Print Page | Close Window

185 tobacco special?

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=209839
Printed Date: 22 Mar 2026 at 1:13am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: 185 tobacco special?
Posted By: AC720Man
Subject: 185 tobacco special?
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2026 at 10:06pm
Was there such a model offered? One is for sale in NC

-------------
1968 B-208, 1976 720 (2 of them)Danco brush hog, single bottom plow,52" snow thrower, belly mower,rear tine tiller, rear blade, front blade, 57"sickle bar,1983 917 hydro, 1968 7hp sno-bee, 1968 190XTD



Replies:
Posted By: 8070nc
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2026 at 5:20am
Yes there was. Ive got one

-------------
1984 80780
1957 D14
DES 300 with 25000 engine
616 tractor


Posted By: Gary Burnett
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2026 at 7:07am
I've seen a couple sell down in NC looked like any other 185 to me except for the sticker


Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2026 at 7:57am
so....... what made it Special ? ...  height ?... width ? ... no 3 point ?


guess front axle width is the main thing ?

https://www.redpowermagazine.com/forums/topic/120664-tobacco-specials-and-bright-lightnin-decals/" rel="nofollow - https://www.redpowermagazine.com/forums/topic/120664-tobacco-specials-and-bright-lightnin-decals/



-------------
Like them all, but love the "B"s.


Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2026 at 8:52am
Maybe they had optional racks that went along the length of the hood to hang tobacco leaves on to dry out ??  ..........I'm just saying.


Posted By: tbran
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2026 at 9:54am
There was a 96" front axle on the later models. There was an extension for the rear axles as well. A lot were ordered with the 38" PS wheels. There was never a picture of the Tobacco Special decal in parts that I know of. I do know there was some internal comments about using 'Tobacco' on a company decal in the later stages. In fact at one time later the credit corporation had a policy of not financing tobacco equipment  - that lasted only until our book keeper reached out to the powers that were....and explained a few statistics - in uncertain terms and verbiage. Seems the decal was not shinney like the others as well. The regional sales manager for the East made a big pitch for this 'special' and a few made their way in to Tn as far West as Goad Impl in Springfield - Barren Plains - Tn.   There was a narrow front 50"  beam support, a std support and a 96" unit -- all had different length tie rods  that surprised a many a parts man when they arrived and the customer brought them back  along with the correct old ones...       

-------------
When told "it's not the money,it's the principle", remember, it's always the money..


Posted By: whatscooking
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2026 at 10:03am
They smoked, ha ha


Posted By: Ray54
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2026 at 11:19am
Originally posted by whatscooking whatscooking wrote:

They smoked, ha ha
LOLLOLLOL


Posted By: AC7060IL
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2026 at 8:53am
Originally posted by 8070nc 8070nc wrote:

Yes there was. Ive got one
Mr Donald, if you’d be so kind, please show the AC forum pictures of your AC 185 Tobacco Special.
What varieties of Tobacco did you grow?


Posted By: AC7060IL
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2026 at 9:05am
Originally posted by tbran tbran wrote:

There was never a picture of the Tobacco Special decal in parts that I know of. I do know there was some internal comments about using 'Tobacco' on a company decal in the later stages. In fact at one time later the credit corporation had a policy of not financing tobacco equipment  - that lasted only until our book keeper reached out to the powers that were....and explained a few statistics - in uncertain terms and verbiage.
Sir, many a thanks to your rich stories of genuine AC history. No one could tell it better than those who worked it & lived it. Always enjoy reading them.


Posted By: 8070nc
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2026 at 10:30am
Ill post some pictures after we get over this ice storm. It needs a lot of work. I bought it to save it. The only thing i can tell thats different is the front axle part with the spindle has about 4 inches extra before the first bolt hole so it goes wider but not as narrow too. We grew flue cured tobacco until 1991 at which time i went broke in the cotton business. Lost every thing i had
Wife children tractors trucks land the whole nine yards. I wouldnt want to go through it again but it was the best thing that ever happend to me because i didnt know what i was capable of until i had to do something else. Now im a maintainence contractor for a major meat packer that you would know if i called thier name. Im very blessed. I make enough money to hobby farm a few acres i accuired a few years back. And save some ACs from the scrapper. More information than you needed but i got started and didnt know how to stop

-------------
1984 80780
1957 D14
DES 300 with 25000 engine
616 tractor


Posted By: 8070nc
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2026 at 10:52am
Niw that ive thought about it some i think i can explain the need for the tobacco special. Ill have to do it later. Ive got a project going on at the plant i need to tend to

-------------
1984 80780
1957 D14
DES 300 with 25000 engine
616 tractor


Posted By: AC7060IL
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2026 at 11:28am
8070nc, thanks for sharing your farm history. Sorry for your past losses. What area do you farm?
In 1986, my employer cooperated with NC State University at two corn yield test farms. One was near Wilson & other was east of Plymouth near Phelps Lake. I was chosen to solo-harvest them with the company’s Gleaner F3. IIRC, Wilson yielded 135-170 bu, but Plymouth topped 300 bu on a few hydrids. Farmer there ran a newer Gleaner N6 or N7 & explained to me(23yr old) the basic gleaner F threshing settings. That was my debut to gleaners.


Posted By: 8070nc
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2026 at 1:54pm
Yes sir Ac7060IL. The reason for the tobacco special is Roanoke Manufacturing came out with a automatic tobacco harvester about 1973. It was set up for 48 inch rows. A lot of people bought them to cut down on labor. Hence the 96 inch width needed on tractors to tend the crop. My place is in Wade just north of Fayetteville. I only have 14 acres of tillable land. I plant corn and soybeans
Ive got enough equipment to tend 1000 acres. The reason is i can buy used big stuff cheaper than a lot of small stuff

-------------
1984 80780
1957 D14
DES 300 with 25000 engine
616 tractor


Posted By: Gary
Date Posted: 26 Jan 2026 at 9:18pm

Link to a similar Post back in 2019:

https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/what-is-a-tobacco-special-180_topic163616.html" rel="nofollow - https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/what-is-a-tobacco-special-180_topic163616.html


Pictures:

https://www.proxibid.com/lotinformation/53995996/allis-chalmers-185-crop-hustler-tobacco-special-tractor" rel="nofollow - https://www.proxibid.com/lotinformation/53995996/allis-chalmers-185-crop-hustler-tobacco-special-tractor




Posted By: Tracy Martin TN
Date Posted: 26 Jan 2026 at 10:50pm
Goad Implement were great people!Dee ,Don and Bill couldn't be beat. Miss them greatly! Tracy

-------------
No greater gift than healthy grandkids!



Print Page | Close Window

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Copyright ©2001-2017 Web Wiz Ltd. - https://www.webwiz.net