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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)
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.
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Historical Note

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)

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Content Description

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).

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Use of the Collection

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

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged in four series:

  • Photograph Albums
  • Photographs
  • Research Materials
  • Papers and Publications

Location of Collection

15a.2.6

Location of Collection

VI.a.12

Acquisition 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.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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.

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

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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