Allis cotton days
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=208915
Printed Date: 08 Jan 2026 at 3:58pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Allis cotton days
Posted By: Pat the Plumber CIL
Subject: Allis cotton days
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2025 at 2:39pm
 Michael from New Mexico is the operator ------------- 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. |
Replies:
Posted By: Pat the Plumber CIL
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2025 at 2:53pm
 ------------- 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: Pat the Plumber CIL
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2025 at 3:20pm
 ------------- 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: Oldoug
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2025 at 3:25pm
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I wanted to get there to see this show...would be neat to see. ------------- Matt Folkers FOLKERS RESTORATION Restoring vintage things to last so the future can enjoy our past. |
Posted By: Pat the Plumber CIL
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2025 at 3:37pm
 Here is a picture of what's inside the pod or boll . 4 or 5 chambers on the pod each with 2 or 3 seeds in it . Cotton Strippers are more like rakes in that they rakes the pod loose . The machine cleans it some and then it dumped into a module builder ( smasher) and then the mill comes and hauls it the the gin mill for the final processing before a textile mill would purchase. Pretty neat process for someone who has only been around beans corn and wheat. ------------- 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: plummerscarin
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2025 at 3:46pm
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That would have fun to attend. Thanks for sharing |
Posted By: den/southern illinoi
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2025 at 3:50pm
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Thanks for the great pictures Pat. Congrats to Creston for the show. ------------- Own 4 wheel 20, 5020 and associated equipment and 1 electric forklift. Also a 720 garden tractor, 720 Diesel. 620 and soon a 616 garden tractor. |
Posted By: cwhit
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2025 at 4:37pm
| Wow! How many machines are there? Kinda looks like 10 or so. Finishing up fall field work here. Weather looks good there also. Would love to have attended. Thanks for the pics.. |
Posted By: JoeM(GA)
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2025 at 6:14pm
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OH WOW!!! Thank you for the pictures Pat!, was kinda hoping to find a way to get out there, but it’s just a bit too far right now, Creston, my hats off to ya sir!, you pulled it off! ------------- Allis Express North Georgia 41 WC,48 UC Cane,7-G's, Ford 345C TLB |
Posted By: JW in MO
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2025 at 7:05pm
You sure about that, that shirt don't look pink in the picture.  ------------- Maximum use of available resources! |
Pat the Plumber CIL wrote:Posted By: jvin248
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2025 at 7:31pm
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. That looks like quite a show, like all brand new machines! Closest I've seen cotton is watching griggs farms on YouTube. Modules and bales. They do a lot of corn and beans and how I started watching. Now I'll have to look up how the AC's work. . |
Posted By: Michael V (NM)
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2025 at 8:18pm
Yea, J W,, I was a little more 'official'...wore a shirt with A-C on it.... |
Posted By: Daehler
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2025 at 8:34pm
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I had hoped to make it but hadn't got finished with harvest. Hope there was a good turn out. Would of loved to ran one of the machines for Creston. ------------- 8070FWA,7080 BlackBelly, 7045,2 200s,D19,D17,G, WD,45,UC,7 AC mowers and lots more! "IT TAKES 3 JD's TO OUT DO AN ALLIS, 2 TO MATCH IT IN THE FIELD AND 1 FOR PARTS!" |
Posted By: darrel in ND
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2025 at 5:50am
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Looks like a very interesting show. Hopefully the turnout was good enough to make it an annual event, and I can make it there next year. Thanks for the pictures, Pat. Darrel |
Posted By: injpumpEd
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2025 at 9:27am
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I will make it to this some time, keep having them Creston lol! I've never been around stripped cotton, we always picked in South Texas. Thanks for sharing the pics with us who could not make it. ------------- 210 "too hot to farm" puller, part of the "insane pumpkin posse". Owner of Guenther Heritage Diesel, specializing in fuel injection systems on heritage era tractors. stock rebuilds to all out pullers! |
Posted By: orangereborn
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2025 at 10:35am
| Creston/Pat...Creston, thanks for what you are taking on...Pat, thanks for the documentation and passing it on..I had planned on making that trip,,,but..Dale |
Posted By: Mikez
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2025 at 11:26am
| Thanks for sharing. Looks pretty neat |
Posted By: Ray54
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2025 at 11:52am
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Thanks for sharing the good times with the rest of us. Cotton striper is very different than any a cotton picker I have been close to. From what I see and read out here on the left side of the cotton belt, module builders are only worth scrape price. Just heard an acreage report for California, just over 100,000 acres. Once over a million acres of cotton out here.
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Posted By: Pat the Plumber CIL
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2025 at 2:07pm
 ------------- 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: Pat the Plumber CIL
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2025 at 2:08pm
 ------------- 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: Pat the Plumber CIL
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2025 at 2:08pm
 ------------- 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: Pat the Plumber CIL
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2025 at 2:14pm
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Thanks to Creston for putting on this show. Very informative presentation that Creston gave for the Stripper machines and cotton growing. Thanks to all the people that traveled as far as they did . Plenty of guys from Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, ND ,Michigan etc etc . Hopefully Creston can keep this going. If you get a chance, definitely make this a Bucket list trip. Love to see different crops and the techniques, technology and effort it takes to grow and harvest. ------------- 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: wjohn
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2025 at 7:49pm
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I'm sad I missed out on this as I'm just now getting fall tillage done due to the recent heavy rains. I sure hope it was a success and will happen again next year.
Thanks for sharing pics for those of us who couldn't attend, Pat! ------------- 1939 B, 1940 B, 1941 WC, 1951 WD, 1952 CA, 1956 WD-45 |
Posted By: Michael V (NM)
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2025 at 7:51pm
 Operators view |
Posted By: AMB(wcIL)
Date Posted: 16 Nov 2025 at 10:42am
| That looks like a very interesting working show to have attended. As a corn/soybean and hay farmer that looks very different than the typical corn picking/plow days we have here in the Midwest. Hats off to you Creston/team for putting together and hosting such an event! I know what kind of work is involved in hosting working shows. Thank you, Pat, for posting lots of pictures and I didn't realize that there are that many Allis cotton machines still alive. Andy |
Posted By: HudCo
Date Posted: 16 Nov 2025 at 10:51am
| thats all real neat i have never seen a cotton feild so how is the cotton seed harvasted for seed? |
Posted By: Pat the Plumber CIL
Date Posted: 16 Nov 2025 at 12:50pm
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Creston claims he has to buy "hybrid" seed at 400 dollars for a 50 pound sack that plants 6 to 7 acres. Most seeds are removed at the Gin mill and ground for cow feed. I assume the seed for planting is removed like the seed for feeding but that part of the process wasn't discussed. Maybe Creston will get on here and divulge. If not it is a question I will ask at the next one. ------------- 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: HudCo
Date Posted: 16 Nov 2025 at 4:17pm
| forgot alabout cotton seed in the dairy rations |
Posted By: HudCo
Date Posted: 16 Nov 2025 at 4:18pm
| what is the differance in stripping and picking |
Posted By: Ray54
Date Posted: 16 Nov 2025 at 6:35pm
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Maybe a bit of help looking at a picker head. https://www.cottonpickerworks.com/headers/" rel="nofollow - Headers - Cotton https://www.cottonpickerworks.com/headers/" rel="nofollow - Picker Works https://www.ebay.com/itm/175359016917?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338590836&toolid=10044&loc_physical_ms=82928&customid=fa02352c47da15695c285c362b7f75a9&gclid=fa02352c47da15695c285c362b7f75a9" rel="nofollow - 100 of Replacement JD Cotton Picker Spindle Assembly Right Hand AN274217 Farmer | eBay Not the best picture but better than none. In the day the tractor junk yard in Fresno California had lot cotton pickers. The spindles that rip the cotton of the stacks are super hardened steel. The notches on the well used ones where still sharp and could bit real good if you were not careful. If you grind the sharp points off guys used them as punches the steel was so good. The individual spindle all spin, as well as the bars they are on rotate. Each spindle passes over plates that pulls the cotton off the spindle. Then sucked up into the basket. Since I never operated or work on one more than to scavenge a hydraulic hose or light ,  anything that looked useful to sidehill grain farmers. Thats all I have on cotton harvesting.Sorry for getting ahead of Creston as I think I see one picker in with the strippers. I was under the impression strippers and pickers worked on different types of cotton plants so were generally not used in the same area. As you can see much more lush plants in picker head rebuilders pictures.
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Posted By: Pat the Plumber CIL
Date Posted: 16 Nov 2025 at 7:57pm
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Basically pickers are much more complicated than a stripper. Creston only had stripper machines. He has one with a header that looks like a pickers but it is not . Allis promoted strippers as a better more economical way of harvesting cotton. Another company (green) wanted the more complicated system that needed more replacement parts and service. This other company squashed research that Basically wrote the end of the stripper. Pickers produce a slightly cleaner product and can go through the field several times. Creston knows a lot about these machines and hopefully he can chime in. If you get a chance and he does this again definitely get out there to see this in person. Hopefully someone made a video that can be posted on YouTube of Creston explaining the machines and the process. There are different varieties of cotton for both the pickers and strippers. Picker cotton is taller, usually irrigated and out produces stripper cotton. Stripper cotton is shorter and usually used in dry land farming. Produces less but much less input ------------- 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: omahagreg
Date Posted: 16 Nov 2025 at 9:45pm
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Check out Wild West Farmer on YouTube! They run 3 JD strippers that are 25 years old, still use boll buggies and module builders! Says it is way to expensive to get a new one that puts out bales! ------------- Greg Kroeker 1950 WD with wide front and Freeman trip loader |
Posted By: DiyDave
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2025 at 4:52am
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All of those old stripper teeth also have other uses, too... https://www.atreetoyourdoor.com/tree-stands-html/" rel="nofollow - https://www.atreetoyourdoor.com/tree-stands-html/ ------------- Source: Babylon Bee. Sponsored by BRAWNDO, its got what you need! |
Posted By: Ray54
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2025 at 10:21am
There might even be one of those tree stands hiding here somewhere. But I believe that is picker spindle. Or do strippers use spindles too? Since picture of Creston's machines here is as close as I have been.
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Posted By: CrestonM
Date Posted: 11 Dec 2025 at 11:56pm
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Here are a couple clips from the show. It wasn't much, but we had fun! About 150 combined guests from both days. We had guests from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, and Ontario. Everyone insisted I need to do this again next year, so that's currently the plan. Going to plan on November 13th & 14th, 2026. A short clip of field demos and the kids' cotton picking contest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4b8uV2DRNQ" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4b8uV2DRNQ This one is a walk-through history of the models of cotton strippers Allis produced: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpXmpe_WefY" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpXmpe_WefY |
Posted By: AC7060IL
Date Posted: 12 Dec 2025 at 5:43am
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Pat, thank you for sharing info & photos. Will put this event on my calendar for 2026 & hopes to attend? Creston, thank you for sharing a marvelous history of cotton production, both its industry & AC’s participation. I had read about AC using their gleaner machines as base models for cotton. Love hearing the G226 & GM250s running in the video & imagined smelling their gasoline exhausts? Terrific job! |
Posted By: wjohn
Date Posted: 13 Dec 2025 at 2:53pm
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Thanks for posting the videos for those of us who couldn't make it this year. We have cotton up here but I just haven't personally gotten to know anyone that raises it, so it's great to hear more about it. ------------- 1939 B, 1940 B, 1941 WC, 1951 WD, 1952 CA, 1956 WD-45 |
Posted By: Hubert (Ga)engine7
Date Posted: 13 Dec 2025 at 3:59pm
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Creston, great job putting on the event, sounds like everything who made it had a great time and looking forward to attending next year. And thank you, Pat, for sharing the pictures. Nice to see all of those machines earning their keep. We have very little if any cotton grown in this area, it starts just south of here and the large acreage is in South Georgia. ------------- Just an old country boy saved by the grace of God. |
Posted By: robb
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2025 at 4:29pm
Here's some photos of an AC 801 picker we purchased new back in the 60's. The main diiference between AC and Rust Pickers from JD and IH was the AC and Rust picked from one side with the picker spindles racks mounted on a top and bottom chain that pulled them thru the header and the JD and IH picked from both sides with the spindle racks mounted on durms that turned in and out of the cotton stalk as you drove down the row. The JD and IH had a suck/blow fan that carried the cotton to the basket. The AC and Rust had a blow only fan that blew the cotton in the basket when it was stripped off the spindles which resulted in less seed crackage because it was not going thru the fan. The AC and Rust spindles had a right cut and left cut barb on them to grab the cotton and spin it out of the open boll. You had be careful when replacing since one line rotated clockwise and the other line rotated counterclockwise. They woud not pick if put in wrong. Later manufactured spindles had both a right and left barb on them so you couldn't put them in backwards. The AC and Rust were good pickers and if setup right gave a cleaner cotton to gin, but the headers took a lot of maintance due to design and ware of parts. The JD and IH were much easier to maintain and the headers lasted longer becasue they ran in oil sealed in the drums.  
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Posted By: im4racin
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2025 at 6:27pm
| Hmm….looks like someone needs to take that to next years show! |
Posted By: injpumpEd
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2025 at 6:59pm
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That is awesome! I have never seen or heard about anyone having an 801 or 802 picker. So little info out there on AC pickers. ------------- 210 "too hot to farm" puller, part of the "insane pumpkin posse". Owner of Guenther Heritage Diesel, specializing in fuel injection systems on heritage era tractors. stock rebuilds to all out pullers! |
Posted By: jvin248
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2025 at 7:33pm
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. Clever to realize they could machine a universal spindle for one part and error proof repairs. . |