AC books and maybe a hat/helmet?
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=156737
Printed Date: 16 May 2025 at 4:51am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: AC books and maybe a hat/helmet?
Posted By: garden_guy
Subject: AC books and maybe a hat/helmet?
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2018 at 10:36pm
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So I have 3 A-C items that have come into my possession and I figured I'd make just one topic about it. First is two books, then the last thing is what I think is an old AC helmet? First off is a book that was grandpa's, that is now mine. Really neat book and really thick. I seem to recall noticing a thing about a WD or WD-45 with an experimental 5th gear prototype mentioned in my perusal?  Second is a book that was gifted to me recently. Haven't gone through it yet, but seems kind of neat. Just wondered if you guys had any thoughts or musings about either of these books.  Third is this orange helmet that I *think* may be A-C, as just under the duct tape holding it together, I can see the outline of the diamond and the old style logo.  Unfortunately, the helmet is about crushed in and is falling apart.
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Replies:
Posted By: dawntreader74
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2018 at 10:43pm
| it maybe one of the old shop hat's |
Posted By: Brian F(IL)
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2018 at 7:27am
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I've got both of those books. The first one many of us refer to as "Norm's bible" as the author was considered to be one of the most knowledgeable about all of the AC products. The second book has some cool pictures and stories, but is not near as detailed as to all of the products Allis-Chalmers offered. The hat is a pith helmet sold by AC dealers many, many years ago. HTH
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Posted By: chaskaduo
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2018 at 8:47am
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I printed some of the 32 page sigs (inner pages on both sides of sheet printed, cut, then folded down to a 32 page packet off of a roll of paper) of the Color History Motorbook. This was back in the mid to late 80's. Printed tons of Motorbooks, and I wish I had a (scrap) copy of all the different Hollander Interchange books we printed too.
------------- 1938 B, 79 Dynamark 11/36 6spd, 95 Weed-Eater 16hp, 2010 Bolens 14hp |
Posted By: TimNearFortWorth
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2018 at 9:29am
| A-C sold the "Pith Helmut" with embossed logo, late 40's into the late 50's or early 60's as I recall. I have a nice original in my collection of goodies and it has a leather lining in quite good condition. If memory serves, paid 30 or 35.00 for it about 15 years ago. |
Posted By: garden_guy
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2018 at 4:21pm
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Thanks for the info; sounds like the books are definitely keepers. Any other good A-C books out there? As for the helmet... Dang, this is older than I thought. It unfortunately is brittle and dented/damaged. I hate to get rid of it, but it is in pretty sore shape. Thoughts?
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Posted By: DiyDave
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2018 at 4:49pm
Another good read is C.H.Wendell's the Allis Chalmers Story...
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garden_guy wrote:Posted By: DougG
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2018 at 6:11pm
| Always wondered who on a farm would wear the PITH helmet? |
Posted By: Ray54
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2018 at 9:29pm
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Lots of sun out here so every farmer type had a hat when I was a kid,an only a very few where caps like today. One of the old neighbors always had a yellow hard hat. I don't know when he started with that type of hat. He would of been in his 40's when I first would of been aware of such things. He had lost a eye as a teen,from a stick and a horse accident. Always safety minded, so that might have had a bearing on the decision. As tribute at his funeral all of the pallbearers wore a yellow hard hat.They were the more modern style not the pith style like pictured here,which is what he wore. I have seen others since that have a pith type hat around places that farmers gather at,but don't know if they are farmers or not. So still far and few being worn regularly.
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Posted By: Pat the Plumber CIL
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2018 at 9:49pm
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Norm signed quite a few of those. I never got to meet Norm but I would have asked him to sign mine. Someone at a show this year told me they bought one at an auction .When he looked through it he found Norms signature. ------------- You only need to know 3 things to be a plumber;Crap rolls down hill,Hot is on the left and Don't bite your fingernails 1964 D-17 SIV 3 Pt.WF,1964 D-15 Ser II 3pt.WF ,1960 D-17 SI NF,1956 WD 45 WF. |
Posted By: garden_guy
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2018 at 9:49pm
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Well, I know both my grandparents wore the pith hats in later years when they were out mowing or pulling the trailer with the WD. That's my first memory of seeing them in use. Can't seem to find any old pics of them using them though. |
Posted By: SteveM C/IL
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2018 at 10:15pm
| If you aren't selling off the hat,you put it on a shelf somewhere in plain sight and keep it forever. DO NOT THROW IT AWAY!!! |
Posted By: Ted J
Date Posted: 29 Dec 2018 at 12:41am
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Grampa worked for A-C for 40 some years and retired from there, the La Crosse Works. He had that pith helmet and after Allis went on strike, he painted over it. DANG!! Don't know what ever became of it. The Allis-Chalmers Farm Equipment 1914-1985 by Norm Swinford is as Brian states, the "Norm's Bible" is worth a lot of $$$. I have a copy that Norm sent to me that he had signed and put a little missive in it to me. That's probably worth more $$$. I also have a letter from his wife that she sent me after he had died......that is priceless. ------------- "Allis-Express" 19?? WC / 1941 C / 1952 CA / 1956 WD45 / 1957 WD45 / 1958 D-17 |
Posted By: HaroldOmaha
Date Posted: 29 Dec 2018 at 1:47am
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Other Allis books: The Allis Chalmers story by Wendel Allis Chalmers Tractors by Andrew Morland & Peter Henshaw AC tractor ads 1922- 1956 AC tractor ads 1957- The Plow peddler by Buescher Stories from an Allis employee as he worked his way up in the tractor co. (some funny or sad) Stories can be found in the older copies of OLD ALLIS News--- and old TOY Farmer Mag I believe. The Grain Harvesters has a chapter on the begining companies of Allis to 1977 The Great Super series Gleaners And I think there is another book the Great Silver . Both put out by Agco, ask your dealer An Industrial Heritage. By Allis Chalmers Corp. from the beginning of Allis to 1977. I found these books on Ebay, Half Price book store and antique shows. |
Posted By: HaroldOmaha
Date Posted: 29 Dec 2018 at 1:53am
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Also Norm has a smaller book A Guide to Allis-Chalmers Farm Tractors. might have some different pictures or stories. |
Posted By: HaroldOmaha
Date Posted: 29 Dec 2018 at 4:39pm
| When did they make the straw pith helmets? |
Posted By: garden_guy
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2019 at 8:19pm
Well guess what somebody just brought me for a belated christmas present tonight...  Whoo-hoo!  |
Posted By: TimNearFortWorth
Date Posted: 26 Jan 2019 at 10:19am
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Surprised me awhile back when seen a mailman (sorry, mail person) in a USPS commercial wearing what looked to be quite similar to that A-C pith helmet.
At the PO a few weeks back at closing time and asked the postmaster if anyone still wore them. She showed me some in their change area, same basic hat except now a lightweight plastic with plastic adjustable liner typical of a hardhat. Maybe if someone ordered them in Orange with the A-C logo they could sell some, still be hot in summer.
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Posted By: Michael V (NM)
Date Posted: 26 Jan 2019 at 6:53pm
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I met Norm at the 2000 Washington KS GOTO,but I didn't realize who I was visiting with.I shoulda got them books then an had him autograph them...uhh hindsight is REALLY CLEAR.. Definitely keep the AC 1914-1985 book,, its worth a lot now...the blue one by Wendel is a good one too..check which edition it is..early ones worth more.. There all keepsakes..so keep em for your kids... |
Posted By: CTuckerNWIL
Date Posted: 26 Jan 2019 at 7:35pm
Dad had a white pith helmet with a MasterMix feed chevron on the front. He wore it all the time cultivating corn with the CA. It made good shade for hot days, and had great ventilation with the air space between the head band and the helmet. Wish I still had it. None of the siblings seems to now what happened to it. ------------- http://www.ae-ta.com" rel="nofollow - http://www.ae-ta.com Lena 1935 WC12xxx, Willie 1951 CA6xx Dad bought new, 1954WD45 PS, 1960 D17 NF |
Posted By: Dusty MI
Date Posted: 27 Jan 2019 at 8:36am
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Back grow up on the farm, and after, about when school let out in the spring I would buy a new straw hat. I ware it all summer, by fall it would be warn out and thrown away. ------------- 917 H, '48 G, '65 D-10 series III "Allis Express" |
Posted By: CTuckerNWIL
Date Posted: 27 Jan 2019 at 11:53am
When I was about 12, I bought a new straw hat. The neighbor wanted help so I went over with my new hat to run the rotary hoe for him. The first round in road gear a gust of wind flipped it off my head and it went under the rotary hoe  That was a very short lived hat and a good lesson for me.------------- http://www.ae-ta.com" rel="nofollow - http://www.ae-ta.com Lena 1935 WC12xxx, Willie 1951 CA6xx Dad bought new, 1954WD45 PS, 1960 D17 NF |
Posted By: Ray54
Date Posted: 27 Jan 2019 at 5:51pm
With the all summer no rain here in Calif, wheat and barley harvest was a 3 to 4 month season with 100 F days common. It was a richule to put the old sweated up straw hats through the separator at the end of the last day of harvest.
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Posted By: john(MI)
Date Posted: 27 Jan 2019 at 6:18pm
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I have the little tractor data book. Probably used that book more than any of my manuals. Norm signed my copy as well, it was an honor meeting him at the tractor show. I think I might round up my books and put them on the facebook auction site. ------------- D14, D17, 5020, 612H, CASE 446 |
Posted By: Bill Long
Date Posted: 28 Jan 2019 at 9:44am
I was honored to meet MR SWINFORD at the "Coming Home" GOTO. I
think I have all of his books. One was autographed. Wrote him and
asked if he would sign them all. He agreed, so I sent him the books
with return postage. He signed them all. One of my prized possessions. Good Luck! Bill Long ps: Bill Deppe mentioned he had taken a "I think" 190 to the funeral of MR SWINFORD. I had sent a donation and Mrs Swinford sent me a picture of the 190 at the funeral with friends. Bill you may still have that picture. I do.
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Posted By: garden_guy
Date Posted: 30 Jan 2019 at 6:43pm
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Thanks for all the stories and photos guys, this is really fantastic. Shame I was too young to go around and appreciate many years of GOTOs and history and knowledge of AC stuff over the past 15-20 years. I did check my CH Wendel book, it is a 1993 print. I think the originals were 1988.
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