Natkin & Co. Merchandisers

In the mid 40’s, “Natkin & Company” had a deal to produce workbenches for GM. Shure jumped in and helped out with there metal fabrication experience. Here are a few of these rare “N” branded Natkin cabinets in use.

Not that many of the Natkin’s were built, but their legacy lives on in the Shure’s out there. Also with their oil resistant “Nat-flex” work top surface.

 
 

The Bench below was built by Natkin and badged by them, then purchased by Bear and decals were added to the doors.

Homemade Alemite Inspired Benches

There are some very talented people out there that decided to fabricate their own Alemite type cabinets.

First up is this amazing large Alemite Tribute work station

… and a couple very nice train scale models

Custom Lincoln's with extra trim

Here are a few unique Lincoln Engineering cabinets with extra stainless

This last Lincoln merchandiser, has had a section added for light up glass, and even Alemite emblems. But the raised side edge, door handles, and bench cabinet spacing give it away.

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

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

 

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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