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

Shure Mfg. Variations

Here are a few Shure Workbench variations that we don’t see very often.

This cabinet has the rare four piece pull-down center door. Very few work stations had this add-on! It would have been a custom request from the factory.

 
 

Next up are these black square handles. They seem to be on later model Shure’s and to date we have only seen a few merchandisers with these present.

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.

Cheapest vs Most Expensive Merchandisers we have seen

Throughout the years we have seen many varying prices on Workbenches. We thought we would share some on both ends of the price spectrum.

We have seen beat cabinets listed for sale for a hundred dollars, but this complete, original paint Lincoln, was amazingly only $175.

 
 

On the highest side; this same style Lincoln (below) was listed on Hemmings a couple years ago for $36,000.

Visualiner Background Specs

The Michigan built John Bean Visualiner cabinets were used in conjunction with their projectors for precise wheel alignment.

 
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Here are most of the different possible configurations John Bean offered in these cabinets.

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.

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.

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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.

Lincoln Merchandisers being used in the 40's

We enjoy discovering old newspaper ads and articles showing these workbenches in their original service departments. Here are some unshared Lincoln’s in glorious black and white.

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.

New Work Station found; The 1946 AMPCO Bench

The ad is from November 1946 and I found it in an issue of Automotive Digest magazine.

 
 
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This Mechanic’s Unit with a 1/4” thick plate bench top, seems to have only been offered from late 1946 through early 1947. The Parts bin was more successful and had a multi-year run with the Keith Motor Co. Below is the founder of the Amarillo Metal Products Co. S.L. Shepard.

 
 

It appears that the company began producing hotel and cafe equipment in early 1945. By 1947 they were centering more on air conditioning and heating. Newspaper articles show us that the company was done and their metal fabrication tools were sold off at auction in 1953.

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.

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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.

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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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The Uncommon Balcrank Velvetizer in Full Color

The only merchandisers to be offered in a full two-tone color scheme. You could get the Service Salesman in these “Permaplastic” enamel colors or simply all white. We are still attempting to confirm, but this rare Balcrank workbench may have been the earliest service merchandiser ever produced by an established company.

We have been unable to locate any images of this workbench in the wild. If you have any leads on where one these Velvetizers may reside, please give us a shout.

During the same time frame, The Cincinnati Ball Crank Co. also produced these other lubricators and service desks. Some of which had custom Balcrank engraved handles.

Here is the door off of the above lubrication cabinet. It was recently found it down in Argentina.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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