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: Milwaukee
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
“Two Million Dollar Expansion”
WE of Allis-Chalmers. September 7, 1947. Pgs 2-4 "Two Million Dollar Expansion Begins at Pittsburgh Works" Groundbreaking ceremonies in July for the new Columbus Plant at Pittsburgh Works officially opened a two million dollar expansion program there. The plan, which was announced by A-C President Walter Geist at the Board of Directors meeting in Pittsburgh in… Continue reading “Two Million Dollar Expansion”
TDIMCH: July 1, 1919
Allis-Chalmers Equipment Literature
Antique Farming's website has some great history on farm equipment manufacturers. They also have a selection of old literature, and here is what they have on Allis-Chalmers.
“Years of Expansion”
This article published in a 1947 issue of WE of Allis-Chalmers commemorates the expansion of the company from 1847-1947. With its new name, Allis-Chalmers Co., our company entered the twentieth century strengthened by the 1901 merger of the E. P. Allis Co. with three other leading industrial concerns. Annual business had reached the $10,000,000 mark, and… Continue reading “Years of Expansion”
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
Snap-Coupler Hitch System
In the 1940s and 1950s farm equipment manufacturers began designing brand specific hitching systems that allowed implements to be mounted directly to the tractor for transporting. Allis-Chalmers developed a hitching mechanism it trademarked Snap-Coupler. The system was as simple as backing the tractor up to the tongue of the implement until the large hook mounted… Continue reading Snap-Coupler Hitch System
The Weekend Historian 