Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
PSF Industries, Inc. and PSF Mechanical, Inc. Records, 1900-2003
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- PSF Industries, Inc.; PSF Mechanical, Inc.
- Title
- PSF Industries, Inc. and PSF Mechanical, Inc. Records
- Dates
- 1900-2003 (inclusive)19002003
- Quantity
- 3 boxes, (1 linear foot)
- Collection Number
- 2004.27
- Summary
- Papers and photographs related to the first 100 years of the history of the two related companies PSF Industries, Inc. and PSF Mechanical, Inc.
- Repository
-
Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library
P.O. Box 80816
Seattle, WA
98108
Telephone: 2063241126 x102
library@mohai.org - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public by appointment.
- Languages
- English.
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Puget Sound Sheet Metal Works Company was founded in 1900 by Edward Hite, Robert S. Raven, and Joseph W. Callahan and incorporated in 1902 as Puget Sound Sheet Metal Works, Inc. (PSSMW) by Raven, Hite, and David Bowen. Bowen led the company until his death in 1944; his son Harry was also on the Board (eventually becoming president) until shortly before his death in 1956. PSSMW began as a sheet metal and roofing company, but over the course of its history the company was involved a wide variety of projects, including the manufacture of stainless steel brewing equipment beginning in the 1930s and special train cars to transport 747 parts. During World War I and World War II, the company produced war-related materials such as lifeboats and aircraft parts.
In its early years, PSSMW was located at 1328 Western Avenue (1900-1905), Railroad, Wall, and Elliot Avenues (1909-1918: in one building 1905-1909, and in a new building after the first one was destroyed by fire in 1909), and 3631 E. Marginal Way (1918-1945). During World War II, the company also established aircraft part manufacturing facilities at First Avenue S. and Spokane Street, and Airport Way and Hardy Street. In 1949 the company opened a new plant at 3670 E. Marginal Way after the old one was destroyed by fire.
After Harry Bowen’s resignation as president in 1955, his son-in-law Gordon Anderson became president and changed the company’s name to Puget Sound Fabricators, Inc (by that point, sheet metal was only a small percentage of PSF’s business). Although Anderson remained president, Bowen’s death in 1956 led to a struggle with Pacific National Bank for control of the company and financial problems during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Anderson regained control of PSF from the bank, but sold his shares in the company to Jim Beardsley shortly thereafter in 1964; Beardsley became president and majority owner. He established a new plant and offices at 65 S. Horton Street in 1965, which was followed by another name change to PSF Industries, Inc in 1967. In 1991, the mechanical contracting division became a separate company called PSF Mechanical, headed by Warren Beardsley. 1995 brought changes in company leadership as Jim Critchlow became president and CEO of PSFM and Stanley R. Miller purchased PSFI from Jim Beardsley.
(adapted from The First One Hundred Years: History of PSF Industries, Inc. and PSF Mechanical, Inc., by Nile Thompson)
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection documents the history of the companies known today as PSF Industries, Inc. and PSF Mechanical, Inc. These materials include records from this same body under three previous names: Puget Sound Sheet Metal Company (1900-1902), Puget Sound Sheet Metal Works, Inc. (1902-1955), and Puget Sound Fabricators, Inc. (1955-1966).
As a part of PSF’s one-hundredth anniversary celebrations, Nile Thompson wrote a history of the company from 1900-2000 entitled The First One Hundred Years: A History of PSF Industries, Inc. and PSF Mechanical, Inc. The PSF Industries, Inc. and PSF Mechanical, Inc. Records contain items assembled and used by Thompson in writing the history, as well as a copy of the book itself. The collection contains over 40 photographs of work done by PSF (including both finished projects and work in progress) as well as an album of photographs of PSSMW’s history prior to 1945, which depict life around the office and manufacturing plants as well as work completed (with series of photographs related to PSSMW during World War I and World War II). In addition to the photographs, the collection contains flyers and advertisements for PSF’s work, articles that reference the company, and company documents such as a bid book and a book of stock certificates (the majority of these items date from the first 60 years of the company’s history). The collection also contains 13 folders of notes and partial transcripts produced from oral history interviews with current and former PSF employees and owners (Nile Thompson conducted the interviews in the course of researching PSF’s history for The First One Hundred Years).
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
View selections from the collection in digital format by clicking on the camera icons in the inventory below.
Restrictions on Use
The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation
PSF Industries, Inc. and PSF Mechanical, Inc. Records, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Arranged in four series:
- Photograph Albums
- Photographs
- Research Materials
- Papers and Publications
Location of Collection
15a.2.6Location of Collection
VI.a.12Acquisition Information
Received from PSF Industries, Inc. and PSF Mechanical, Inc. on August 25, 2004.
Processing Note
The photograph album (2004.27.1) was disassembled in 2022 due to deterioration of the covers, and the photographs placed in order into archival folders.
Separated Materials
2 oversize calendars have been moved to the poster drawer.
Bibliography
Thompson, Nile. The First One Hundred Years: A History of PSF Industries, Inc. and PSF Mechanical, Inc. Seattle: Elton-Wood Publishing, 2002.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
PSF will be used here to indicate materials related to the companies currently known as PSF Industries, Inc. and PSF Mechanical, Inc. as well as all of their predecessors, PSSMW will be used with materials related to Puget Sound Sheet Metal Works Company and Puget Sound Sheet Metal Works, Inc. only, and PSFI and PSFM will be used for PSF Industries, Inc. and PSF Mechanical, Inc. respectively.Photograph Albums, 1900-1945Return to Top
Dudley, Roger ( photographer)1 album containing 71 photographs concerning PSSMW’s history. Some photographs are Dudley’s reprints of earlier photos (unknown creator).
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 1 | 2004.27.1: Puget Sound Sheet Metal Works photograph album |
1900-1945 |
| box/folder | ||
| 1/1 | 2004.27.1.1: David Bowen |
undated |
| 1/1 | 2004.27.1.2-.4: Pre-fire plant locations
|
1900-1909 |
| 1/1 | 2004.27.1.5-.8: Railroad Fire
|
1909 |
| 1/1-2 | 1909-1918 | |
| 1/2 | 1918-1945 | |
| 1/3 | 1918-1945 | |
| 1/2-5 | 2004.27.1.19-.20 and 2004.27.1.29-.52: Employees in street at Puget Sound Sheet Metal Works, East Marginal Way, Seattle, circa 1943 Employees working at Puget Sound Sheet Metal Works, Airport Way and Hardy Street, Seattle, circa 1943 Women working at Puget Sound Sheet Metal Works, Airport Way and Hardy Street, Seattle, circa 1943 |
1940-1945 |
| 1/6-8 | 2004.27.1.53-.71: Innovations developed by company to save time and labor |
undated |
Photographs, 1947-2003Return to Top
Black/white 8x10 photographs of work done by PSF except as noted.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/9 | 2004.27.2: PSFI Brewery tanks |
undated |
| 1/10 | 2004.27.3: PSFI Welding |
undated |
| 1/11 | 2004.27.4: PSFI Interior of brew kettle metal fabricating |
1975 |
| 1/12 | 2004.27.5: PSFI Two men in shop |
undated |
| 1/13 | 2004.27.6: PSFI Man welding in shop |
undated |
| 1/14 | 2004.27.7: PSFI |
undated |
| 1/15 | 2004.27.8: PSFI Man welding in shop |
undated |
| 1/16 | 2004.27.9: PSFI |
undated |
| 1/17 | 2004.27.10: PSFI Brewery tank |
undated |
| 1/18 | 2004.27.11: PSFI Three men welding on floor |
undated |
| 1/19 | 2004.27.12: PSFI |
undated |
| 1/20 | 2004.27.13: PSFI Man marking a board |
undated |
| 1/21 | 2004.27.14: PSFI Utility evaporator tank loaded on truck outside shop |
1973 |
| 1/22 | 2004.27.15: PSFM Sheet metal in shop |
undated |
| 1/23 | 2004.27.16: PSFM Duct work |
1982-1987 |
| 1/24 | 2004.27.17: PSFM Sheet metal |
undated |
| 1/25 | 2004.27.18: PSFM Metalwork & air conditioning, Internat’l House of Pancakes,
Sea-Tac Mall, Federal Way Washington |
mid-1970s |
| 1/26 | 2004.27.19: PSFM Metalwork & air conditioning, Lamonts, Sea-Tac Mall, Federal Way
Washington |
mid-1970s |
| 1/27 | 2004.27.20: PSFM Bronze work, University of Washington Admissions Building, Seattle
Washington |
1947-1949 |
| 1/28 | 2004.27.21: PSFM Industrial metalwork, Pacific First Federal Savings, Seattle
Washington |
mid-1970s |
| 1/29 | 2004.27.22: PSFM Industrial metalwork, St. James Cathedral, Seattle
Washington |
mid-1970s |
| 1/30 | 2004.27.23: PSFM industrial metalwork, Kent City Library, Kent Washington |
mid-1970s |
| 1/31 | 2004.27.24: PSFM Industrial metalwork, Nordstrom, Seattle Washington |
early 1970s |
| 1/32 | 2004.27.25: PSFM Duct work |
mid-1970s |
| 1/33 | 2004.27.26: PSFM Man working with sheet metal |
mid-1970s |
| 1/34 | 2004.27.27: Man working with sheet metal |
mid-1970s |
| 1/35 | 2004.27.28: Hand & sheet metal (detail) |
mid-1970s |
| 1/36 | 2004.27.29: Woman and man drafting |
mid-1970s |
| 1/37 | 2004.27.30: PSFI Interior with industrial metalwork |
undated |
| 1/38 | 2004.27.31: PSFI Tanks 3x5 black and white
|
undated |
| 1/39 | 2004.27.32: PSFI Industrial metalwork close-up |
undated |
| 1/40 | 2004.27.33: PSFI Cranes installing metalwork |
undated |
| 1/41 | 2004.27.34: PSFI Installation |
undated |
| 1/42 | 2004.27.35: PSFI Man & equipment in shop |
undated |
| 1/43 | 2004.27.36: PSFI Office & shop (exterior) |
undated |
| 1/44 | 2004.27.37: PSFM Staff at PSF First 100 Years Celebration
Color photograph
|
2003 March 8 |
| 1/45 | 2004.27.39: PSFM & PSFI retirees at PSF First 100 Years Celebration
Color photograph
|
2003 March 8 |
| 1/46 | 2004.27.39: PSF past & present owners at PSF First 100 Years
Celebration
Color photograph
|
2003 March 8 |
| 1/47 | 2004.27.40: Bowen family at PSF First 100 Years Celebration
Color photograph
|
2003 March 8 |
| 3/10 | 2004.27.60: Bob Burd, PSF employee
Color laser print
|
undated |
| 3/14 | 2004.27.64: PSF tanks installed at Olympia Brewery 2 photocopied photographs
|
1966-1967 |
| 3/16 | 2004.27.66: Christmas lunch at Construction Division’s new offices
Small Polaroid snapshot
|
1975 December |
| 3/22 | 2004.27.72: Job site 5 photographs
|
undated |
| 3/25 | 2004.27.75: New heat exchanger, Asarco smelter installation, El Paso, Texas
Color photograph
|
1996 |
Research Materials, 2000-2002Return to Top
Materials related to The First One Hundred Years
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
Oral History Interviews
Field notes and partial tape transcriptions of oral history interviews conducted by Nile Thompson.
Arranged in alphabetical order by interviewee's last name.
|
2000-2001 | |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/3 | Greg Beardsley |
2000 July 25 |
| 2/4 | Jim Beardsley
9 interviews
|
2000 June 6 – 2001 October 22 |
| 2/5 | Warren Beardsley |
2000 July 11 |
| 2/6 | Bill Bisyak |
2001 January 23 |
| 2/7 | Bob Burd
2 interviews
|
2000 June 1, ; 2000 June 5 |
| 2/8 | Tim Burns |
2001 July 11 |
| 2/9 | Dorothy Buzzard |
2000 June 27 |
| 2/10 | Virginia Caley |
2000 June 26 |
| 2/11 | Jim Clark
2 interviews
|
2000 June 22, ; 2001 May 30 |
| 2/12 | Jim Critchlow
2 interviews
|
2000 July 11, ; 2001 June 1 |
| 2/13 | Harry Diehm
2 interviews
|
2000 June 26, ; 2000 July 10 |
| Box | ||
| 2 | Copy of
The First One Hundred Years by Nile Thompson |
2002 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/24 | Early working draft of chapter 24 of
The First One Hundred Years by Nile Thompson and related
materials |
circa 2001 |
Papers and Publications, 1900-2001Return to Top
Includes flyers and advertisements for PSF’s work, articles that reference the company, and company papers such as a bid book and a book of stock certificates.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/1 | Company bid book |
1931-1936 |
| 2/2 | Original stock certificate book (certificates 1-46) |
1902-1907 |
| 2/21 | PSF Industries brochures 5 brochures
|
1975-2000 |
| 2/22 | Puget Sound Sheet Metal Works brochure
8-page color brochure
|
undated |
| 2/23 | PSF Mechanical brochures with list of company projects & business
card for James D. Critchlow, VP/General Manager 2 brochures
|
circa 1990, ; circa 2000 |
| 2/24 | PSF building & equipment sale flyer |
1963 |
| 2/25 | PSFM quarterly newsletters 7 newsletters
|
2001-2003 |
| 2/26 | PSFI quarterly newsletters 2 newsletters
|
1999-2000 |
| 3/1 | PSFI “Qualification Book” submitted to BP Amoco Oil Company
Book contains scanned photos of site installations
|
1999 April 26 |
PSFM project specifications |
circa 2000 | |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/2 | DeVry Technical College (Federal Way, Washington) |
circa 2000 |
| 3/2 | 1700 7th Ave (Seattle, Washington) |
circa 2000 |
| 3/2 | Capital One Processing Center (Federal Way, Washington) |
circa 2000 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/3 | Corporate minutes, notes, & clippings from PSSMW
Photocopies
|
1941-1955 |
| 3/4 | PSF general ledger |
1953-1956 |
| 3/5 | PSF private ledger |
1957 December 31 |
| 3/6 |
Daily Journal of Commerce article, “Sheet Metal Firm Acquires Site for
Expansion” |
1946 October 28 |
Articles of Incorporation
Photocopies
|
1901-1902 | |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/7 | Puget Sound Roofing & Refining Co |
1901 May 25 |
| 3/7 | PSSMW |
1902 March 28 |
PSFI Letters of Compliment 5 letters
Photocopies
|
1976-1987 | |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/8 | Weyerhaeuser (Springfield, Oregon) |
1984 February 17 |
| 3/8 | Union Carbide Corporation (Magna, Utah) |
1986 December 12 |
| 3/8 | Western Kraft Paper Group (Salem, Oregon) |
1976 March 18 |
| 3/8 | Pope & Talbot, Inc. (Portland, Oregon) |
1985 November 15 |
| 3/8 | Boise Cascade Paper Group (St. Helens, Oregon) |
1987 February 3 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/9 | PSFI birthday log |
1971 December |
| 3/11 | “A Tank Farm on a Roof” by George T. Dexter & William T.
Hamilton
Article reprint from
Brewer’s Digest
|
1973 August |
| 3/12 | PSFI hire/termination log |
circa 1997 |
| 3/13 | Average labor/hour: sheet metal vs. boilermakers |
1938-1957 |
| 3/15 | Newspaper clippings about PSFI special 747 railroad cars 3 photocopied clippings
|
1967 |
Company histories
Written by/based on drafts by George Taylor
|
1907-1997 | |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/16 | From
King County and its Emerald City, Seattle
|
1997 |
| 3/16 | From unknown book |
undated |
| 3/16 | From
Sketches of Washingtonians
|
1907 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/18 | Newspaper articles 6 photocopies, 9 originals
|
1961-1973 |
PSFM employee documents |
2000 | |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/19 | Office Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual |
2000 June 15 |
| 3/19 | Employee’s Expense Report (blank) |
undated |
| 3/19 | Personal History & Hire Record (blank) |
undated |
PSFM management documents |
undated | |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/20 | Quotation form/terms & conditions on reverse |
undated |
| 3/20 | Company letterhead (blank) |
undated |
| 3/20 | Business card: Marsha L. Stubbins, Office Manager |
undated |
| 3/20 | Job expenditures tracking form |
undated |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/21 | PSFM flyer on HVAC design, fabrication & installation 2 copies
1 copy from when Mechanical Design Division was part of PSFI; 1 copy with taped on new name, logo, &
address for PSFM
|
circa 1991 |
| 3/23 | PSSMW Time book |
1919-1922 |
| 3/26 | Article from Wilhelm Trucking Co. Newsletter about installation of PSF
brew kettle
Original pasted to cardstock
|
1970 |
| 3/27 | PSFI 75th anniversary invitation and guest list |
1975 November 1 |
| 3/28 | Seattle Business magazine (articles on Seattle’s business
pioneers) |
1976 August 9 |
| 3/29 | Articles from business publications |
1970 |
| drawer | ||
| VIa.12 | PSFI calendars 2 calendars
|
2000, ; 2001 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Industrial facilities--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Metallurgical industry--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Oral History--Washington (State)--Seattle
- PSF Industries, Inc. -- History
- PSF Mechanical, Inc. -- History
- Puget Sound Sheet Metal Works -- History
Corporate Names
- PSF Industries, Inc.
- PSF Mechanical, Inc.
Geographical Names
- Seattle (Wash.)
Form or Genre Terms
- Photograph albums
- Photographic prints
Other Creators
-
Corporate Names
- Puget Sound Sheet Metal Works (creator)
Finding aid prepared by Madeline Mundt
2007
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
