New Work Station found in Canada

Strong’s Garage is a repair shop in Bruderheim, Alberta. The two gentlemen specialize in historic vehicles and use some equipment that predates the 50’s. Also in use is this unique merchandiser.

Consisting of a wide edge, reinforced work top, narrow side cabinets w/ piano hinges, a rolled pull-down door, many shelves and flat edged outer corners, this cabinet is special.

A few of the details look similar to Sioux Tools workstations, but based off of the construction we believe this unit was most likely scratch-built by a local company for its original dealership.

The owner added on the Model A shift knob handles. The original back panel was a solid metal, horizontal ribbed section like the Sioux’s have. We really like the roller door, sign placement, and recessed kick plate under the bench.

These guys have an AMAZING YouTube channel documenting some of their work, and we highly suggest checking it out:

Strong's Garage on YouTube


So happy to see these gentlemen utilizing this vintage cabinet in their shop!

Cabinets that look like they belong with Merchandisers

These light-up back cabinets appear like they may be part of some long lost workbench, but they are actually part of a self-service ice cream cabinet from the 50’s. It looks as though a few different models were built by, companies like Schaefer, Coldin, Nelson, and Savage.

Another display cabinet with styling that could easily put it in with Lincoln’s and Alemite’s is this Smith’s welding supply cabinet.

 
 

I really like the curves and trim on these, but they are getting harder to find.

Another similar cabinet is this Westinghouse roaster. The one on the right is has been customized to actually go with a Work Station.

Workbenches we have never seen photos of

Over the years, these are the two Merchandisers that we have been unable to find any real-world images of. Anyone out there seen one?

The 1940 Balcrank Service Salesman

And the 1946 AMPCO Mechanic’s Bench, from Amarillo TX

 
 

Also, here is an early styling Lincoln lube cabinet that we have yet to see.

Alemite's in use with Test equipment

Sun Equipment and other test units show up in many old dealership images, and these have some nice Alemite cabinets along with them.

Here is an interesting article about preventing shop fires, drawn over an early Alemite.

Service benches of unknown origin

Here are few work stations and cabinets I have been unable to identify to date. Any images spark thoughts, I would be excited to hear them.

A large service desk that says Kent-Moore to me, but I have yet to confirm.
update: Found a new image of this bench, and it is a Kent-Moore

A unique Chevrolet Motor Clinic wall cabinet? The last work station looks to have possibly been scratch-built from kitchen cabinets…

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.

1930's Mystery Wooden Mechanics Workbench

This metal wrapped, wooden workbench surfaced up near the Great Lakes. As it has no manufacturer tag attached, we are currently unable to identify its maker. We assume it to be from the 1930’s based off of its solid wood construction, and the type of metal rolled details on its sides.

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There is a small metal tag attached, but the mystery still continues…

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This same bench with a new paint job and some antique Snap-on tools. Beautiful!

Here is another very early wooden Body Shop desk and a Mechanics rolling tool cabinet

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Other Companies that may have produced Merchandisers

In our many searches and discussions with experts like Jack Sim, a few other manufacturers names have come up that may have built work station cabinets over the years. We have yet to confirm any of these, but would love to hear if anyone out there has any proof that workbenches were offered by these Companies.

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Gilbarco offered these lube wall battery cabinets. We could totally see them producing a similar bench with cabinets.

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Air-Boy supplied a line of lubrication benches. We are looking for more info on this company.

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The Grover Mfg. Co. built a line of Lubrication equipment and is still in business today. As always, we are continually searching to confirm if they ever built a work station to accompany their Lube Units.

 
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U.S. Air Compressor Company

In the late 40’s U.S. Compressor built a line of lubrication equipment and possibly a merchandiser.

 
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We have yet to find a full workbench, but have not given up searching to see if the company actually produced one.

The Elusive Borroughs Workbench

A friend of the website shared these images with us of a rare Borroughs merchandiser.

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The Borroughs Manufactuing Company still produces cabinets and commercial shelving today. These pictures are of the only surviving specimen we have seen to date.

Above is a original photo of two Borroughs units in use at a Pontiac dealership in Pittsburg.

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