Alemite scale model floor plans
In the late 40’s you could actually send in your shop dimensions and needs to Alemite and they would supply you photographs of your layout with tiny model cabinets in place.
Notice how detailed the props are above. Down to the small Alemite Tool sign.
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.
All Alemite cabinet styles built from 1948-55
Rarely, if ever do we come across imagery that shows a compete line from any one company.
These beautiful images were all found in a revised February, 1949 Alemite “Atomic” catalog.
$274.50 for the tall cabinet set or $98.50 for the bench alone.
and the four different styles of oil bar benches…
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.
Early Alemite Wing Door Badge
After a long search, we have finally added this Alemite emblem to our collection. This one was attached to one of their first 1940 Merchandisers.
The badge is actually made of some kind of early plastic with a thin metal mounting plate. Surviving emblems are getting harder to find, as they are fragile after these 80 years.
Alemite and the Stewart Warner factory in Chicago
A look back; In 1924 Stewart Warner acquired the Alemite Corp. and moved them into their ever growing complex in Chicago.
In the 1950’s they had 6000 employees at this Stewart Warner location alone. The Lubrication division was located in the basement area.
In 1994 the plant at the Diversey Parkway was demolished after portions of the company were sold off and others moved their operations to Mexico.
Just before the demo, a group was sent in to salvage and one of them left with this unique narrow Alemite service cabinet.
I am intrigued that they still had 1950’s cabinets in use up into the 90’s.
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.
Walter E. Allen Chrysler Plymouth Dealership in OK
A Look back; 1947 images of an period Car Dealership and what sat inside their service area
Below is a image from an Ad from Weaver for their twin post lifts, showing 12 window-top Alemite benches
Here are a few more. Across two different service areas, that is at least 15 Alemite cabinets
Currently the city is attempting to bring this building back to how it appeared in the 40’s
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
