Posey Manufacturing Company plant interior with worker 11/1940 #17708_1
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Photograph Copyright Anderson & Middleton Company
United States Washington (State) Hoquiam
Posey Manufacturing Co.
After its 1909 move to Hoquiam from Los Angeles, the Posey Manufacturing Company plant at the foot of Ontario St. supplied piano makers around the world with high quality soundboards made from locally harvested Sitka Spruce. Company founder V.G. Posey claimed that Hoquiam was "the ideal location, in the midst of the finest sound board spruce in the world."
While piano components were the company's specialty, spruce parts for harpsichords, dulcimers, guitars, violins, toys and airplanes were also made.
A trade publication from 1991 noted that "Many millions of feet of Sitka Spruce in an aircraft grade have been supplied as airplane spars, cap strip, and other airplane parts, because of the high strength ratio to its weight." In fact, the wing spars for Charles Lindbergh's SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS were made from Sitka Spruce supplied by the Posey Manufacturing Co.