Rarely Seen Graco Cabinet Variations

Here are a few Merchandisers that Graco produced that don’t show up very often these days. Starting with this complete example of their Wall Luber, found in Belgium.

This red unit is one of the Service cabinets speciality built for the Graco Service departments. Used to repair their own products.

This Oil Bar was a stand-alone model without the side cabinets.

And how about this cabinet and wall surround configuration. Only one we have seen in this layout.

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.

Graco Differences

Thru the years Graco made some very subtle tweaks to their Merchandisers. They are the only manufacturer to have this long of a production run and keep their Work Stations unchanged.

Here are two different ID plates; displaying the change from ‘47 to ‘48

The most common version of this bench came with lower square handles and this round bucket parts-washer.

In some of the later model Graco’s, the washing bin was a bowl shape, and the lower bench had a simple round pull knobs present.

About half of the models have an electrical plug on the back tool-board as well as the right side of the lower bench

Recently we found out that these Oil Bar benches, with the drain in them, were 4 inches less deep than the standard merchandiser benches

Work Stations with repurposed Workbenches

We all know that finding the original desk for a Workbench can be quite a task at times. Here are some cabinets with creative solutions for replacement workbenches.

Lincoln with a 60’s Shure bench

Kent-Moore’s with a proper width desk. Bonus; You could actually use these with a chair.

How about a Lincoln with a toolbox and a fridge?

Shure with a Bear Telaliner cabinet and one with a kitchen counter

Three Alemite’s with desks in place

 
 

This might be my favorite repurposing of a bench. A Youngstown kitchen sink cabinet, with a top added to it, makes a nice fitting workbench for this Lincoln.

Graco "Gray Co" History

A look back; Founded in 1926 by the Gray brothers in Minnesota, Gray Company Inc.’s goal was to produce efficient and specialized automotive service lubricating equipment. It wasn’t until the late 40’s that industrial paint spraying was established.

A wonderful image of a 1938 Graco wall luber and a motor vitalizer being pulled by a Minneapolis-Moline tractor.

The Graco headquarters has a small museum showcasing some restored pieces from the early 1940’s

With help from the company, we have most of the Graco catalogs from the late 30’s through the 50’s. If you are looking for info on a specific piece, please feel free to reach out.

 

* All historical photos supplied by the Graco archives group

 

Did Dealerships lean towards certain brands of Workbenches?

We often get asked if Chevrolet or other makers carried a specific brand of Merchandisers.

From our findings; Kent-Moore’s were utilized in many Nash Dealerships.

While Shure Workbenches were used in some Ford and Buick service departments. Also they seem to have had a deal with many Shell Stations.

And Graco’s look to show up in more Caddilac bays than other makers.

That being said, we have seen many of the different brands Work Stations in different makers Dealerships over the years. Alemite’s and Lincoln’s are often mixed in with other brands.

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.

Largest and Smallest mechanics Workstations / Cabinets

Looking though our archive images, we thought it would be interesting to share some of biggest and tiniest cabinets we have seen to date.

First up is this huge double Lincoln lubrication surround, out of Raymond Ford in Ohio. Measuring in at 14 feet tall and over 26 feet long.

Also up there in the Large category is this 21 foot long custom cabinet out of a Studebaker dealership in Montana…

and a large cabinet built by Graco.

On the Smaller side, here is a short Lincoln storage cabinet.

30 inches wide, by 41” tall, and 15” deep.

Alemite and Shure also produced some pretty small cabinets…

 
 

but nothing quite this tiny.

Below are custom 3d printed workbenches by “Improbable Garage”.

 
 

Inspired by Alemite styling, they are producing these 1/64 scale cabinets. You can see these and their other products on Ebay at this link.

Workbenches in unique color schemes

Here are some fun color ways we have seen over the years

and here are 2 Texaco themed benches with a lot going on

1948 All Original Graco has a new home

We recently sold off this complete Merchandiser.

It is still one of three Graco’s we have seen with the original, beveled, dealer glass intact.  In this original state, it went off to become a display in a private collection.

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A complete Lube gun set went along with it.

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