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.
Kent-Moore Emblems
We finally got our hands on a NOS emblem for a 1945 and above Merchandiser. These badges don’t fair well over the years, and we had yet to see what the true red color was til now.
Many of the emblems we see look discolored and worn away like the one on the right.
This is the best example we have seen of the the early 1940-45 Kent-Moore Orgination badge.
1950 Kent-Moore round top Workbenches
This Kent-Moore made its debut starting in Febuary of ‘50.
Built for at least three years; there was two configurations of this low style merchandiser. One with the side cabinets and another with just the rounded end caps instead.
This modular design and the one style of a right hand swing cabinet, allowed the company to offer these two models without building many extra components.
Workstations in use at dealerships
I cannot get enough of these black and white photos of benches in their original garages.
At lease 4 Shure Lowboy merchandisers in this service department.
A rare sight of Kent-Moore turrets combined with their 6ft 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.
To use that workbench or not?
Of course the question may come up;
Do you use that old merchandiser as a daily shop bench or not?
Some workbenches may be repurposed as interior home furniture or even too pretty to put tools on. But I personally love seeing these work stations being in use like they were in the 40’s.
This above shop in Kansas is using their three Alemites daily.
and here is one of my more rare benches that still gets utilized
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
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.
Merchandisers used as Bars and TV cabinets
Here are some images of alternate uses for these workbenches
Kent-Moore Workbenches in Newspapers and Articles
Here are a few additional Kent-Moore Merchandiser images from the 1940’s
These early Work Stations were the first to be offered with a top light-up department glass window. Almost every other company followed suit by the late 40’s.
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.
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.
Recreating Logos and Factory Stickers
For many years we have wondered what this Kent-Moore badge may have looked like up close.
With the above image, of a partial original decal, we have created a graphic close to what would have been attached to 1940-46 benches.
Here is a early 1940’s Alemite logo we cleaned up from a military toolbox.
The Historical Literature Collection
We are always hunting for Manufactures catalogs as well as original Ads.
Welcoming 2020
Happy New Year to all!
All of these work stations are now 80 years old.
A Collection of Workbench Emblems
We have been acquiring these Merchandiser Badges over the years and are now getting them scanned, so we can 3D print new metal reproductions.
Coming soon …
The Unique "Under-Window" Merchandiser Cabinets
Most of the major manufacturers offered these lower style work benches to their consumers.
The quantities must of been very low as most of these benches are quite scarce.
Custom Car Dealership or Oil Company Emblems for Workbenches
Alemite Window-Top model emblems
