ARO Workbenches and their Different Styles

In 1948 ARO introduced this box top work station, that was built off of a Lincoln bench.

They complemented their portable lubrication line, but sadly only lasted a few years.

Sometime after 1950, they changed the side cabinet style to this round, short top, and added on a taller middle section and different marquee. You can see the Lincoln lower bench still being used.

By the mid 50’s the company was no longer putting out their own cabinets, but attaching their badges on Shure workbenches, with added reels underneath.

Mystery Cabinets - Can you ID them?

Here are a few unknown cabinets we wanted to share. If you have thoughts as to what they are or a manufacturer, please reach out to us.

First up are these two below Lubrication Ad wall units. The left one has an Alemite next to it but the unit isn’t from their line. The right one has ARO gear but a very cool Zephyr display shelf.

I haven’t found any maker close to the look or trim on this unique red service cabinet. There is no id plate on this unit.

This 1944 image from a Vancouver Dealership has always interested us. The handles and cabinets look like kitchen equipment.

The below image is also from the same repair shop, and it appears that they repurposed other household cabenitry behind this gentleman.

 
 

We know this strange red, horizontal opening cabinet was built by Kent-Moore, but what is it used for?

This last image has some cool vertical work stations with illuminated departmental signage.

Merchandiser Catalog Front Pages

A collection of all the main Workbench manufactures catalog front/ad pages. Recently, I found this Lincoln Engineering pamphlet from 1947, of all places for sale on Etsy.

Almost all of the companies referred to their work station cabinet units as Service Merchandisers, outside of Alemite and Balcrank.

Original 40's - 50's Merchandiser Prices

Here are some of the original prices for these Work Stations over the years.

First Alemite, 1940 - $199.00

 
 

Balcrank Workbench, 1940 - $216.50

Kent-Moore Cabinet, 1940 - $135.50 in Michigan or $160.50 to Oakland, CA

 
 

ARO Merchandiser, 1948 - $265.00

Later Alemite, 1949 - $274.50

 
 

Sioux Valve Service Bench, 1949 - $395.00

Latest Kent-Moore, 1950 - $210.00

 
 

Lincoln Short Merchandiser and Cart, 1953 - $360.00

Workbench Oddities

Here are some Work Station cabinets with unique details that we have not seen very often.

First up is this very early Kent-Moore with and extra back surround detail and lots of trim.

Next is this narrow Kent-Moore. We have not seen many built in this style without their side cabinets.

Could this one on the right be a Kent-Moore Oil Bar? Although this option is not listed in their early 40’s catalogs.

Here is a Shure one sided cabinet bench. The end cap is something new to us.

A Graco wall surround with just cabinets.

These Visualiner cabinets have been reworked into stand-alone smaller cabinets.

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Finally, here is a Work Station that never actually existed. The Artist for this ARO ad was probably worried about showing a Alemite Bench in the final print, so they modified its trim and window placement.

The ARO service merchandiser

With only two pictures of their elusive work stations, this ARO cabinet may be one of the more rare units out there.

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Possessing an indented single stainless trim piece across the top of the cabinets and a study center bench, the ARO merchandiser appears to be able to take a variety of different center sections. Much of the benches details, like hinges, handles and proportions, tend to have me believe that they may have been built out of surplus Lincoln Engineering units. We have not seen the rectangular ARO emblem until January 1948 and after, so that is the best gauge of when these cabinets would have been manufactured.

If you have one of these workbenches, please reach out to us.

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1949 Buick Lubricare photo ad

Update

Here is a ARO bench with a different style to the top of the cabinets.

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