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This facility, founded by the local steel magnate, William Pigott (1860-1929), replaced a plant that burned in the Youngstown neighborhood of Seattle, WA, 08/12/1907. Soon after the fire in the summer of 1907, Pigott obtained 120 acres of land in Renton, WA, and started building a an improved manufacturing plant. The new Renton plant opened on 02/01/1908. In 1911, this expanded facility became known as Seattle Car and Foundry. Subsequently, it changed its name to Pacific Car and Foundry (1917) after a turbulent merger with the Portland, OR, railcar manufacturer, Twohy Brothers Company (owned by Judge John C. Twohy [1854-1927] and his sons, John D. [1885-1930] and James F. [1889-1976]). This firm later renamed itself, "PACCAR" in 1972. During World War II, the Pacific Car and Foundry Company facilities in Renton produced 926 M-4 Sherman Tanks and additional tank recovery vehicles for the U.S. Army. In 2007, PACCAR, owned 100-acres in Renton, WA, accommodating a Kenworth Truck manufacturing plant, a distribution center, and the PACCAR Parts Division. The Pigott Family still controlled PACCAR in 2007, with Charles McGee Pigott (born 1929) operating as President (1965-1968) and Chief Executive Officer (1968-1997) and his son, Mark C. Pigott (born 1954), taking over as CEO from 1997-present.

Historian David Vilma has stated that the owner of the Seattle Car Company, William Pigott (1860-1929), had a strong moral code underlying his business conduct. Vilma wrote: "Pigott felt his highest calling was in providing jobs. He asserted, 'The greatest contribution to humanity is the opportunity afforded another to become actively engaged in lucrative employment.' He pushed a strong code of principles for business conduct, which he felt was the best defense against government regulation. His steel mill was the first in the country to offer workers an eight-hour day." The battle over the imposition of an eight-hour workday was a long one dating back into the 19th century, with many corporate owners regarding it as an onerous governmental intrusion in business affairs. Legislative efforts to limit labor shifts to 8 hours increased dramatically in the 1910s; the State of Washington, for example, passed an 8-hour day for female workers in all industries (except fisheries and canneries) on 03/02/1911. Another major hurdle was passed when the US Supreme Court ruled it constitutional that the Federal Government could set work-day hours for "...employees of carriers engaged in interstate and foreign commerce [most notably railroads], and for other purposes." (Wilson v. New, 243 U.S. 332 [1917].)

PCAD id: 9052