Allis-Chalmers held factory tours over the years. The company had a number of promotional tour booklets published that visitors could take as a keepsake. This booklet, Highlights: Allis-Chalmers West Allis Works, I figure this was the company tour booklet circa 1955. Have you been on a tour of the West Allis Works or other AC factories? Did… Continue reading Highlights: Allis-Chalmers West Allis Works
Tag: Factory
Allis-Chalmers Farm Commando
In 1942-43 Allis-Chalmers Mfg Co. launched its Farm Commando program. Two-day mechanical training courses were conducted by local A-C dealerships. The classes were meant to help farmers and mechanics learn the basics of caring for tractors, All-Crop combines, and implements. The classes were a war-effort plan to boost food production and help the Allies win the war.… Continue reading Allis-Chalmers Farm Commando
The Allis-Chalmers History Museum
I recently graduated from UW-Oshkosh with a degree in history, but landing a career in history right out of undergrad school is not easy. I am looking at pursuing a master's degree in public history in the near future. UW-Milwaukee has a public history program that I am very interested in, and that is the… Continue reading The Allis-Chalmers History Museum
The Forgotten Allis-Chalmers Lift Latch
In an earlier blog post I explored the history of the Snap-Coupler hitching mechanism equipped on Allis-Chalmers tractors. While conducting that research I discovered that two Allis-Chalmers engineers designed implement latching systems for tractors. The chief engineer at the La Crosse Works, Willard Tanke, submitted the design trademarked Snap-Coupler. However, another design was patented but… Continue reading The Forgotten Allis-Chalmers Lift Latch
Allis-Chalmers Patent Archive
-New Page - I am starting a BIG project that involves researching, sorting, and cataloging Allis-Chalmers patents. Most of these documents are already online, but it takes some intense searching to find them. It is not as easy as typing in "Roto-Baler" and having all of those patents appear. There are a lot of great… Continue reading Allis-Chalmers Patent Archive
Roto-Baler Serial Numbers & Production
For those of you who own a Roto-Baler, do you want to know what year your machine was made? First, you need to locate the serial number on your baler. If you have a manual for the machine, it tells you where to find the number. For those of you who don't have the manual,… Continue reading Roto-Baler Serial Numbers & Production
Roto-Baler Safety
The Allis-Chalmers Roto-Baler is arguably one of the most complex farm machines ever devised. The machine was ahead of its time, and the company advertised it as the "turning point in hay history." Although the Roto-Baler was a revolutionary farm machine in its day, there were and still are dangers in operating this baler. I… Continue reading Roto-Baler Safety
Allis-Chalmers: Story of Man and Food #4
No 4. Science Aids the Farmer
How To Run Your Roto-Baler
If you would have bought an Allis-Chalmers Roto-Baler back in the day, you would need something to understand how the machine worked. The buyer would have received his operator’s manual, but I am not sure of the circumstances a buyer would have received this small booklet. This booklet has some information about the Roto-Baler setup… Continue reading How To Run Your Roto-Baler
Allis-Chalmers: Story of Man and Food #3 & #5
Here are #3 and #5 of the Story of Man and Food by Allis-Chalmers. Unfortunately, I am missing #4. Could anyone help me out?
The Weekend Historian 