on Ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Complete-Alemite-Work-Station-Vintage-Tool-Cabinet-Ready-to-Paint-1930s-L-K-/321697724167?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ae6adb707
In the pictures it appears that it drains TOWARD the air conditioner and INTO the side of the house. Look at the debris between the air conditioner and the slab and i'll bet it stays wet most of the time. I would have an inspector take a look at the slab and determine if it can be made to work...
On wooden hammers, that is where it attaches to the handle. On all metal hammers it serves as a casting form and as a place to hold the hammer while finish machining - they put the plastic in there for asthenics.
I don't think that is an Estwing, no parting line from the head to the handle and no metal tag at the bottom of the handle. It could be a clone of an Estwing (Stanley, Dewalt, etc...) but it really resembles this Craftsman hammer...
I don't know if this qualifies, but my dad had his grinder and vice bolted to a old gas dryer. He had a .75" piece of plywood on the inside where they bolted down- it ran across the inside top. worked for many years and was free.