Allis-Chalmers
1904554
226072774
2008-07-16T18:31:26Z
216.99.185.50
/* Generators */
{{Unreferenced|date=March 2008}}
[[Image:Allischalmerslogo.gif|thumb|right]]
[[Image:Traktor historisch 5.jpg|thumb|Allis-Chalmers GRV 23 PS, 1958]]
The '''Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co.''' of [[Milwaukee]] was an American manufacturer with diverse interests, perhaps most famous for their bright orange farm [[tractor]]s. The company eventually divested its manufacturing businesses and today is known as [http://www.alchenergy.com/ Allis-Chalmers Energy] based in [[Houston, Texas]]. Micki Hidayatallah is the current Chief Executive.
==History==
Allis-Chalmers first entered the manufacturing business in the 1840s. While originally incorporated in Delaware, the company soon became a major manufacturer in the Milwaukee area after merging with two other firms. The company's presence in Milwaukee became so large that its plants were once used as a landmark there, and, in particular, its "west" plant lent its name to the city of [[West Allis, Wisconsin|West Allis]]. Allis-Chalmers entered into the farm equipment business in 1914 at about the time of the [[World War One|First World War]]. The company would also play a major part as a manufacturer in the [[World War Two|Second World War]] building pumps for uranium separation as part of the [[Manhattan Project]] and building [[electric motors]] for [[U.S. Navy]] [[submarines]].
The company introduced a number product lines including Agricultural Tractor, Implements, Industrial Tractor, Gleaner Combines, Hydroturbines, Valves and Pumps, Compressors, Electric Motors, Crushing and screening equipment, Comminution, Air Purification, Coal Gasification and Simplicity Garden Tractors.
A series of acquisitions were made by the company beginning in [[1928]] with the acquisition of Monarch Tractor Company. In [[1931]], the company acquired [[Advance-Rumely]] based in [[LaPorte, Indiana]]. Buda Engine Co., based in [[Harvey, Illinois]] was acquired in [[1953]]. Two years later the company acquired Gleaner Harvester Co., and in [[1959]] it acquired the French company Vendeuvre. Allis-Chalmers also acquired [[Simplicity Outdoor|Simplicity]], which was later sold to its management in [[1983]].
The company began to struggle in the 1980s in a climate of rapid economic change. It was forced amid financial struggles to sell its farm equipment division to K-H-D (Klöckner-Humboldt-Deutz) AG of Germany in [[1985]], the owners of [[Deutz-Fahr]], which was renamed Deutz-Allis. Deutz-Allis later was sold to management and became what is now the [[AGCO Corporation|AGCO Corporation (AGCO)]], and tractors were sold under the AGCO-Allis name - though later this became just AGCO. What remained of the manufacturing businesses were dispersed in [[1998]] and the company officially closed its offices in Milwaukee in January [[1999]] The remaining service businesses became [http://www.alchenergy.com/ Allis-Chalmers Energy] in [[Houston, Texas]].
==Agricultural machinery==
Allis-Chalmers offered a complete line of agricultural machinery, from tillage and harvesting to tractors.
===Generators===
In [[1965]] Allis-Chalmers built "[[Big Allis]]" or Ravenswood No.3, the biggest generator of its time. It's located in Queens NY and the total output is 1000 MW.
It is still operational today.
===Tractor models===
{{main|List of Allis-Chalmers tractors}}
[[Image:WoodlandAG AC United.JPG|thumb|right|United tractor on display at Hendricks Ag History Center, Woodland, CA]]
* United, introduced 1929, renamed to the '''Model U'''. First tractor with optional low pressure pneumatic [[tires]].
* [[Allis-Chalmers Model B|Model B]] - a small tractor in the 20 [[Horsepower|hp]] class popular in the [[United Kingdom]], introduced in 1937. Around 125,000 produced.
* Model WC manufactured from 1933 to 1948 was a 28 horse power tractor, and had the most production number of all the tractors Allis Chalmers produced
* Model C - two-row cousin of the Model B, introduced in 1940.
* Model G - an unusual cultivation tractor. Rear mounted engine gave excellent view of delicate seeding and cultivation work.
* Model WD - early models were made to pull a two bottom [[plow]] and had a straight gear shift, while later models had more power and could pull a three bottom plow (and also saw the implementation of a constant mesh transmission with the crooked gear shift lever). This design was improved upon to make the WD-45.
* Model WD-45 - perhaps the most significant tractor developed by Allis-Chalmers. This is the first model with a [[diesel engine]] and [[power steering]] available as options. Introduced in 1953.
* D Series - New generation with remodeled, more stylish features and most famous for the introduction of the Power Director 2-range hand clutch
* Hundred Series - Very square sheet metal with many modifications, but mechanically influenced by the D series tractors.
* 7000 Series - Entirely new generation of large tractors - first series with fully integrated factory cabs
* 8000 Series - Most modern generation of AC tractors - produced up until 1985. Based heavily on 7000 series.
* 6000 Series - Mid-size tractors. A 6070 was the last ever AC tractor off the line in 1985.
* 5000 Series - Small size tractors (max 50 HP)
* 4WD/Articulated Tractors - Several generations, each one designed to match the smaller series tractors during the same time frame. (7000 series, 8000 series, etc)
**Sugar Babe/T16 -
**440 4WD - (built by [[Steiger]])
**7580 -
**8550 -
**4W-220 -
**4W-305 -
*They also had a garden tractor series
In [[1959]], a team led by Harry Ihrig built a 15 kW [[fuel cell]] tractor for Allis-Chalmers which was demonstrated across the US at state fairs. This system used [[potassium hydroxide]] as the [[electrolyte]] and compressed [[hydrogen]] and oxygen as the reactants. The original AC fuel cell tractor is currently on display at the [[Smithsonian]].
===Harvesting===
Roto Baler - forerunner of today's round [[baler]]s. The first model introduced in [[1949]]. In the 1950's Allis Chalmers made a new Roto Baler called #10 Roto Baler. In this model the operator did not have to stop the tractor to allow machine to tie bale. It was equipped with an upper conveyor that would feed the hay back into the windrow. The #10 Roto baler was also equipped with a fast tie clutch. It allowed the bale to be tied in as little as 3 seconds. Later models were nicknamed ''white tops'' when the factory started painting the top canopy white. These were manufactured from [[1949]] to [[1974]].
==Tractor parts==
AGCO is now the parts manufacturer for everything one would need to fix up their older Allis-Chalmers tractors, including water pumps to oil filters, and even rebuild kits and tractor manuals. Many aftermarket suppliers offer parts for the older models.
==Military machinery==
*[[M4 Tractor]] – an [[artillery tractor]] manufactured from [[1943]].
*[[Ontos]] - a light [[anti-tank]] vehicle, 297 units produced from [[1955]] to [[1957]].
== External links ==
{{Commonscat|Allis-Chalmers vehicles}}
* [http://www.allischalmers.com/ Unofficial Allis Homepage]
* [http://www.oktractor.com/acdatahome.html Statistics on many Allis Models]
* [http://www.tractordata.com/td/allischalmers.html List of Allis-Chalmers tractors]
* http://www.ytmag.com/cgi-bin/ntracz.pl?m=ac
* [http://www.allischalmersmuseum.com/ Allis Chalmers Museum located in Paris, Illinois]
==See also==
*[[List of Allis-Chalmers tractors]]
*[[AGCO]] (holder of former Deutz-Allis assets)
*[[CNH Global]] (holder of former Fiat-Allis assets)
*[[Siemens AG]] (holder of former Siemens-Allis assets)
==References==
{{reflist}}
==Further reading==
* {{citation | last = Buescher | first = Walter M. | year = 1991 | title = Plow Peddler | publisher = Glenbridge Publishing, Ltd | location = Macomb, Illinois, USA | id = ISBN 978-0944435182 }}. ''A memoir by a man who worked for Allis-Chalmers company for over 30 years as a sales representative and sales manager.''
[[Category:Tractor manufacturers]]
[[Category:Agricultural machinery]]
[[Category:Lawn and garden tractors]]
[[Category:History of Wisconsin]]
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