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50's Dealership workbench purchased

rarevair

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Joined
Feb 28, 2010
Messages
62
Location
Valley Center, KS
Dang Craig's list . . . Saw this dealership mechanics workbench for sale yesterday and thought if would fit well in my shop. It will take a lot of restoration but it is very complete and the trim is in great shape. It even has a sticker with the company name on the retracting air hose.

A quick Google didn't turn up anything on the manufacturer Natkin & Company (also included a snap of the ID tag) Any help on finding more information on this or other dealership workbenches would be appreciated.

Size wise it is a little short of 9' long and about 5' tall, lots of fun to move around.
 

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Bull

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Dec 12, 2005
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MA
Wow. People go absolutely bonkers for those things. That one looks phenomenally cool. How did you load/unload it? Did you get it for a bargain, or pay a hefty sum? Can we get more pictures?
 

82_454_shorty

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May 13, 2008
Messages
852
Location
Eastern Ontario
That is sweet! I think I remember seeing another one of those on the site a few years back, maybe on a post of a fella who bought an old service station?
 

-Brent-

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Dec 23, 2009
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Utah
Ryan posted something about those a while back (maybe on the HAMB?). He'd love that thing... actually, who wouldn't?

Nice score, for sure.

Edit: Just saw the link above, that's what I was referring to.
 

Call me the Breeze

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Joined
Jul 28, 2009
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1,385
Location
Sebring Fl
You **** ( and I don't care what you paid for it) :lol_hitti

( Term of endearment frequently used here)


Seriously... nice score, and welcome to the Garage Journal! I've seen those gems in that condition anywhere from $500 to $1500. completely restored goes for over $3500
 
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OP
R

rarevair

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Joined
Feb 28, 2010
Messages
62
Location
Valley Center, KS
OK guys some more information and a few more photos. First, thanks Stuart for the link. Included are photos of the back, doors opened and one of it loaded on the trailer ready for delivery this weekend. The seller is bringing it to my shop for me (about an hour trip one way). Three of us loaded it by tilting and sliding it. Price was $550, too much for some, a bargain to others and just right for me.

The seller got it from a small town Chevrolet dealership.
 

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gtr fan

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Jun 4, 2011
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Looks awesome. And from the comments on this thread I am sure you could at least triple your money so $550 seems like a steal!
 
OP
R

rarevair

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Joined
Feb 28, 2010
Messages
62
Location
Valley Center, KS
Thanks for all the comments. I am happy with my purchase. It should arrive at my shop Friday evening. Immediate plans are a good scrubbing and treating the rust, the long-term plan is to restore it. Most of you may not understand this, but I have a couple of other projects that I should get finished before jumping on the workbench restoration.

As I make progress on the workbench I will post photos . . . now I just have to find some matching "robots" . . .
 

Hotrodladycrusr

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Joined
Apr 3, 2006
Messages
349
Location
Livonia, Michigan
OMG, I'm in LOVE. I've got two pals with work stations like that. I've been looking for years. I've got just the spot for it in my living room. Wanna double your money???:bounce:

My buddy's in CA
062.jpg


My buddy's in Indy
2010-06-11170945.jpg
 
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W650Mike

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Dec 17, 2010
Messages
1,093
Location
North Central Texas
The fact that you got all of the trim is key. I've seen a number of them at swap meets rougher than yours, missing trim, and three to four times the asking.

Great score.
 

Hotrodladycrusr

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Apr 3, 2006
Messages
349
Location
Livonia, Michigan

yellowdartdave

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Apr 4, 2011
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Jax, Fl
I did a little searching and found this...

http://oh.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.19510223_0000008.NOH.htm/qx

Just a bit of the case file. I have highlighted (in red) the important parts to keep it interesting.

NATKIN & CO. v. ARO EQUIP. CORP.UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO, WESTERN DIVISION



Footnotes, docket and citations numbers available with purchase.



February 23, 1951

NATKIN & CO.
v.
ARO EQUIPMENT CORP

The opinion of the court was delivered by: KLOEB

Demand for jury being withdrawn, this case was submitted to the Court on the pleadings, the pretrial agreement of counsel to confine the hearing to the question of liability, the evidence and the briefs.

Plaintiff, in its amended complaint, states that, on the 17th day of December, 1947, it entered into an agreement with the defendant, wherein defendant agreed to buy 1,000 Aro Service Merchandisers at a price of $ 159.85 each, and plaintiff agreed to manufacturer, sell and deliver to the defendant 1,000 Aro Service Merchandisers to be purchased as set forth in the agreement; that plaintiff entered upon the performance of the contract and began the manufacture of said Merchandisers and did all things necessary and proper on its part to be done, but defendant neglected, failed and refused to comply with its agreement; that defendant wrongfully, and in violation of its contract, repudiated the same and refused to carry it out; that plaintiff, from time to time, delivered, in part performance of said contract, a total of 226 units, but defendant has wholly failed to authorize the manufacture or to give shipping instructions or to purchase the remaining 774 units; that by reason thereof plaintiff has been damaged in the sum of $ 58,732.06.

Defendant, in its answer, admits that it entered into an agreement on December 17, 1947 with plaintiff relative to the purchase of Aro Service Merchandisers, but denies that the terms of the agreement were such as are alleged by plaintiff; it admits that over a period of time it requested and plaintiff manufactured and delivered a total of 226 of the Merchandisers for which it paid plaintiff; it denies that the paper executed on December 17, 1947 was ever intended by the parties to be an agreement or a part of any agreement between them, and alleges that plaintiff never performed the terms and conditions contained in this paper writing, nor offered nor was able to perform the same. It alleges that an oral agreement was entered into whereby plaintiff should produce and deliver to defendant so many of the Merchandisers as defendant should authorize and order from time to time, and concludes with asking that the amended complaint be dismissed.

At the trial of the case plaintiff offered three witnesses, to wit, Joseph Richardson, of St. Louis, Missouri, who, on December 17, 1947, was the general manager of plaintiff's plants located at Omaha, Houston, Kansas City, Lincoln and St. Louis, the one located at the latter point being its principal plant; Samuel, J. Shure, who was the president of the plaintiff corporation. and Adolph Winde and employee of plaintiff. The testimony of Mr. Richardson is very important.
 
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bc'z

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Joined
Oct 2, 2010
Messages
48
way too interesting & a history lesson for the taking - please keep the forum updated with your progress.

bc'z
 
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