 Pacific Avenue. TPL-8831

American Plumbing & Steam Supply Co. (Tacoma); Plumbing stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Building and pipe yard, American Plumbing, George Hill. The exterior of the American Plumbing and Steam Supply Company. The American Plumbing and Steam Supply Company was founded in 1907. H.K. Munroe was president of this wholesale plumbing, heating and mill supplies company. This building later became one of the University of Washington, Tacoma campus, classroom buildings (UW-T).

American Plumbing & Steam Supply Co. (Tacoma); Plumbing stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Scotch boiler for catalog cuts, Mr. Kenton, Birchfield Boiler. A view of the Scotch boiler being manufactured by Birchfield Boiler showing the interior of the boiler being sealed shut with insulating bricks. Demand had grown for these high pressure boilers used in dairies, laundries, bakeries, cleaning and pressing plants and others that required large amounts of ready steam. (T.Times, 3/1/1948, p.3)

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

Two flatcars with boilers, Birchfield Boiler. Giant boilers wait on flatcars for shipment to Southern California. The largest will be installed in the new building of the General Petroleum Corp. of Los Angeles.The Birchfield Boiler facilities can be seen in the background. The plant was also completing an order for 25 large pressure tanks complete with copper heating coils for the US Army in addition to approximately 400 tank heaters for the army. (T.Times, 5/3/1948, p.5) Format 7' x 11'

Birchfield Boiler, Inc. (Tacoma); Boilers; Boiler industry--Tacoma; Factories--Tacoma; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma; Shipping--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;

Daytime exposure of front of store, Buck & Sons, Mr. Berkhalter. A view of the exterior of Buck & Sons building. A neon sign over the main entrance advertises Ford tractors. The entrance is highlighted by glass blocks and the large windows allow passers-by to see the displays. One of the garage doors can be seen on the left.

Buck & Sons Tractor & Implement Co. (Tacoma); Agricultural machinery & implements--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tractors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Machinery industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

24 men at Ohmer Sales Meeting, Club Room 5, Hotel Winthrop, Mr. R.E. Barrett, Ohmer Corp., Dayton, Ohio. Ohmer Corporation were makers of the cash register displayed here among a group of business people who came to learn more about the machine.

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ohmer Corp. (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sales personnel--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cash registers;

Caskets, Bill Gregory, Puget Sound Casket Company. A handsomely ornamented casket is shown with its lid open revealing the beautiful detailing of the fabric interior with pleating, gathers and ruffles. The metal handles along the sides are also ornamented.

Puget Sound Casket Co. (Tacoma); Coffins; Funeral rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

City of Yakima Garbage Truck with Box and Hoist, South Tacoma Welding, George Bosko. South Tacoma Welding and Equipment Company had a history of making the kind of hoist needed for specialized jobs. This garbage truck has sides that can be lowered for adding new materials and the back doors open wide when the truck is ready to lift and dump the load.

South Tacoma Welding & Equipment Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Equipment; Vehicles; Hoisting machinery;

Interior of Fur Storage at Division and Tacoma Avenue, Llewellyn Advertising Agency, Mr. VanMeter. The Supreme Fur Storage facility opened in April 1948. Richfield Gas Company opened a service station at this location in 1928. Kress Retail Drive Inn was located here in 1938, and Five Point Inn from 1945 through 1947. The building takes advantage of the triangular property it sits on at the intersection of Division and Tacoma Avenue North.

Supreme Fur Storage (Tacoma); Cleaning establishments--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fur coats; Fur garments; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950;