Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library
5933 6th Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98108
Phone: 206-324-1126
URL: http://www.mohai.org
2007.4
Pacific Marine Supply Company
Pacific Marine Supply Company Records
circa 1900-1966,
circa 1980
1.65 cubic feet
3 boxes, includes 50 photographs
The Pacific Marine Supply Company Records comprise photographs, catalogs and
brochures relating to the Pacific Net and Twine Company, later renamed Pacific Marine Supply Company. Also included in
the collection are records relating to Pacific Marine Schwabacher Inc., catalogs for Schwabacher Hardware and a catalog
for Seattle Marine and Fishing Supply.
15a.2.5 (oversize Box 2)
15a.2.8 (Boxes 1 and 3) Collection materials are in
English.
Historical Note
Pacific Net and Twine Company was founded in 1897 by Scottish immigrants Edward Cunningham and D.B. McBride.
The business was originally limited to selling netting and twine and was run out of a basement. The company moved to
First Avenue and Jackson Street in Seattle, Washington, before moving operations to Pier 6 on Seattle’s waterfront in
1904. In 1913 the company moved again, this time to Pier 8 and added a complete marine department, which supplied the
Puget Sound and Alaskan fishing industries. In 1919 the company moved once more, this time to it’s own building at 1223
Western Avenue in Seattle. A subsidiary of the company, Pacific Fishing and Trading Company, retained facilities on
Pier 8. In 1927 the company changed its name to Pacific Marine Supply Company.
By 1966 the company had changed its name once more to Pacific Marine Schwabacher Inc. Pacific Marine Supply
may have merged with the Schwabacher Company, or been bought out. Around 1967 the former headquarters of Pacific Marine
Supply at 1223 Western Avenue became a branch office for Pacific Marine Schwabacher Inc. Pacific Marine Schwabacher
Inc. dropped from Seattle listings in the mid-1980s.
The Pacific Marine Supply Company Records are mostly comprised of black and white photographs of the company
headquarters at its various locations, as well as interior photos of store showrooms and equipment displays. Also
included are photographs of both the company founder Edward Cunningham and former company vice-president Bob Ladd.
The collection also contains some company publications, as well as product catalogs for Pacific Net and Twine
Company, Pacific Marine Supply Company, Schwabacher Hardware Company and Seattle Marine and Fishing Supply.
The collection is arranged into seven series as follows:
- Series 1: Early years of Pacific Net and Twine Company, circa 1900-1919
- Series 2: Pacific Net and Twine Co. at 1223 Western Avenue, September 1918- circa 1940s, 1980
- Series 3: Interior Photographs of Storeroom, undated
- Series 4: Exhibits and Displays, 1922-1926, undated
- Series 5: Founder Edward Cunningham and Vice President Robert Ladd, undated, circa 1980
- Series 6: Publications, circa 1920s-1966
- Series 7: Product catalogs, 1951, 1957, undated
View selections from the collection in digital format by clicking on the camera icons in the inventory
below.
The collection is open to the public by appointment.
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.
Pacific Marine Supply Company Records, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Source: Bob Ladd, February 8, 2007
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials
about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
Cunningham, Edward
Ladd, Robert
Schwabacher Hardware Co. (Seattle,
Wash.)
Seattle (Wash.)
Ship chandlers--Washington (State)--Seattle
Cordage industry--Washington (State)--Seattle
Piers--Washington (State)--Seattle
Ships--Equipment and supplies
Fishing and Canning
Retail Trade
Photographs
Photographic prints
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Series 1: Early years of Pacific Net and Twine Company
circa 1900-1919
19 photographs
Arranged chronologically
.1
1/1
Storefront of Lipsett Cunningham and Co. Prince Rupert, B.C.
circa 1900
.2-.3
1/2-3
Storefront of Pacific Net and Twine Co. at 1st and Jackson
circa 1900
.4-.5
1/4-5
Storefront of Pacific Net and Twine Co. with “4 masted bark” docked in
foreground.
circa 1906
The picture was probably taken at Pier 6.
.6-.7
1/6-7
Pier 6 viewed from the side, with Pacific Net and Twine sign and boats in
the foreground
Muirhead Photo
1909
.8
1/8
Storefront of Pacific Net and Twine Co. at Pier 6.
circa 1910
Also pictured are cars and horse-drawn carriages parked out front.
.9
1/9
Pacific Net and Twine Delivery Truck at Pier 6.
circa 1910
Truck is labeled “Pacific Net and Twine Co. Western and University”
.10-.11
1/10-11
Pier 6 viewed from the side, with Pacific Net and Twine sign and boats in
the foreground
Muirhead Photo
1910
.12
1/12
Pacific Net and Twine Co. storefront at Pier 8.
circa 1915
Also pictured are docked ships and railroad lines. Ships shown are typical fishing vessels which
headquartered at the dock(from caption on back).
.13
1/13
View of Pier 8 from the side, with docked ships in foreground
circa 1915
Pacific Net and Twine sign is also visible.
.14-.15
1/14-15
Pacific Net and Twine Co. storefront at Pier 8 looking west.
circa 1915
Pier is viewed from a pedestrian walkway.
.16
1/16
Pacific Marine Supply Co. storefront at Pier 8
Webster & Stevens
circa 1927
Also visible are train tracks and electrical lines.
.17
1/17
Storefront of Pacific Net and Twine Co. at Pier 8
circa 1915
.18
1/18
View of Pier 8 from the side, with docked ships in foreground
March 1917
Pacific Net and Twine sign is also visible.
.19
1/19
Pacific Net and Twine Co. storefront at Pier 8 viewed from the
side
1919 May 28
Also pictured are parked cars, buildings, and Smith tower in distance.
Series 2: Pacific Net and Twine Co. at 1223 Western Avenue
September 1918- circa 1940s, 1980
Six photographs
Arranged chronologically
.20
1/20
Construction of Pacific Net and Twine building at 1223 Western
Avenue
1918 August 21
.21
1/21
Construction of Pacific Net and Twine building at 1223 Western
Avenue
1918 September 14
.22
1/22
Construction of Pacific Net and Twine building at 1223 Western
Avenue
circa 1918
.23
1/23
Pacific Net and Twine building at 1223 Western Avenue
Half tone print
circa 1920
.24
1/24
Pacific Marine Supply Co. building at 1223 Western Avenue
circa 1940
.25
1/25
Ribbon “In Memory of Pacific Marine Supply Co., 1897-1964”
1980 August 14
Series 3: Storeroom interiors
undated
16 photographs
.26
2/26
Marine internal combustion engines display
undated
oversize
.27
2/27
Marine equipment display
Webster & Stevens
undated
oversize
.28
1/28
Marine equipment display
undated
Webster & Stevens
Same image as .27 in smaller size.
.29
2/29
Store with dry goods, food items and people
undated
oversize
.30
2/30
Storage room with boxes and barrels
undated
oversize
.31
2/31
Storage room with bales
undated
oversize
.32
1/32
Workroom with nets and equipment
undated
.33
1/33
Machine shop
undated
Webster & Stevens
.34
1/34
Workroom or shipping department
undated
.35
1/35
Marine engines display
undated
Walter P. Miller
.36
1/36
Outboard engines and supplies display
undated
Walter P. Miller
.37
1/37
Marine engines and supplies
undated
.38-.39
1/38-39
Marine equipment display
undated
Walter P. Miller
.40
1/40
Marine equipment display
undated
.41
1/41
Pacific Net and Twine Co. storeroom
undated
Series 4: Exhibits and displays
1922-1926, undated
Four photographs
.42
1/42
Pacific Net and Twine Co. marine equipment display at Seattle Merchants
Exhibit
1922 Summer
Nowell, Frank H., 1864-1950
.43
1/43
Pacific Net and Twine Co. marine equipment display at Seattle Merchants
Exhibit
1923 Summer
.44
1/44
Pacific Net and Twine Co. marine equipment display at Green Lake Sports
Show
Walter P. Miller
1926
.45
1/45
Pacific Marine Supply Co. marine equipment display at an
exposition
undated
Walter P. Miller
Series 5: Founder Edward Cunningham and Vice President Robert
Ladd
undated, circa 1980
Six photographs
.46
1/46
Company founder Edward Cunningham
undated
.47
1/47
Company Founder Edward Cunningham (?)
undated
Graphic Photo Company
.48-.50
1/48-50
Rotary member and Bob Ladd at a microphone
circa 1980
Grady and Jentoft
.51
1/51
Robert Ladd shaking hands with Ronald Reagan
circa 1980
Dan Evans and others also appear in photo.
Series 6: Publications
circa 1920s-1966
3 publications
Arranged chronologically
.52
1/52
Pacific Net and Twine Co. investment brochure
circa 1920
.53
1/53
Pacific Marine Supply Co. article entitled “Our First 60
Years”
circa 1957
Article originally written for
Boating Industry.
.54
1/54
Pacific Marine 66 brochure
1966
Distributed by Pacific Marine Schwabacher Inc.
Series 7: Product Catalogs
1951, 1957, undated
Seven catalogs
.55
3
Pacific Net and Twine Co. General Catalog No. 5
undated
Catalog has some water/mildew damage.
.56
3
Pacific Marine Supply Co. General Catalog 17
1951
.57
3
Schwabacher Hardware Co. Special Catalog No. 2
undated
Many pages of the catalog have been pasted over or cut out.
.58
3
Schwabacher Hardware Co. Special Catalog No. 1
undated
Catalog has some water damage.
.59
3
Schwabacher Hardware Co. Catalog no. 18
undated
.60
3
Schwabacher Hardware Co. Catalog Nos. 22, 23
1957
.61
1/61
Seattle Marine and Fishing Supply Rope and Twine Catalog
undated