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William O. McKay Company photograph collection, 1929
Overview of the Collection
- Collector
- William O. McKay Company
- Title
- William O. McKay Company photograph collection
- Dates
- 1929 (inclusive)19291929
- Quantity
- 24 photographic prints and 2 letters (1 box) ; various sizes
- Collection Number
- PH0783
- Summary
- Images of staff, product and services of the William O. McKay Company, an automobile dealership and repair garage
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The William O. McKay Company was established by William O. McKay in 1923. The company operated a Ford and Lincoln automobile dealership and repair garage at 609 Westlake Avenue North in Seattle, Washington. The two-story terra cotta building was built in 1922 and a one-story terra cotta showroom was designed by Harlan Thomas and Clyde Grainger and completed in 1925. The William O. McKay Company occupied the location until the 1980s. Currently, the William O. McKay Ford-Lincoln Building houses a luxury car dealership, the Seattle Auto Center, which offers imports from Jaguar, Land Rover, and Nissan.
William O. McKay was born in Alturas, California and attended the University of Washington. In addition to several management positions with auto dealerships, he served as the director of civilian protection immediately following Pearl Harbor. He also served twice as the campaign manager for the Seattle Community Fund drive, as president of the Seattle Rotary Club, and was on the board of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Images of Ford vehicles, staff, and service departments at the William O. McKay Company and Peck's Auto Service Station in Seattle, Washington. Also includes two letters from customers describing their satisfaction with the purchase of Ford trucks and a sedan from the company. The collection appears to have been originally assembled by E. H. Tousley, a salesman at the William O. McKay Company and was probably used for advertising.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
View the collection in digital format.
Restrictions on Use
Restrictions might exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact the repository for details.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | item | ||
| 1/1 | 1 | Letter from C. L. Creed to the William O. McKay Company | July 10, 1929 |
| 1/1 | 2 |
Letter from Ed. Peck to the William O. McKay
Company
On Peck's service station letterhead which has 2 views of the gas
station in it
|
November 8, 1929 |
| 1/1 | 3-4 |
Three Fords used to distribute fuel oil, parked outside
Peck's Auto Service Station, 717 Elliott Avenue West, Seattle
Walter P. Miller, Seattle
(photographer)
|
circa 1929 |
| 1/1 | 5 |
William O. McKay Company dealership illuminated at
night
Caption on photo: A night scene at William O. McKay Co. Showing
our powerful searchlight.
|
circa 1929 |
| 1/2 | 6 | Portrait of President William O. McKay | circa 1929 |
| 1/2 | 7 |
Service Car No. 1 - tow truck
Caption on photo: Instant service for all Ford owners, day or
night.
|
circa 1929 |
| 1/2 | 8 |
Men and Ford cars in Service Department
Caption on photo: Located on main street,level floor. Speedy,
efficient, personal service. Convenient entrance and exit.
|
circa 1929 |
| 1/2 | 9 |
Customer and technicians in the Battery
Department
Caption on photo: Complete battery service and sales.
|
circa 1929 |
| 1/2 | 10 |
Man working on a tire in the Tire Department
Caption on photo: Repairing, Retreading, all makes and sizes of
tires. Distributor G&J Tires and Tubes.
|
circa 1929 |
| 1/3 | 11 |
Three men working in the Motor Department
Caption on photo: Equipped with latest type machinery. Operated by
Ford Factory trained expert mechanics.
|
circa 1929 |
| 1/3 | 12 |
Three men working in the Rear System
Department
Caption on photo: Including special designed equipment for the
repair of rear systems.
|
circa 1929 |
| 1/3 | 13 |
Mechanics working on Ford cars in the Mechanical
Department
Caption on photo: Including an entire floor of the building. Every
modern device is used in repairing Ford Cars. Mechanics in clean white uniforms
at your service day and night.
|
circa 1929 |
| 1/3 | 14 |
Official Headlight Adjusting Station no. 49
Caption on photo: We see that you are protected by having correct
lights. Official slip with our cars.
|
circa 1929 |
| 1/3 | 15 |
Men working on two Ford cars in the Paint Shop
Caption on photo: Most modern equipment. 500 cars painted in first
three months. Not one 'come back.'
|
circa 1929 |
| 1/4 | 16 |
Two men working on a car in the Body and Radiator
Department
Caption on photo: All types of body and radiator work.
|
circa 1929 |
| 1/4 | 17 |
Three men working on cars in the Used Car
Department
Caption on photo: Each used car is carefully re-conditioned before
going on sales floor.
|
circa 1929 |
| 1/4 | 18 |
Salesroom with cars and parts on display
Caption on photo: Elegantly appointed cars on display for
inspection at all times.
|
circa 1929 |
| 1/4 | 19 |
Accessories department
Caption on photo: Complete stock of genuine Ford and Fordson
parts. Day and night service.
|
circa 1929 |
| 1/4 | 20 |
Two women in the ladies rest room
Caption on photo: Conveniently arranged for the comfort of our
patrons.
|
circa 1929 |
| 1/5 | 21 | Accounting and Bookkeeping Department | circa 1929 |
| 1/5 | 22 |
Men standing next to cars
Caption on photo: McKay Messengers. In clean, white uniforms
getting new cars at Big Ford Plant just 2 blocks away.
|
circa 1929 |
| 1/5 | 23 |
Three men working on cars
Caption on photo: McKa-izing. By experts under personal
supervision of superintendent. Pre-conditioning.
|
circa 1929 |
| 1/5 | 24 |
Men and cars outside the Lincoln Service
Department
Caption on photo: Service cars. Insuring instant service to all
Ford owners day and night.
|
circa 1929 |
| 1/5 | 25 |
Men working on a row of automobiles
Caption on photo: McKa-izing. Our own process of pre-conditioning.
Your new Ford car "running in" with coal gas.
|
circa 1929 |
| 1/5 | 26 |
Man, possibly William O. McKay, shaking hands with man in
new truck
Caption on photo: Delivering the car. Personal service rendered by
Mr. O. McKay.
|
circa 1929 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Automobile dealers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
- Automobile industry and trade--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Automobile industry and trade--Washington (State)--Seattle--Employees--Photographs
- Automobile mechanics--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
- Automobile showrooms--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
- Automobiles--Washington (State)--Seattle--Maintenance and repair--Photographs
- Service stations--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
Personal Names
- McKay, William O.--Photographs
Corporate Names
- William O. McKay Company
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographs
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Tousley, E. S. (Elmer Hannah), 1901-1975 (creator)
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
