Saturday, June 21, 2008

THE ALLIS-CHALMERS MODEL U

In 1847, Edward P. Allis started a company in New York that sold millstones and water wheels. In 1869, they went into building steam power engines and pumps. Then in 1901, Edward P. Allis & Company merged with Fraser and Chalmers along with the Gates Iron Works to form Allis-Chalmers. The company moved to Wisconsin and there, in 1914, they built their first tractor but it wasn't until the introduction of the 15-30 in 1918 that the company had a really successful tractor. In 1928, A-C aquired the Monarch Tractor Company; in 1931, Advance-Rumely of LaPorte, Indiana; in 1953, the Buda Engine Company of Harvey, Illinois; in 1955, the Gleaner Harvester Company; and in 1959 the French company Vendeuvre. A-C's manufacturing plants became such a landmark in the Milwaukee area that one city even took on the name "West Allis".

In 1929, the company introduced the United tractor which would later be renamed the Model U. The "U" was the first Allis-Chalmers tractor to be painted "Poppy Orange" rather than dark green and was also the first production farm tractor to offer pneumatic tires. Although they were an added expense, pneumatics made for a more comfortable ride and let the tractor be driven at higher speed on roads but most importantly they required about half the power to do field work. Soon all tractor manufacturers would be offering them.

No comments: