Fenders!

Why did Allis Chalmers make fenders standard on almost all of there tractors when others (Farmall, John Deere, MM, Oliver, ect.) did not?  Also when AC's are missing there fenders they look out of place as when the others don't have them they look better. So I guess my question is, did Allis Chalmers have any special reason for putting fenders on all of there tractors?

Edited by R.W - 08 Feb 2012 at 9:18am

Massey Harris, Oliver, Case and most Minnie Mo's as well as AC's all had fenders from the factory. Everything came wth fenders as standard equipment by the late 50's. John Deere an IH were among the hold outs who kept fenders as an option until the 630 - 730 and 460 - 560 as I seem to recall.

Edited by Dave in il - 08 Feb 2012 at 10:45am

Fenders on early gas tractors were more for comfort than saftey. The formula used was: if the height of the tallest point of the rear wheel(steel or rubber) was greater than 50% of the operators total height, (standing or sitting) then fenders were recommended. (notice "recommended" rather than "required"). 

Think of a fender as a dirt & dust shield, instead of a safety device. Later, when it became an issue with operators falling off, or getting run over, thier purpose became a saftey priority.

Still, it was up to the manufacturer to provide fenders on tractors if they wanted to, unless individual state laws required them to have tractors so equipped. Michigan, my home state, had a "fender law" . You'll find alot of H&M's and JD's with fenders here unless they have already been peddled off.

Most manufacturers supplied fenders as standard equipment anyway, unless specifically deleted by the customer.

Dave in Il, I agree with you about 170 fenders on a WD is wrong, BUT, a few years ago at Hutchinosn, there was a unstyled WC with 170 or so fenders, hood , grill, and etc. I am not saying I would ever do this in my house, but at least it was all AC .

i thought I read or heard somewhere that most people too the Farmall fenders off because they interfered with the cultivators

I would much rather have fenders on my tractors than not, for saftey and to keep dirt and dust away.

JayIN wrote: I think they all had fenders for safety. Most got removed and not put back on. Mfr's liability, etc.

I don't think the bottom dwelling scum suckers were around in the 50's like they are now. 90% of Red and green tractors never had them as far as I ever saw.

My Grandfather had an H and then an M later on. The fenders for both were leaning against the garage wall unused. I was quite young but think it had something to do with getting off and on the tractor with the cultivators mounted. I spent a lot of hours after high school a coupla years on the M without fenders fitting ground. Never thought to ask why the fenders were not used. That was the way all the neighbors run their H's and M's. Dad had Olivers and used the fenders a riders bench and a hand rest when plowing. Grand Dad used the back of the seat for a plowing hand rest. Strong left arms.  

Edited by Dick L - 10 Feb 2012 at 5:39pm

Don't forget two important factors