A technician examines plywood that has undergone shear testing at the Plywood Research Center. Although nailed down, several segments of plywood have been ripped away from the wall in this September, 1951, photograph. The research laboratory submits plywood to tests of durability and quality assurance in order that the finished product meet their high standards.

Plywood Research Center (Tacoma); Plywood; Product inspection--Tacoma; Testing--Tacoma--1950-1960; Laboratories--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Two workmen put down membrane over the joints where the plywood panels butt together at the Puget Sound Plywood, Inc., on August 16, 1951. They have apparently completed a good portion of the job as the dark membrane covering the numerous rows of plywood panels can be seen. Puget Sound Plywood, established in 1942, was Tacoma's first cooperative plywood plant. Photograph commissioned by Tom Sias, Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Plywood; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Laborers--Tacoma; Puget Sound Plywood, Inc. (Tacoma); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Cooperatives--Tacoma;

New construction at Lakewood Center showing the use of hemlock. Additions to Lakewood Center began in May 1951. Lea, Pearson and Richards were the architects for the addition that would make room for a department store, a shoe store, candy shop and a bakery. A supermarket was to be included near a courtyard to connect with the present theater, dress shop, dining room and drug store. Ordered by St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber, Cordy Wagner. (TNT, 5/20/1951, p.C-15)

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Lakewood--1950-1960; Lakewood Community Center (Lakewood); Progress photographs; Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

New construction at Lakewood Center showing use the of hemlock. This new addition to Lakewood Center was part of the long-range program to expand the center which was started in 1937. Ordered by St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber, Cordy Wagner. (TNT 5/20/1951, p.C-15)

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Lakewood--1950-1960; Lakewood Community Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

A man, wearing a Douglas Fir Plywood Association lab coat, is adjusting the tension during plywood testing at St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber warehouse. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Tom Sias.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Plywood; Product inspection--Tacoma; Testing--Tacoma--1950-1960; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Detail showing break points of stress tests on plywood at St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber. Ordered by Dave Countryman, civil engineer with Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Plywood; Product inspection--Tacoma; Testing--Tacoma--1950-1960; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Five men watch intently while one of them is tightening the pressure during plywood testing at St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber warehouse. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Dave Countryman.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Plywood; Product inspection--Tacoma; Testing--Tacoma--1950-1960; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Detail of plywood testing at St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber warehouse. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Dave Countryman.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Plywood; Product inspection--Tacoma; Testing--Tacoma--1950-1960; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A workman is fitting doors into a large cabinet built using plywood. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

A man is adding another dial to a piece of plywood holding other measuring devices at a cold storage facility. He is drilling holes using an electric drill. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Tom Sias.

Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

A workman uses a pipe to spray panels of plywood. The material being sprayed on the panels may make them moisture proof. The panels each have a ledge along the vertical edge to allow them to hang from a horizontal pipe. The workman wears a moisture proof apron and gloves. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Equipment; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Several open containers have been built using plywood. The narrower ends have been secured with metal rods and nuts to strengthen the joints. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Equipment; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

A man is using a forklift to move a large number of small pieces of wood into a large vat made of plywood at West Coast Chair. The vat has been made with plywood. A lid to the vat stands open at the back. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Equipment; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); West Coast Chair, Inc. (Tacoma);

Philipine mahogany logs have been delivered to Buffelen Lumber from a freighter. Two men are moving the enormous logs into position using poles.

Logs; Buffelen Lumber & Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

Philipine mahogany logs are being unloaded from a freighter at Buffelen Lumber. One log is being lowered from the ship using a chain and pulley. Several other huge logs are already floating in a boom where a man stands ready with a pole.

Logs; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buffelen Lumber & Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

Philipine mahogany logs are being unloaded from a freighter at Buffelen Lumber. Buffelen was located on Lincoln Avenue at Taylor Way on the Tacoma tideflats, approximate address was 2000 Taylor Way.

Logs; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buffelen Lumber & Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

Elevated view of Tacoma Fire Station No. 16 under construction. Workers install roof sheathing by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. Narrows Bridge and old Highway 16 in background. Area just being developed. This $24,000 structure at 6th Ave and Meyer St. was dedicated on July 20, 1952. The 12 man crew and one engine provided fire protection to the Highlands district from Stevens St. to the Narrows bridge and also to University Place. This building was razed and replaced in 1999.

Plywood industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Carpentry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fire stations--Tacoma; Tacoma Fire Department, Fire Station No. 16 (Tacoma);

Exposure of "concentrated load test" at DFPA lab. Scientists measure results as several 50 pound weights, totaling 500 lb., are place on top of a circle of plywood. Random testing of the plywood produced in all mills provided quality control. Two laboratories, one in Tacoma and another in Eugene, conducted a continuing program of testing and research funded and supported by the industry itself.

Plywood industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Testing; Experiments; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Tacoma Fire Station No. 16 under construction. Workers install roof sheathing by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. This area by the Narrows Bridge was just being developed. The fire station was built at a cost of $24,000 and dedicated on July 20, 1952. The fire station had a 12 man crew and one engine and provided fire protection to the Highlands district, from Stevens St. to the Narrows bridge, and University Place. This building was razed and replaced in 1999.

Plywood industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Carpentry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fire stations--Tacoma; Tacoma Fire Department, Fire Station No. 16 (Tacoma);

ca. 1952. The Cheney Studs baseball team brings new meaning to the term "farm team" by playing on an actual farm, with spectators sitting on a low barn or shed roof. The players wear the striped uniform with the stud logo over the heart. The stud logo is in reference to the 8 ft. 2x4 manufactured by Ben Cheney's company called a Cheney stud, credited with standardizing architecture in the U.S. In addition to the batter, a catcher and umpire can be seen. TPL-7911

Cheney Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Large piece of equipment, the "Challoner 790", for auction at Wheeler Osgood factory liquidation. The door manufacturer closed its doors in 1952 and liquidated all assets. Certain former employees of the plant announced that they intended to form a co-operative to acquire and operate the factory, after the new owners announced their intention to liquidate. This move was opposed by the Lumber and Sawmill Worker's union and never came to fruition. Other companies that looked at the plant included Boeing, who were looking for a warehouse for its Seattle factory. The building was finally scheduled for demolition when no sale went through and burned down during the process in July of 1959. (TNT 2-26-1952, pg. 1)

Wheeler, Osgood Co. (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960; Machinery; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Large desk with 2 swivel chairs behind it, 4 other chairs and a sofa. Exposures of office furniture for auction at Wheeler Osgood factory liquidation. Once the world's largest manufacturer of doors, the factory went out of business in 1952 and was sold for liquidation for approximately $650,000. The company suffered from labor troubles, reorganization and finally a strike by the Lumber and Sawmill Workers' union. (TNT 2-26-1952, pg. 1)

Wheeler, Osgood Co. (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960; Office furniture; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Two men are loading a sheet of plywood into one of Liberty Lumber Company's trucks along side the building. A large sign hanging out front announces that the lumber yard is, "Open for Business". They advertise General Paints with a sign over the store where they also carry metal garbage cans, screen doors, gardening tools, trellises and a garden arch. Neon letters spell out that, "We Cut Glass". The building materials company was owned by Kenneth Heiman.

Liberty Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Hardware stores--Tacoma; Building materials; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The exterior of the Georgia Pacific Plywood Company building in Olympia, Washington. The two-story building with a flat roof reflects 1950's styling and architecture. A smoke stack with the letters "GP" on it can be seen on the left.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Georgia Pacific Plywood Co. (Olympia);

A stark office in the Georgia Pacific Plywood Company building in Olympia provides desks and equipment for fourteen people. Each desk has been provided with a calculator in the middle of the desk with a waste can to catch the tape as it runs from the machine. Telephones are seen on a few of the desks and most of them also have a typewriter on a pull-out shelf on the left. Florescent lighting provides a bright overhead light. Companies were attempting to apply assembly-line techniques to office work.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Georgia Pacific Plywood Co. (Olympia); Offices--Olympia;

The main entrance to the Georgia Pacific Plywood Company building in Olympia is shown on a dark afternoon with the interior lit from several angles. The smooth lines of the exterior of the building are carried into the entry way with a flat covering over the exterior walkway and the interior plywood paneling. The square panes of glass in the door match the geometric shapes of the larger windows and create a rythym with the louvers over the door and the steps inside.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Georgia Pacific Plywood Co. (Olympia); Office buildings--Olympia;

One of the offices in the Georgia Pacific Plywood Company building in Olympia is shown with a desk with only an ash tray and an organizer on top, with a side-arm for the telephone and typewriter. A machine with a roll-type cover under the windows may be a dictaphone. Venetian blinds and patterned draperies have bee added at the windows.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Georgia Pacific Plywood Co. (Olympia); Offices--Olympia;

Men are grading plywood under overhead lights at Puget Sound Plywood. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Puget Sound Plywood, Inc. (Tacoma); Plywood; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Cooperatives--Tacoma;

Men are grading plywood under overhead lights at Puget Sound Plywood. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Puget Sound Plywood, Inc. (Tacoma); Plywood; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Cooperatives--Tacoma;

Rayonier, Inc., lumber company, skit at conference held at Winthrop Hotel. Eight men in front of factory mural. Rayonier manufactured cellulose products for rayon and acetate staple fibers in fabrics. However, the fastest growth occured in tire cord, cellophone and other uses entirely apart from textiles. Rayonier had been diversifying over a period of years hoping to be less affected by fluctuations of demand in the textile markets. Note: Lines in print due to diacetate film deterioration. One of several thousand images preserved through copying by Tacoma library. (Rayonier, Inc., 1951 Annual Report)

Rayonier, Inc. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);