Talkin with grandpa
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=57146
Printed Date: 06 Sep 2025 at 3:31am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Talkin with grandpa
Posted By: Don(MI)
Subject: Talkin with grandpa
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2012 at 7:57pm
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I heard another orange story from grandpa and now got me wondering. He just told me that when he was younger, he had an offer from the local dealer to ride down into ohio to get new equipment. He said no, because he had to milk the cows. The dealer would travel south of detroit, just into ohio somewhere. He would take a large army truck and trailer. My guess is that this would have been late 40's to early 50's. Now the question is, was there a plant in northern ohio, or was the dealer getting them off railcar? There was rail access in michigan, so im thinkin its not that. ------------- Galatians 5:22-24 "I got a pig at home in a pen and corn to feed him on, All I need is a pretty little girl to feed him when I'm gone!" |
Replies:
Posted By: JimIA
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2012 at 8:07pm
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I would think they were talking about LaPorte Indiana instead. Thats where they built pretty much all of the harvesting equipment. Unless there was some at the Cleveland branch office. In that case the dealer could have been saving money buy picking it up there instead of having the train haul it closer? Jim |
Posted By: Calvin Schmidt
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2012 at 8:16pm
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He was likely going to the Toledo branch. ------------- Nothing is impossible if it is properly financed |
Posted By: Don(MI)
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2012 at 8:22pm
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He did say something about toledo, but I didnt think that was a plant. Was that just a hub to get the equipment rerouted? ------------- Galatians 5:22-24 "I got a pig at home in a pen and corn to feed him on, All I need is a pretty little girl to feed him when I'm gone!" |
Posted By: Calvin Schmidt
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2012 at 8:48pm
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A branch was a regioal office ,parts, and equipment warehouse. Dealers in an area were serviced from the branch. Most new equipment was delivered by rail to the dealer but the branch also kept some inventory. ------------- Nothing is impossible if it is properly financed |
Posted By: allis g
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2012 at 11:14pm
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My dad talked about making that same trip when he was in high school. Hauling equipment back to McGrath implements in New Hampton Iowa for his dad. |
Posted By: dave63
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2012 at 6:27am
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I remember going with my grandfather to the Richman Va. branch to get equipment.
------------- The universal answer to all questions is yes, how much do you want to spend? |
Posted By: Ted J
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2012 at 7:12am
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You guys are sure lucky! The only place I ever got to go with my Grandfather was fishing. He never even took me to where he worked, the La Crosse plant. Dang!
------------- "Allis-Express" 19?? WC / 1941 C / 1952 CA / 1956 WD45 / 1957 WD45 / 1958 D-17 |
Posted By: Ken(MI)
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2012 at 8:18am
| In the late 40's Allis built a branch house in Lansing that was open until the mid 70's, so I'm not sure why they would go to Toledo if it was during that time frame, but at this point, who knows. |
Posted By: acwdwcman
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2012 at 8:41am
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man all of you guys with this history of Allis Chalmers in your families.. I'm not even old enough to have seen an ac dealership!!! Allis Chalmers was shut down more than 10 years before i was born!
------------- wd with a freeman model 90 trip loader, wd45, 38 unstylled wc, b 10 garden tractor and 2-14 ac trip plow. grandpa has a 56 wd45. wd. allis chalmers snap coupler blade and 3 bottom snap coupler plow |
Posted By: JimIA
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2012 at 9:08am
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I meant to say Toledo, dont know why I typed Cleveland......brain fart I guess. The branch house for northern Iowa was Mason City like allis g had said. My bosses talk about going there for parts and on occaision I find stuff around the dealership with Mason City tags on it. I need to find the address so I can see if the building is still there. Allis g, you must be a relation of Steves then? Jim |
Posted By: Don(MI)
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2012 at 9:38am
Blessed is what it is really!
I wish I could go back in time, walk into an active dealership with new WD45's sitting out front and order one! Ha Also, would have loved to walk into the engineering labs at allis.
I was born the same year allis shut its doors. Its up to young guys like you though, to keep orange iron in working condition for the future kids to see what its all about! God bless! ------------- Galatians 5:22-24 "I got a pig at home in a pen and corn to feed him on, All I need is a pretty little girl to feed him when I'm gone!" |
acwdwcman wrote:Posted By: btred1466
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2012 at 12:57pm
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I was born in 1985. Is this the year they went out of business? I think it is.
I would have loved to see the One Ninety XT's when brand new at the dealer. Really would have loved to see the 7000 Series, because my Grandpa and Uncle had a 7030 and 7000. I found out where their One Ninety XT Series III is at and is about 5 to 10 minutes away. Grandpa bought it new at ED LONG INC. Carrollton OH. Don't know what year they bought it but Serial # is 29988. Tractor is a 1971 and towards the last ones I think.
I will buy it someday as I was told I will be told when they want to ever sell it.
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Posted By: Lonn
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2012 at 1:21pm
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I remember the black belly 7000s and when the 8000 series came out I was about 12 or 13. I didn't pay that close of attention then. I remember my Dad and uncles complaining that the 7000 series looked to much like a 20 series Deere at the hood line and then how ugly the 8000 series were. I know they would all deny it today but that's what they all said. They liked the looks of the 190/200 etc. ------------- -- --- .... .- -- -- .- -.. / .-- .- ... / .- / -- ..- .-. -.. . .-. .. -. --. / -.-. .... .. .-.. -.. / .-. .- .--. .. ... - Wink I am a Russian Bot |
Posted By: allis g
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2012 at 1:46pm
| Jimia yes Steve is my cousin. He still has the business although it is called Agland today. It was started by my grandpa Dan McGrath. I remember many hours wandering around the old shop. I have a shop stool from an old Allis tractor out of the junk yard out back. A big treat for us kids was when Uncle Gene or Uncle Merle would open up the soda machine and let us take our pick. My dad Burke left the business after WW II and moved to Calif. |
Posted By: Gary
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2012 at 2:51pm
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I have a picture of myself at 7 years old sitting on a brand new WD-45 in 1953, the first 2 tractors my Dad received when he started selling Allis Chalmers equipment. Gary
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Posted By: DaveTex
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2012 at 5:01pm
| Jim & Steve: I graduated from New Hampton High in 1961, and I remember taking Ag Class at the old McGrath Dealership. My Father bought his only new tractor, a AC D-14 From McGrath's somewhere around 1960. He used it until he quit farming, I have many fond memories Using the D-14 with that Power Steering. The Tractor went to Denver, Iowa when we had the farm sale. I have a picture of it on my website, http://www.bigwheeltractor.com" rel="nofollow - www.bigwheeltractor.com Best Regards Dave Carney |
Posted By: CTuckerNWIL
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2012 at 8:51pm
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I think a guy must be real lucky to have know his Grandpa. Even though my Grandpa Tucker never owned a tractor, I would give anything to have been able to spend some time with him. He died 15 years before I came along. My other grandpa was a mean old man and died when I was 6 years old. Dad was 29 and out of WWII before he got his first tractor. Probably really thought life was easier doing field work with a 1947 C instead of a team of horses. ------------- 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 |