Air Reduction Sales Co. rebuilding Tacoma oxygen plant, contract MCC2797

Factories--Tacoma; Air Reduction Sales Co. (Tacoma);

Interior of building during reconstruction of Tacoma oxygen plant, Air Reduction Sales Company. Contract #MCC2797.

Factories--Tacoma; Air Reduction Sales Co. (Tacoma);

Int. of Tacoma oxygen plant, Air Reduction Sales Co., Neg No. ARS-64

Factories--Tacoma; Air Reduction Sales Co. (Tacoma);

Lg. belt drive in Tacoma oxygen plant, Air Reduction Sales Co., Neg No. ARS-64

Factories--Tacoma; Air Reduction Sales Co. (Tacoma);

Rebuilding of Tacoma oxygen plant, Air Reduction Sales Co., contract #MCC2797, neg. no.ARS-63

Factories--Tacoma; Air Reduction Sales Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1943. Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company, formerly Tacoma Electrochemical Company. Crowd gathered for star award ceremony outside office building, a one-story brick building with weather vane on roof. Photograph was taken circa 1943.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees; Crowds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1943. Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company, formerly Tacoma Electrochemical Company. Large crowd including employees watches as flags are raised during star award ceremony occurring circa 1943.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees; Crowds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flags--United States;

Wilkeson Products interior and exterior of mine. The Wilkeson Coal & Coke Co. mine brought prosperity to a small town. Jobs were readily available for those interested in coal mining. Exterior view of coke producing plant. TPL-7989

Coke industry --Wilkeson; Coal mining--Wilkeson; Wilkeson Coal & Coke Co. (Wilkeson);

Pacific Carbide exterior and interior for record. On March 4, 1944 E. F. Goodner of Pacific Carbide & Alloys Co. announced that the plant would close down for an indefinite amount of time. The plant employed 65 people. Exterior view of plant.

Coke industry--Tacoma; Pacific Carbide & Alloys Co. (Tacoma);

Pacific Carbide exterior and interior for record. The Pacific Carbide & Alloys Co. operated 24 hours a day 7 days per week. Their carbide products helped many Tacoma industries. Exterior view of plant.

Coke industry--Tacoma; Pacific Carbide & Alloys Co. (Tacoma);

Coke plant interior and exterior for Wilkeson Products. On May 28, 1943, the first coke oven was charged at this site. After its success six more ovens were charged the following day. During the first week of June 1943, operations began at this million dollar Pacific Northwest coke plant.

Coke industry--Tacoma; Wilkeson Co. (Tacoma);

Coke plant interior and exterior for Wilkeson Products. The Wilkeson Products Coke plant is an affiliate of the St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Company and only uses Wilkeson coal, the only coking coal in Washington. TPL-7988

Coke industry--Tacoma; Wilkeson Co. (Tacoma);

Coke plant interior and exterior for Wilkeson Products. The Wilkeson Coke plant will provide shipments to defense plants in the Pacific Northwest, as well as, gas supplies for heating and cooking in Tacoma. Tacoma will be fortunate enough to have unlimited gas supplies during the cold winter months.

Coke industry--Tacoma; Wilkeson Co. (Tacoma);

Coke plant interior and exterior for Wilkeson Products. The Wilkeson Coke plant produces a high grade metallurgical coke that goes into the new carbide plant. Another by product is coal-tar. TPL-998

Coke industry--Tacoma; Wilkeson Co. (Tacoma);

Coke plant interior and exterior for Wilkeson Products. This war-sponsored new industry has suffered endless labor shortages. The plant demands full operation on a 24 hour 7 day basis. The increase in production will result in endless supplies of gas locally.

Coke industry--Tacoma; Wilkeson Co. (Tacoma);

Coke plant interior and exterior for Wilkeson Products. Non-stop operations at the Wilkeson Coke plant have been difficult to maintain, but a necessary task. Plant provides shipments to commercial businesses and residents of Tacoma. Coke plant is the only one of its kind in the Pacific Northwest.

Coke industry--Tacoma; Wilkeson Co. (Tacoma);

Munday Y. Loss (at right) and an unidentified miner were photographed in March of 1944 hauling coal out of the Skookum Slope mine in Wilkeson, Washington. The Wilkeson Coal and Coke Company had re-opened the mine in March of 1942 to provide coal for the war effort. They had signed a contract with the U.S. Defense Plant Corporation to produce coal for conversion to coke, to be used in making steel. Over 75,000 tons of coal were shipped to Tacoma before the mine was once again closed on November 1944. (Identification of Mr. Loss provided by a reader)

Coke industry--Wilkeson; Coal miners--Wilkeson; Mine railroads--Wilkeson; Coal mining--Wilkeson; Wilkeson Coal & Coke Co. (Wilkeson); Loss, Munday Y.;

Series of Wilkeson Products interior and exterior mine photographs. Jim "Corkie" Kelly, miner's lamp shining, was pictured at the working face of the Wilkeson Products mine on March 18, 1944. The ladder to the right accessed a chute which was being driven up the coal seam. The large heavy sawn timbers held up the roof above Mr. Kelly's head. The Wilkeson Products mine had a short life span of less than two years. The U.S. government had pumped in money to support the coal industry during WWll with the intention of helping the war effort. The mine was built in 1943 using the best construction and equipment possible but was only able to produce 54,000 tons of coal. Two miners, Jack Cloves Smith and Harold E. Barber, lost their lives at the mine. (Kombol, Bill, "When Coal Was King," Voice of the Valley, p. 5, 1-3-2012) TPL-6618

Coke industry--Wilkeson; Coal mining--Wilkeson; Coal miners--Wilkeson; Wilkeson Coal & Coke Co. (Wilkeson); Kelly, Jim; World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Wilkeson;

Wilkeson Products interior and exterior of mine. Interior view of Wilkeson Coal & Coke Co. mine with three coal miners, identified as Gene West, John Streepy and Jim "Corkie" Kelly (from left), all wearing their mining gear. According to an article by Bill Kombol, "When Coal Was King," the Wilkeson Products mine failed to accomplish its goal of substantially helping the war effort as the mine produced less than 1% of Washington coal production during the World War ll years. The mine had opened with funding from the U.S. government's Defense Plant Corporation but would permanently close eight months after this March, 1944 photograph. TPL-6619

Coke industry--Wilkeson; Coal mining--Wilkeson; Coal miners--Wilkeson; Wilkeson Coal & Coke Co. (Wilkeson); World War, 1939-1945, Economic & industrial aspects --Wilkeson; West, Gene; Streepy, John; Kelly, Jim;

Wilkeson Products interior and exterior of mine. In 1888 Wilkeson Coal & Coke Co. began producing the best grade of coke available in the West. Wilkeson Co. mine employed 200 employees, they lived with their families in Wilkeson, Washington, a small mining town in eastern Pierce County. View of buildings at Wilkeson.

Coke industry--Wilkeson; Coal mining--Wilkeson; Wilkeson Coal & Coke Co. (Wilkeson);

Wilkeson Products interior and exterior of mine. Wilkeson Coal & Coke Co. had the largest coal and coke mine in the State of Washington. They were one of the only completely electrified mining plants in the world, and always had the most modern machinery available. Interior view of mining plant. TPL-6616

Coke industry--Wilkeson; Coal mining--Wilkeson; Wilkeson Coal & Coke Co. (Wilkeson);

Wilkeson Products interior and exterior of mine. Many mines in Wilkeson, Washington closed in 1938, but then reopened to assist in the production of coke needed for the war effort. Exterior view of Wilkeson Coal & Coke Co. mining plant. TPL-6617

Coke industry--Wilkeson; Coal mining--Wilkeson; Wilkeson Coal & Coke Co. (Wilkeson);

Wilkeson Products interior and exterior of mine. In 1888 Wilkeson Coal & Coke Co. began producing the best grade of coke available in the West. Wilkeson Co. mine employed 200 employees, they lived with their families in Wilkeson, Washington, a small mining town in eastern Pierce County. View of filled coal cars at Wilkeson Coal & Coke Co. TPL-6615

Coke industry--Wilkeson; Coal mining--Wilkeson; Wilkeson Coal & Coke Co. (Wilkeson);

Wilkeson Products interior and exterior of mine. In 1888 Wilkeson Coal & Coke Co. began producing the best grade of coke available in the West. Wilkeson Co. mine employed 200 employees, they lived with their families in Wilkeson, Washington, a small mining town in eastern Pierce County. View of buildings at Wilkeson. TPL-6393

Coke industry--Wilkeson; Coal mining--Wilkeson; Wilkeson Coal & Coke Co. (Wilkeson);

Wilkeson Products interior of mine and coke plant. Wilkeson Coal & Coke Co. had the largest coal and coke mine in the State of Washington. They were one of the only completely electrified mining plants in the world, and always had the most modern machinery available.

Coke industry--Wilkeson; Coal mining--Wilkeson; Wilkeson Coal & Coke Co. (Wilkeson);

Wilkeson Products interior and exterior of mine and coke plant. Wilkeson Coal & Coke Co. had the largest coal and coke mine in the State of Washington. They were one of the only completely electrified mining plants in the world, and always had the most modern machinery available. (previously numbered G75.1 image 142)

Coke industry--Wilkeson; Coal mining--Wilkeson; Wilkeson Coal & Coke Co. (Wilkeson);

Wilkeson Products interior and exterior of mine. Many mines in Wilkeson, Washington closed in 1938, but then reopened to assist in the production of coke needed for the war effort. Interior view of Wilkeson Coal & Coke Co. mining plant, railway tracks where freight cars were used to bring in mining equipment and take out coal are visible. Financed by the U.S. government-sponsored Defense Plant Corporation, the Wilkeson Products mine began operations in 1943. It was to be a short-lived venture as the mine struggled to produce coal, despite the vast amounts invested in machinery and construction. It closed on November 22, 1944, having produced less than 1% of Washington coal production during the war effort. (Kombol, Bill, '"When Coal Was King," Voice of the Valley, 12-27-2011)

Coke industry--Wilkeson; Coal--Wilkeson; Mine railroads--Wilkeson; Coal mining--Wilkeson; Wilkeson Coal & Coke Co. (Wilkeson); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Wilkeson;

Pacific Carbide shot of screen pulled loose. In 1943, the Pacific Carbide & Alloys Co. plant was opened here because of cheap water transportation, an abundance of low cost water in Tacoma and cheap electricity. The plant was part of a defense plant corporation project. View of plant machinery, Link-Belt Company.

Coke industry--Tacoma; Pacific Carbide & Alloys Co. (Tacoma);

Pacific Carbide exterior and interior for record. Interior view of the Pacific Carbide & Alloys Co. plant a few days after plant was shut down. Congressman Coffee intends to write a letter to R. R. Sayre of the Bureau of Mines, opposing the closing of this plant.

Coke industry--Tacoma; Pacific Carbide & Alloys Co. (Tacoma);

Pacific Carbide exterior and interior for record. The Pacific Carbide & Alloys Co. was shut down due to recent explosions in a Tacoma shipyard that uses carbide products. The explosions are not linked to plant, but the War Production Board decided to shut down this carbide producing plant. Interior view of production area in plant.

Coke industry--Tacoma; Pacific Carbide & Alloys Co. (Tacoma);