The Western Asbestos Company was at 675 Townsend, and Baker, Hamilton and Pacific was at 7th and Townsend.
The City Ice Company however was listed in Crocker and Langleys as being at 35 Kansas (Head Office?), with the refrigerator dept at 2445 16th.
Charles K Melrose was born in NJ in 1872,the 1940 census has him living at 231 Poplar Ave San Mateo CA, in a house valued at $15,000,
He lived there with his wife Dora, daughter Helen and a Finnish maid.
He was earning $50,000+ pa

I once worked in an ice plant in the early seventies. We made 300-pound blocks of ice that were processed in various ways. They were cut into smaller blocks. They were crushed for ice chests and ice cream makers. And we pulverized the blocks and blew them onto semi-truck trailers.

But we did not deliver.

A lot of progress was made in refrigeration in the 35 years that elapsed from the date of this picture and my experience in ice. A lot more has occurred up to today.

Cool picture.

Asbestos magnesia was a popular insulation of the times.

Make that eleven good looking trucks.