Allis-Chalmers

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The Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. of Milwaukee was an American manufacturer with diverse interests, perhaps most famous for their bright, orange colored farm tractors.

History

Started in the 1840's, Incorporated in Delaware.
E.P. Allis, Fraser & Chalmers company merged with 2 other firms to create Allis-Chalmers.
1914 entered into farm equipment business.
Product lines included, Agricultural Tractor (West Allis, WI), Implements (LaPorte, IN) and Industrial Tractor (Topeka, KS), Gleaner Combines (Independence, Mo), Hydroturbines (York PA), Process equipment (Valves, Pumps (York PA) and Compressors (West Allis, Wi), Electric Motors (Clevland, OH), Crushing and screening equipment (Appelton, WI), Comminution, Air Purification (IL), Coal Gasification (St Louis, MO) and Simplicity Garden Tractors (Port Washington, WI).
Acquired the Monarch Tractor Company in 1928.
1928-1933 - Allis-Chalmers tractors were sold under the Cockshutt name by the Cockshutt company.
Acquired Advance-Rumely, (LaPorte, IN), in 1931.
1943 - Built pumps for uranium separation (part of the Manhattan Project) during World War 2 (West Allis, WI).
Acquired Buda Engine Co., Harvey, Illinois, in 1953.
Acquired Gleaner Harvester Co. 1955
Acquired Vendeuvre in France in 1959.
Acquired Simplicity in 1965.
Simplicity was sold to its management in 1983.
Farm equipment division was sold to K-H-D (Klöckner-Humboldt-Deutz) AG of Germany in 1985, and renamed Deutz-Allis. (Later this was sold to AGCO, and tractors were sold under the AGCO-Allis and later just AGCO).
Dispersal of the remaining manufacturing businesses in 1988.
Office in Milwaukee closed January 1999
The remaining service businesses later became [Allis-Chalmers Energy] in Houston, Texas.
At one time the manufacturing facility near Milwaukee was so large it was used as a landmark. The rumor has it that the city of West Allis was named because it was "West of Allis."

Agricultural Machinery

Tractor Models

United, introduced 1929, renamed to the Model U. First tractor with low pressure pneumatic tires.
Model B - a small tractor in the 20 hp class popular in the UK, introduced in 1937. Around 125,000 produced.
Model C - an upgrade of the Model B with slightly more hp, introduced in 1940.
Model G - an unusual cultivation tractor.
Model WD-45 - perhaps the most significant tractor developed by Allis-Chalmers. First model with optional diesel power, first model with power steering option. Introduced in 1953.
D Series - a comprehensive range of tractors
Hundred Series - followed the D Series
compact series - Several were built in Japan by Toyosha/Hinomoto
Utility Series - Some built in Italy by Fiat, some in France by Renault.
4WD Series - 4WD models, some of which were built by Steiger.

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