New Book / Top 10 Allis-Chalmers Tractor
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=147215
Printed Date: 08 Jul 2025 at 8:59pm
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Topic: New Book / Top 10 Allis-Chalmers Tractor
Posted By: leeklancher
Subject: New Book / Top 10 Allis-Chalmers Tractor
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 10:35am
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Hello, I'm interested in your group's thoughts on the 10 most important Allis-Chalmers tractors. I'm working on a new all-brand tractor book that covers the 150 or so most important tractors in history, and I'd like to include 10-20 AC machines. Each machine should represent a technological leap or have made a significant impact to the market. I'm considering the first Persian Orange Model, Model WC, and D19 / D22. Also the electric experimental. What are your other suggestions? Looking forward to input. BTW, here's more about me and the books I've authored are listed as well: https://octanepress.com/people/lee-klancher" rel="nofollow - https://octanepress.com/people/lee-klancher Cheers, Lee
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Replies:
Posted By: wfmurray
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 10:38am
| D 14 the first of the d series. |
Posted By: CrestonM
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 10:43am
| I think the WD was pretty important. Hydraulic snap coupler hitch, traction booster, live PTO wet clutch, power adjust rims, etc. Not many of those features around at their introduction in 1948. |
Posted By: DonDittmar
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 10:44am
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D19 Diesel. 1st factory turbocharged tractor ------------- Experience is a fancy name for past mistakes. "Great moments are born from great opportunity" 1968 D15D,1962 D19D Also 1965 Cub Loboy and 1958 JD 720 Diesel Pony Start |
Posted By: steelwheelAcjim
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 10:53am
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The U with air(rubber) tires. The tractor races, Barney Oldfield. ------------- Pre-WW2 A-C tractors on steel wheels...because I'm too cheap to buy tires! |
Posted By: orange-is-power
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 11:01am
| U, B, WC, WD45, G, D17 Series IV, D19 diesel, 185, 190, D21, 7080, 8000 series. |
Posted By: farmboy520
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 11:02am
| The 7000 series and the 8000 series. They were both very innovative for their time. |
Posted By: WF owner
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 11:17am
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We all have our favorites, but I realize you are looking for tractors that were more innovative and were "game changers" for the industry.I agree with the D-19 (first production turbocharged tractor). The D-21 was the first "big" tractor (over 400 cubic inch) with a factory turbo and it was quite famous at tractor pulls. The WD/WD45 (I believe) were AC's best selling tractor. Those would be my starting choices.
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Posted By: UncleRuckus717
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 11:17am
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The B introduced the Torque Tube design, and was the first affordable replacement for a team of horses for the small (100 acres or less) farmer. ------------- 1949 Model B |
Posted By: Dusty MI
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 11:32am
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One more for the G. It's being copied yet today. ------------- 917 H, '48 G, '65 D-10 series III "Allis Express" |
Posted By: Allis dave
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 11:54am
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Hello Lee, Thanks for joining. It looks like you have some interesting reads on your site. I would suggest trying to setup an interview of some sort with Bill Long or maybe tbran. Bill Long was a dealer many years ago and has some wonderful stories. I could be wrong, but I think tbran worked at the Allis facilities.
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Posted By: HoughMade
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 12:02pm
Bingo. ------------- 1951 B |
UncleRuckus717 wrote:Posted By: CrestonM
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 12:03pm
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Yep, there's a whole host of guys I'd want to interview for a book, including, but not limited to, Bill Long, tbran, Dr. Allis, etc. And now that it's been mentioned, yes the G is certainly revolutionary as well. As far as I know, there are at least 4 reproductions brands available today. John Deere had a prototype similar to a G in testing, but once the G was released, I think they scrapped the program.
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Posted By: victoryallis
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 12:06pm
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Without a doubt the 8000 series, D 21 started the 426 motor that was a staple in NTPA pulling, the D17 was ultra popular, like someone else mentioned the G, many many 70x0 tractors were sold. The 6060, 6070, and 6080s had the best non Cummins motor ever made. Other than a 160 hard to get excited about the 100 series tractors. ------------- 8030 and 8050MFWD, 7580, 3 6080's, 160, 7060, 175, heirloom D17, Deere 8760 |
Posted By: Ted J
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 12:08pm
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Definitely the B, it replaced the horses on a lot of farms. The U, first to have rubber tires. The WC, affordable for everyone and a workhorse. The WD45, was way past anything else at the time as per horsepower and weight. The G, the small garden tractor. Worth it's weight in gold (almost). The D-17 Series IV The D-19 D because of the turbo The D-21, a BIG step up and still coveted. Then on to the 7000 and 8000 series. BIG steps and ahead of their time. The side exhaust manure spreader. The model 60's combines. The Snap-Coupler system that was HEADS above anything else, then and since. STILL better than the 3 point. The traction booster system. My head hurts from thinking...... ------------- "Allis-Express" 19?? WC / 1941 C / 1952 CA / 1956 WD45 / 1957 WD45 / 1958 D-17 |
Posted By: ACman formally 220
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 12:20pm
| If you are doing a book on Allis Chalmers tractors 2 people you should talk to are Chuck Cole of Cole Implement Media Il and Lyle Hunsley of Waverly Il. Both of these guys were AC dealers Chuck is still working at Cole Impl. Between these two men you can get up close and personal info on AC tractors. One of Lyle's sons is employed by AGCO. |
Posted By: Lonn
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 1:00pm
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#1 should absolutely be the WC. That tractor is what put Allis-Chalmers on the agricultural map (along with the All-Crop combine) and without it I believe Allis would have been with the ranks of other unknowns like the Wallace or Samson tractors. The WC was the first tractor designed for rubber tires and offer them as standard equipment and offered them with fluid in the tires for weight (Hydromatic tires) and high HP to weight with a road speed built in from the start; one of the first if not the first to offer as standard equipment, electric starter and lights (1938 and on); first successful tractor designed using high strength steel in it's construction; and was a very affordable 2 plow tractor. Not to mention it's quick acting gutty engine and simple design. Forget the WC and you don't have a book for me....... well if it's got orange in the book it'll still be for me. Let me not go overboard! ------------- -- --- .... .- -- -- .- -.. / .-- .- ... / .- / -- ..- .-. -.. . .-. .. -. --. / -.-. .... .. .-.. -.. / .-. .- .--. .. ... - Wink I am a Russian Bot |
Posted By: 34 Airflow
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 1:28pm
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Did the David Brown 2D pre date the Model G? Here in Australia there were a lot of 2D's but the model G has only arrived in more recent times as a collector tractor. I think the suggestions above are great with the U,B, WC, WD45, D19, D21, 7000 and 8000 Series all up there for innovation. So hard when you have favorites! ------------- 1937 Model A, 1937 Model U, 1929 United, 1945 Model C, 1949 WF, 1948 WC, 1956 D272 and a Roto Baler http://www.australianallischalmersregistry.com/ |
Posted By: JohnCO
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 1:51pm
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I have to put in a vote for the G. Also the WD or WD45 as they were Allis's answer to the Farmall M and Oliver 77. I don't think John Deere was in the running at that point, still building two cylinder molar shakers. The D19 was an improvement over the JD 4010 and anything the other companies were putting out at the time. The same for the D21. The 7000 series was more of a catch up with the others but the 8000 series was again years ahead of the competition. Thank you for joining our group and if you put out the book you are talking about, I along with a bunch of others on the forum will be customers. ------------- "If at first you don't succeed, get a bigger hammer" Allis Express participant |
Posted By: JohnCO
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 1:58pm
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Lee, after reading your Bio and looking at your works, it becomes clear to me that you need to get a bit of AC Orange in your system! I see you have a book on IHC combines, IMHO, a book on Gleaner/Allis combines would be equally interesting as they were and continue to be important and historicity significant harvesting machines, especially the All Crops and much later N series up to today's latest versions. ------------- "If at first you don't succeed, get a bigger hammer" Allis Express participant |
Posted By: wekracer
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 2:09pm
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I'm a big fan of the 8000 series. I was doing some maintenance on the 8050 this weekend and feeling sad that Allis is gone but at the same time, what a high note to leave on. It was nearly a decade before anyone else had a cab as nice. One other thing that I think needs to be noted is the introduction of the "traction booster" in combination with the "snap coupler.' I don't know the year or model it was first introduced. I suspect around 51' with the CA and WD45. My grandpa bought the first CA in central MO new in 51' with a pin hitch (prior to the snap coupler). My dad still talks about plowing with neighbors who were running big wheel Case and Farmall tractors with pull type plows. They would hit a soft spot and get stuck and the little CA would raise up just a little and go on by. They would be pissed and say "how does that little tractor keep going" and refer to the traction booster as the "cheater stick." That also solidified AC in the ag tractor market.
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Posted By: leeklancher
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 2:38pm
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Thank you for this! It's great. I am now figuring out how to reply individually . . . LOL. One thing I will be looking for is machines to photograph. They need to either a outstanding restoration or excellent condition original machine, tho I will consider tractors that are beat up but still working regularly (I'm a sucker for working machines). You can post a photo here, or email me a picture, your name, and your location at lee@octanepress.com. Based on your input and my thoughts, I'm considering the following: Model G Model B (tentative) Model U Model WC Model WD or WD45 D19 Diesel D21 (tentative) 185 / 190 7080 / 8000 series I'll also include the AC Electric tractor--will get images from the Smithsonian for that. Thanks again! |
Posted By: Bob-Maine
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 2:59pm
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Include my vote for the Model B. In the northeast, the small farms needed something affordable to replace a team. In the late 30's and prewar 40's, a B with basic attachments/implements for less than $1000 fit the bill. I still see them everywhere I look. Bob@allisdowneast ------------- I used to think I was indecisive, but now I'm not sure. |
Posted By: CrestonM
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 3:33pm
If you'd like to get your own current photo, the fuel cell tractor is currently in Hutchinson, MN.
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Posted By: leeklancher
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 3:34pm
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I'd love to photograph the electric tractor, and I travel to MSP on occasion. Can you put me in touch with whoever has that? |
Posted By: DSeries4
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 4:15pm
The fuel cell tractor is on display at the Hutchinson county museum in Minnesota. ------------- '49 G, '54 WD45, '55 CA, '56 WD45D, '57 WD45, '58 D14, '59 D14, '60 D14, '61 D15D, '66 D15II, '66 D21II, '67 D17IV, '67 D17IVD, '67 190XTD, '73 620, '76 185, '77 175, '84 8030, '85 6080 |
Posted By: 45 turboa-
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 4:52pm
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Allis Chalmers tractors were the most intivated tractor in history one thing that is over looked on them is the wet sleeves. as far as I know that was a first and also inserted valve seats and guides- air tires- wet clutch- power shift wheels a power director clutch that held back in low range-4x4 square engine- snap coupler the easiest system for hitching and unhitching imp. ever devised and always under rated in horse power. Allis Chalmers always had the best engineers. Most companys with there first tractors bought rights from other companys as JD did but A-C was home grown ! The list of Allis Chalmers firsts goe's on and on. ------------- turbocharged |
Posted By: Gerald J.
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 5:47pm
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I saw the electric (fuel cell) tractor at the Mcloed county historical museum in Hutchinson a few years ago and probably have pictures of it. As I recall it was tucked into a corner of the museum with lots of stuff around it hard to get good pictures. I'll have to root through hundreds of pictures on my computers to see if I have any worth while. There is a slight chance the historical museum has a picture on their web site. Gerald J. |
Posted By: CrestonM
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 5:53pm
I thought Allis bought rights to the Bull tractor, and that transitioned into the 10-18?
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Posted By: Alberta Phil
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 5:57pm
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My vote would be for the Model E in all it's versions as it became Allis Chalmers first really successful tractor. |
Posted By: Gerald J.
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 6:24pm
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My post to this forum 3 years ago says I didn't get any pictures of the AC fuel cell tractor. http://www.allischalmers.com/forum/fuel-cell-tractor_topic102620.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.allischalmers.com/forum/fuel-cell-tractor_topic102620.html Gerald J. |
Posted By: Unit3
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 6:41pm
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The UC needs a place in the sun because it could handle 4 row equipment. Built from 1929 - 1960 in some form or another. 100 series 220 first to get FWA 190 - 200 would have been first to have air conditioning. 170 - 200 could have had a quick changing 540/1000 pto (I have seen a 170 with it) 7040 and 7060 were the first to get a 2 range 6 speed power shift transmission. ------------- 2-8070FWA PS/8050PS/7080/7045PS/200/D15-II/2-WD45/WD/3-WC/UC/C |
Posted By: Gerald J.
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2018 at 10:11pm
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Googling "Allis Chalmers fuel cell tractor" brought up a bunch of pictures and a few descriptive links. Gerald J. |
Posted By: Lonn
Date Posted: 06 Feb 2018 at 7:10am
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If you are looking for the top 10 influential tractors to the industry that Allis built my list would be this. In no particular order and it will be more than 10. WC - (1934 and the styled and electic lights and starter in 1938) and for other reasons I stated before. B - (1937) for price and simplicity and streamlined styling and the "wasp" torque tube. It was copied my several manufactures. E - (1918) because of the wet sleeve design engine and later E production because of installing an air filtration system, a fuel filtration system and an engine oil filtration system. No other tractor had all three. U - (1929) (first known as the United tractor in 1928) for it's introduction of low pressure rubber tires in 1931 and installing tires as standard equipment by 1932. UC was the row crop version. WD - (1948) for it's sales numbers that even surpassed the IH M at one point, for spin out rear wheels that everyone else eventually offered, and it's traction booster system that used lower linkage sensing rather than top linkage sensing. WD45 - (1953) for it sales numbers that again surpassed IH at some point in it's class and surprising power in the field that made other tractors look stupid. For it's use of the helical gear transmission that quieted up the tractor a lot. Helical gears were first introduced in the CA in 1950 and before that in the AC crawler line in 1947. D14 - (Spring 1957) for it's introduction of the extremely reliable Power Director two speed power shift. Reliability that no other power shift had for another decade or more. Also it introduced the Roll Shift front axle that allowed tread width adjustment using the tractor's power steering with out jacks. Keep in mind it also used the spin out rear wheels that allowed tractor power to adjust the wheel tread width without jacks that the WD introduced earlier. D19 - (1961) solely for it's introduction to the agricultural world the turbocharged diesel engine. Oh and the first use of a dry type air filter. D21 - (1963) for it's large "ballroom" sized operator's platform that took most manufacturers another decade to match, a 12 position adjustable seat, and one of the first to have tilt steering wheel. And for it being the largest row crop tractor at it's introduction with 103 PTO HP in 1963 and again when the Series II came out in 1965 with 127 PTO HP. The rest of the competition had to play catch up in row crop power and comfort. It also was the first to use an alternator instead of the finicky generator. 190/190XT - (1964/1965 respectively) again for it's surprising power punch in the field and it's untouchable fuel economy and torque reserve and the right hand console controls copied by nearly every manufacturer. The XT especially was a hot performer! 7030/7050 - (January 1973) introduction of the 7000 series and they introduced the pressure and flow compensated hydraulic system (PFC) that nearly every big tractor uses today including Deere. Unmatched reliability in drive line components, the quietest cab in the industry at the time (Acousta Cab), in cab hydraulic flow control to the remotes, quick removable hood side sheets, ground level fueling, swing out battery access. Serviceability matched by no other at the time. 7080 - (1974) Most powerful row crop 2wd tractor in the industry. 7040/7060 - they came out in late 1974 but introduced the extremely reliable 12 speed Power Shift in 1975. The Black Belly 7000 series - (1977) a line which set new records for quietest cab once again with the Acousta Cab II. The 8000 series- (December 1981) for it's unmatched cab design, roominess, ergonomics, comfort and visibility for its time. If I had to pick 10 from that list it would be the E, WC, B, WD, WD45, D19, D21, 190/190XT, 7050/7030, 8000 Series. Really the D14 should be in the mix too. Maybe instead of the E as the E never hit a very high market share despite of how important the innovations were on the E. ------------- -- --- .... .- -- -- .- -.. / .-- .- ... / .- / -- ..- .-. -.. . .-. .. -. --. / -.-. .... .. .-.. -.. / .-. .- .--. .. ... - Wink I am a Russian Bot |
Posted By: LeonR2013
Date Posted: 06 Feb 2018 at 1:09pm
| walk around all D models and I think you'll conclude like many of us that it is the best looking tractor that Allis ever built |
Posted By: peterh
Date Posted: 06 Feb 2018 at 1:11pm
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without doubt the B has to be at the top of the list. ------------- 1947 C, 1949 B, 195? CA 60 series cultivator fertilizer side dresser 2 bottom snap coupler plow 1 bottom plow, Cole planter |
Posted By: wekracer
Date Posted: 06 Feb 2018 at 1:11pm
| I am really surprised no one has mentioned the D17 series IV. It may not be the most revolutionary tractor, but it was the first AC with live modern day pressure/volume hydraulics, independent PTO and 2 speed wet clutch power director. It was a good size, ergonomically comfortable, with lots of power, very nimble and extremely reliable. In my opinion it is Allis's best tractor ever built. A new tractor of its size really doesn't have any options that you couldn't get on a D17 except maybe cab and AC. |
Posted By: tornado8070
Date Posted: 06 Feb 2018 at 1:19pm
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I was going to make a post but I think Lonn covered everything i wanted to say. Great post Lonn. ------------- 09’ DT205B, 08’ DT220A, 83' 8070 MFWD, 83’ 8070 85’ 8050 MFWD, 83' 8030, 82' 8010, 85’ 6080 MFWD, 84’ 6080, 79' 7020, 85' M3 RWD, 85' 920 diesel,AC C-50 forklift. |
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 06 Feb 2018 at 2:49pm
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Lee, Welcome to the Allis forum! You sure have come to the right place! Some of these tractors get handed down from one generation to the next. Family ties to Allis equipment run deep. I would vote along with others for the WD45 to be in the mix. It was a very influential piece of in my young life growing and working on a dairy farm in NWPA. I just purchased my first WD45 last fall. Its predecessor the WD was also spwcial and I was able to restore one that has been in the family since 1950. Just gave it to my grandson and his son last summer. Good luck with your research! Looking forward to reading your AC book/s! Regards, Chris
------------- D17 1958 (NFE), WD45 1954 (NFE), WD 1952 (NFE), WD 1950 (WFE), Allis F-40 forklift, Allis CA, Allis D14, Ford Jubilee, Many IH Cub Cadets, 32 Ford Dump, 65 Comet. |