Sioux Bear Alignment Cabinets

Bear sold these Saftey Service workbenches for about 5 years starting in 1949.
Were they built by Sioux?

I have only seen three examples of this cabinet alive today, and none of them have an intact Sioux ID plate.

Even though I have never found ads mentioning a manufacturing company and the handles are a different shape than the earlier Sioux Valve service benches, I still fully believe these benches were built by Sioux Tools.

 

Early Style- present on all Sioux Valve Service Cabinets

Bear knob

 

The details that point me towards this are;
The Bear has the same wide edge wrapped worktop, ribbed trim, and top window box design. I have also been unable to find proof of Sioux producing their Valve Service cabinet after ‘49.

UPDATE: I found a later 50’s Sioux cabinet that has these later model knobs on it. I feel concrete about this now.

 
 

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…

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.

Early Alemite smaller units

Here are two examples of Alemite benches from the early 40’s.
The first is their oil bar that was built up to 1945.

The second is this model 241 Departmental WorkBench

Both of these units were found recently and it is interesting as they are both pictured together in this early Alemite ad.

 
 

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.

 
Visualiner_Ad_47_man.jpg
 

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.

Alemite_ARO_manipulated_ad_55.jpg

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.