Switch gear equipment at Pacific Oerlikon Co. The worker appears diminutive next to the huge electronic machinery mounted above his head. Pacific Oerlikon, a subsidiary of Oerlikon Engineering Co. of Switzerland, manufactured large equipment for the power grid. It occupied the site of the former Henry Mill and Timber Co. in a building specially designed to accomodate the sheer height of its products.

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Machinery; Equipment;

Switch gear equipment at Pacific Oerlikon Co. The worker eyes suspiciously the hook used to lift this product packaged for transport. Although the hook reads Yale five ton, the worker looks doubtful that it will hold. The product is labelled "porcelain, handle with care, fragile." Pacific Oerlikon manufactured large breakers and equipment used in the transmission of electric power.

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Machinery; Equipment;

Pacific Oerlikon Company, electrical equipment manufacturers. Interior exposure of circuit breaker. Seven breakers being assembled on a bench. Pacific Oerlikon occupied the former site of Henry Mill and Timber Co. It also erected on this site in 1951 a sheet metal, concrete and glass building used for the machine shop and assembly area. Because of the size of the components constructed, the building was designed to provide ample height for assembly. (TNT 9/7/1952, pg. C-15)

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Machinery; Equipment; Electrical apparatus; Electrical apparatus industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electronic industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Pacific Oerlikon Company, electrical equipment manufacturers. Counter with two shelves in front, shop behind with assorted machinery. The company was an offspring of Oerlikon Engineering of Zurich, Switzerland and was entirely Swiss owned. Dr Hans Schindler was president of the company and Lloyd Morgan was executive vice president and general manager of Pacific Oerlikon. The company was incorporated in August of 1950 and shipped its first products in the spring of 1952. It employed 110 skilled workers in 1952, machine-tool operators and mechanical and electrical engineers, with plans to expand to 500 workers. (TNT 9/7/1952, pg. C-15)

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Machinery; Equipment; Electrical apparatus; Electrical apparatus industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electronic industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interior exposure of large breakers assembled at Pacific Oerlikon Co., 3001 Starr street. Six in foreground, other equipment on left side. The company was a subsidiary of Oerlikon Engineering of Zurich, Switzerland and manufactured porcelain clad low oil content circuit breakers. In 1952, the company has 110 employees working 3 shifts per day, 5 days a week, with a monthly outlay for wages and salaries of $40,000. Plans were to expand the company to 500 skilled workers. (TNT 9/7/1952, pg. C-15)

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Machinery; Equipment; Electrical apparatus; Electrical apparatus industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electronic industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interior exposure at Pacific Oerlikon Co. Metal shelves hold a variety of electrical parts. Pacific Oerlikon, the Northwest subsidiary of Oerlikon Engineering Co. of Zurich, Switzerland, manufactured power-system equipment. The parent company was a 75 year old world wide leader in manufacturing high quality products. Its only offspring Pacific Oerlikon originated from $2,000,000 investment that used raw materials and parts made in the U. S. to manufacture components for the Northwest's power grid. (TNT 9/7/1952, pg. C-15)

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Machinery; Equipment; Electrical apparatus; Electrical apparatus industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electronic industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Close up exposure of 3 assembled breakers at Pacific Oerlikon Co. Pacific Oerlikon, a subsidiary of Oerlikon Engineering Co. of Zurich, Switzerland, manufactured power-system equipment. The parent company invested $2,000,000 in remodeling the former Henry Mill and Timber Co. and in importing machine tools from Europe. Tacoma was chosen because a suitable site was available and the labor market (machine tool operators) was plentiful. The only addition to the site was the erection of a sheet metal, concrete and glass building that housed a 24,000 sq. ft. machine shop and a 6,000 sq. ft. assembly area. (TNT 9/7/1952, pg. C-15)

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Machinery; Equipment; Electrical apparatus; Electrical apparatus industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electronic industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Pacific Oerlikon Co., interior of large building with large breaker disassembled and others assembled. Oerlikon Engineering of Zurich, Switzerland chose the Northwest for its subsidiary for two reasons- the large market for its circuit breakers and the absence of power system manufacturing companies in this area. The company manufactures circuit breakers and instrument transformers in the range of 34.5 to 138 kilovolts and having up to 3 1/2 million kilovolt amperes interrupting capacity. The finished product- the 34.5 power circuit breaker costs approximately $8,000 and the 138 power circuit breaker $29,000. (TNT 9/7/1952, pg. C-15)

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Machinery; Equipment; Electrical apparatus; Electrical apparatus industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electronic industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interior of shop with man standing next to large piece of machinery. An employee of Pacific Oerlikon Co. is pictured next to a piece of equipment used in the Oerlikon plant. Pacific Oerlikon was located at 3001 No. Starr Street and was a manufacturer of electric equipment. This interior view of the plant showed various types of machinery imported from Europe by Pacific Oerlikon.

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Machinery; Equipment;

Interior exposure of worker with equipment. An employee of Pacific Oerlikon Co. stands with one hand extended to touch an extremely tall piece of machinery which is transported on a wheeled dolly. He is standing between two similar pieces of machinery which are both loaded onto dollies. The Pacific Oerlikon plant was located at 3001 No. Starr St. and manufactured power system equipment. Photograph ordered by Pacific Oerlikon Co.

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Machinery; Equipment;

Outdoor exposure of Pacific Oerlikon plant. The Pacific Oerlikon Co., located at 3001 No. Starr, manufactured electric equipment. Lloyd Morgan was listed as manager according to the 1951 and 1953 City Directories. View of three story wooden building with large Oerlikon sign on top close to additional Oerlikon structure and next to railroad tracks. The Oerlikon plant was built on the site of the former Henry Mill Co. and Tacoma Lumber Fabricating Co. They changed their name to United Power Control in 1956 and then changed to United Products Company upon merging with Meridian Corp. of Chicago in 1958. Photograph ordered by Pacific Oerlikon Co.

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Pacific Oerlikon Co. were electric equipment manufacturers. According to the 1951 City Directory, they were located at 3001 No. Starr and Lloyd Morgan was listed as manager. View of machinery manufactured by Pacific Oerlikon in photograph taken on September 18, 1951. It possibly could be a type of drill. Photograph ordered by Pacific Oerlikon.

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Machinery;