Thanks for the info Archie. I have been using Pletschers and the like on my lightweights all my life, but the cast alloy doesn't seem right on the heavyweight, newsboy bike I'm working on at the moment. The flat bar stock of these utility racks gives the right heavy duty, old timey vibe.
After finding a few more examples on Ebay, it seems that where so many of the stylishly formed sheet metal "racks" that go with "aero" and "jet age" tank bikes, are now showing their age in the form of swayback bends, dents and cracks, these simple, flat bar utility racks generally still look as straight and true as on the day they were painted. I won't have to worry much about marring the plain paint job when I use the rack for carrying something. And, it doesn't hurt that these utility racks are nice and big. All good things in my opinion.