Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Stanley S. Sayres Photograph Collection, 1900s-1950s
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Sayres, Stanley S
- Title
- Stanley S. Sayres Photograph Collection
- Dates
- 1900s-1950s (inclusive)19001959
- Quantity
- 145 photographs (1 box and 1 oversize folder)
- Collection Number
- PH2017-045
- Summary
- Photographs of Sayres and the Slo-Mo-Shun hydroplane boats
- 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
-
No restrictions on access.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Stanley S. Sayres (1896-1956), the owner and driver of the hydroplane, moved to King County in 1932. He was in the automobile business heading the American Automobile Company, a Chrysler car dealership at 1001 Broadway in Seattle, and an auto parts store in the University District. Sayres also owned the Jen-Cel-Lite Corporation, a manufacturer of cold weather clothes. He became interested in speedboat racing in 1926 in Oregon, and his interest continued after he moved to King County, Washington. In 1949, Sayres built a 17-room home on the east side of Hunts Point near the point's north end (4450 Hunts Point Road), along with a boathouse for his hydroplanes. Hunts Point is on the east side of Lake Washington.
Sayres had owned and raced smaller boats, but he wanted to try for a world record. With this in mind, he commissioned Ted Jones to design the Slo-mo-shun IV and Jensen Motor Boat Company, at the north end of Seattle's Lake Union, to construct it. Jensen Motor Boat Company launched the 28-foot-long, 4,750-pound hydroplane in October 1949.
Driving his hydroplane, Slo-mo-shun IV , he established a world speed record (160.3235 mph) for hydroplanes on 06/26/1950.
- Information retrieved from Pacific Coast Architectural Database and History Link
Historical BackgroundReturn to Top
The Slo-mo-shun IV was King County's own. The owner, designer, builder, mechanics, and crew were Seattle and King County residents. The only parts of the hydroplane not constructed in Seattle were a surplus World War II airplane engine and the boat's propeller.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Photographs of Stanley Sayers family, hydroplanes Slo-Mo-Shun I-IV, and hydroplane racing
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Status of creator's copyrights is unknown; restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Users are responsible for researching copyright status before use. Contact University of Washington Libraries Special Collections for details.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1 | Stanley S. Sayres 10 photographs
Photographs of Sayres as a child and young man. A few photographs
of Sayres with automobiles.
|
1906-1927 |
| 1/2 | Stanley S. Sayres 16 photographs
Photographs of Sayres with hydroplanes and celebrating his
winnings.
|
1950s |
| 1/3 | Slo-Mo-Shun I 2 photographs
Photographs of Slo-Mo-Shun I
|
1930s |
| 1/4 | Slo-Mo-Shun III 8 photographs
Photographs of Slo-Mo-Shun III
|
1947-1950s |
| 1/5 | Slo-Mo-Shun IV
construction 16 photographs
Photographs of construction of Slo-Mo-Shun
IV
|
1940s |
| 1/6 | Slo-Mo-Shun IV and SSS 29 photographs
Photographs of Slo-Mo-Shun IV, its
christening in 1949, Sayres beating the world's hydroplane speed record in 1950
and the Gold Cup victory.
|
1949-1956 |
| 1/7 | Slo-Mo-Shun IV race 12 photographs
Photographs of Sayres and Slo-Mo-Shun
IV in action.
|
1950s |
| folder:oversize | ||
| OS | Slo-Mo-Shun IV and V 10 photographs
Photographs of Sayres, and Slo-Mo-Shun
IV and Slo-Mo-Shun V during their race.
|
1950s |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/8 | Slo-Mo-Shun V 11 photographs
Photographs of Sayres, the christening of Slo-Mo-Shun V in 1951, and the President's Cup victory.
|
1950s |
| 1/9 | Slo-Mo-Shun V race 14 photographs
Photographs of Sayres, Slo-Mo-Shun V
in action, other hydroplanes in the race, and the 1954 Gold Cup victory.
|
1950s |
| 1/10 | Crews and Celebration 12 photographs
Photographs of Sayres with crew members of Slo-Mo-Shun and celebrations after victory.
|
1950s |
| 1/11 | Miscellaneous 5 photographs
Photographs of race cars and site locations including Sayres's
home.
|
1950s |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Hydroplanes--Northwest, Pacific--Photographs
- Motorboat racing--Northwest, Pacific--Photographs
Personal Names
- Sayres, Stanley S. 1896-1956--Archives
- Sayres, Stanley S. 1896-1956--Photographs
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographs
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
