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The Forum | Parts and Services | Unofficial Allis Store | Tractor Shows | Serial Numbers | History |
Model A- Back in the Family |
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34 Airflow ![]() Bronze Level ![]() Joined: 26 Apr 2011 Location: Australia Points: 165 |
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This tractor is solely responsible for my interest in Allis Chalmers Tractors. This Model A was purchased from Lanes Motors in 1937 after my grandfather, Gordon and his brother Neil sold their team of ten Clydesdale Horses for their property, Tyrrell Downs in Sea Lake Victoria. The tractor was the first Rubber Tyred tractor in the Mallee area with several photos of the tractor taken due to it's novelty. The photo below shows Neil behind the wheel and Gordon on the scoop behind.
When World War 2 hit the tractor remained a workhorse on the family farm in Sea Lake in the hands of Neil whilst Gordon served in the army in the Pacific. On return from War Gordon was offered a soldiers settlement property in Bamawm near Echuca Victoria which he took up as a small dairy farm. Neil retained the tractor over the years, moving to Wangaratta in Victoria and eventually restoring the tractor in the 1980's. After Neil's passing the tractor was kept by his family along with his other Allis' being a WD45 and an English Model B. Gordon tried to reacquire the tractor when it appeared in the Weekly Times for sale section around 1990, but an eagle eyed reader had been quicker to reach the phone and it was seemingly lost to the family. Gordon then decided to purchase a Model U to restore as he saw the enjoyment that Neil had in restoring and collecting Allis'. Several more Allis' were bought and restored by Gordon and his wife Joy over the years but an eye was always kept out to purchase a Model A even if it wasn't his original. The photo below is the Model A tractor after Neil's restoration work. Sadly Gordon passed away before finding an A of his own but the restoration bug had been passed onto myself at an early age, from sitting on the tractors to later helping with the restorations and buying my own tractors to restore alongside him. I had always chased every lead we had on a Model A even asking around at Rallies and Clearing Sales with the limited details we had of who had purchased the Model A and the approximate location of the buyer. Eventually at the Lockington Vintage Tractor Rally in 2014 a man by the name of Mac Turner was introduced to me and he was from the area the A had sold to. It was a few days after the rally that Mac had a lead on a collector from the area that wasn't known to him but could be it although he had a big clearing sale a number of years prior. A phone number was found and after a few attempts contact was made and the owner did in fact own a Model A Allis he bought from Wangaratta many years earlier. An appointment was made to view the tractor in June of 2014 and a surprise road trip for my elderly grandmother was arranged with the mystery trip and lunch somewhere a good excuse for a day out. We entered the shed and there it was, my grandmother mentioned to the owner that they had one the same they bought new, to which he replied this was in fact the very same tractor! After the initial shock, photos of the tractor taken when new were shown and an understanding that if ever the tractor was to be sold it would be offered back to our family. Below is a shot from that reunion with myself, my mother and grandmother. Contact was maintained over the years and in March 2017 an agreement to sell the tractor was agreed upon. The big day finally arrived and on April 9th 2017 the Model A returned to the same family it was purchased by new 80 years earlier in 1937. After a busy couple of weeks cleaning and replacing the front tyres the tractor was taken to the 20th Lockington Vintage Rally for a surprise reunion with my family. After a bit of work we tow started the tractor and got it moving under it's own power once again. In the meantime the tractor will be pulled down for further maintenance and restoration work.
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1937 Model A, 1937 Model U, 1929 United, 1945 Model C, 1949 WF, 1948 WC, 1956 D272 and a Roto Baler
http://www.australianallischalmersregistry.com/ |
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34 Airflow ![]() Bronze Level ![]() Joined: 26 Apr 2011 Location: Australia Points: 165 |
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1937 Model A, 1937 Model U, 1929 United, 1945 Model C, 1949 WF, 1948 WC, 1956 D272 and a Roto Baler
http://www.australianallischalmersregistry.com/ |
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34 Airflow ![]() Bronze Level ![]() Joined: 26 Apr 2011 Location: Australia Points: 165 |
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1937 Model A, 1937 Model U, 1929 United, 1945 Model C, 1949 WF, 1948 WC, 1956 D272 and a Roto Baler
http://www.australianallischalmersregistry.com/ |
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GreenOrange ![]() Orange Level ![]() ![]() Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: Wisconsin Points: 828 |
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Fantastic photos and story - glad it is back. Thanks for sharing!
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wekracer ![]() Orange Level ![]() ![]() Joined: 13 Oct 2009 Location: Tebbetts, MO Points: 1587 |
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That's a good story. Thanks for sharing. I'm glad you got the tractor back. We have a CA that my grandpa bought new.
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B26240 ![]() Orange Level ![]() Joined: 21 Nov 2009 Location: mn Points: 3860 |
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Wonderful story Family tractors are special and you have some very nice pictures of it years ago, Thankyou for sharing with us !!
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Gary Burnett ![]() Orange Level Access ![]() ![]() Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Points: 2928 |
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Great story and some very neat old pictures.
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HD6GTOM ![]() Orange Level ![]() ![]() Joined: 30 Nov 2009 Location: MADISON CO IA Points: 6627 |
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absolutely GREAT STORY -- congratulations on finding it.
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allisrutledge ![]() Orange Level ![]() Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Location: SurgoinsvilleTN Points: 1353 |
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That's good Allis Chalmers history there. Thanks for posting. Scott Rutledge
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Allis Chalmers still exist in my mind and barns
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allisrutledge ![]() Orange Level ![]() Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Location: SurgoinsvilleTN Points: 1353 |
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Does the name 34Airflow have any relation to a car?
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Allis Chalmers still exist in my mind and barns
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saele ![]() Silver Level ![]() ![]() Joined: 12 Jan 2015 Location: Devils lake, ND Points: 55 |
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Enjoyed the personal history store, hope it stays in your family for a long time.
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Bret (OH) ![]() Silver Level ![]() Joined: 15 Sep 2009 Location: Blanchester, OH Points: 347 |
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Great photos. So rare to see something that old in its very original work clothes.
It appears that the rear rims are different than in the original photos. Probably replaced at some point to install wider tires?
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CTuckerNWIL ![]() Orange Level ![]() ![]() Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: NW Illinois Points: 22818 |
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It's great to hear and see the history, and to know this tractor made the "CIRCLE" back "home".
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http://www.ae-ta.com
Lena 1935 WC12xxx, Willie 1951 CA6xx Dad bought new, 1954WD45 PS, 1960 D17 NF |
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alan-nj ![]() Orange Level ![]() Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: oxford, nj Points: 847 |
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nice story....."team of 10 Clydesdales"....now that's some team. My father sold his team of 2 ordinary plow horses to buy his first tractor in the early 40's
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If ignorance is bliss, than happy days are here again.
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Bob-Maine ![]() Orange Level ![]() ![]() Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: Central Maine Points: 922 |
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Great story and pictures. Thanks for the posting. And greetings to my second favorite country after the USA. I wish we had met you when we were there a few years ago. Bob@allisdowneast
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I used to think I was indecisive, but now I'm not sure.
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farmtoybuilder ![]() Orange Level ![]() ![]() Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: Dresden,Ohio Points: 1454 |
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That's Great! Loved the pictures and rear tires that was on it originally. Home Sweet Home!
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5 different TT-10's,5 TT-18's Terra Tigers,B-10,2 B-207's,B-110,2 B-112's,HB-112,B-210,B-212,HB212,2 Scamp's & Homilite T-10. Still hunting NICE HB-112 & anything Terra Tiger & Trailers for them.
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tadams(OH) ![]() Orange Level Access ![]() ![]() Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Location: Jeromesville, O Points: 10017 |
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Glad to hear that the family got it back.
Thanks for sharing Tom
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34 Airflow ![]() Bronze Level ![]() Joined: 26 Apr 2011 Location: Australia Points: 165 |
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Thanks everyone, it has been great to get the tractor back and an emotional experience. The original rims were cut in half and a section welded in to widen them for bigger tyres, which is one of a few modifications done on the farm back in the day. The paint was redone in the late 1980's with a brush which is probably why 30 years later it looks straight off the farm again.
I am a little torn as to whether to repaint or preserve what is there, the color it was repainted in is a lot lighter orange than original, almost a yellow in comparison. Oh and allisrutledge, I do have a 1934 Chrysler Airflow which is another project in my shed at the moment.
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1937 Model A, 1937 Model U, 1929 United, 1945 Model C, 1949 WF, 1948 WC, 1956 D272 and a Roto Baler
http://www.australianallischalmersregistry.com/ |
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oldways ![]() Orange Level ![]() Joined: 25 Apr 2013 Location: west Ky Points: 508 |
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Cool story. Thx for sharing
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1 Corinthians 1:18 1969-190xt-III. 1966 190xt gas. 1966 190xt Cab. 1948-G. 1937-WC unstyled. 1950-B. 1951-CA. 1966-D17-IV
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Unit3 ![]() Orange Level ![]() ![]() Joined: 17 Oct 2009 Location: NC Iowa Points: 5529 |
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A1, Top Shelf, 5 Star story!!! The look on your families faces is priceless.
Now about the pictures with the 8" Guide headlights, does the big "A" have a starter and generator?
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2-8070FWA PS/8050PS/7080/7045PS/200/D15-II/2-WD45/WD/3-WC/UC/C
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Mikez ![]() Orange Level Access ![]() ![]() Joined: 16 Jan 2013 Location: Usa Points: 8304 |
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Wow that is a great story. And a happy ending. Congrats
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34 Airflow ![]() Bronze Level ![]() Joined: 26 Apr 2011 Location: Australia Points: 165 |
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The Tractor does not have a starter and sadly the Headlights are long gone along with the wheel weights in the photos. I would love to grab a set of lights if I can find them.
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1937 Model A, 1937 Model U, 1929 United, 1945 Model C, 1949 WF, 1948 WC, 1956 D272 and a Roto Baler
http://www.australianallischalmersregistry.com/ |
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JohnCO ![]() Orange Level ![]() ![]() Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: Niwot Colo Points: 8992 |
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Wow, great story!
My father also had a Chrysler Air Flow, forget what year he said, both he and the car are long gone although his 94 year younger sister just might remember. |
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"If at first you don't succeed, get a bigger hammer"
Allis Express participant |
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dt1050 ![]() Orange Level ![]() Joined: 05 Jul 2011 Location: central pa Points: 1078 |
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great story with a perfect ending. so many times I've heard of folks trying to track down tractors and find they ended up in a scrap yard. seen this post but just now read it, started out the day on a good note. thanks, dt
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Just cause it's orange don't make it a tractor, there's only one..Allis Chalmers
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Steve allis dozer ![]() Silver Level Access ![]() Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Location: Australia Points: 232 |
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Does it have two exhausts ? looks good with the big headlights and radiator curtain
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Stan IL&TN ![]() Orange Level ![]() Joined: 13 Sep 2009 Location: Elvis Land Points: 6730 |
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1957 WD45 dad's first AC
1968 one-seventy 1956 F40 Ferguson |
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allisrutledge ![]() Orange Level ![]() Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Location: SurgoinsvilleTN Points: 1353 |
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Looking again ,is the muffler and manifold shield original or was it added after being shipped? I got a sales literature and it don't show that. It is interesting that it is still there. Also welcome to this forum.
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Allis Chalmers still exist in my mind and barns
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Unit3 ![]() Orange Level ![]() ![]() Joined: 17 Oct 2009 Location: NC Iowa Points: 5529 |
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Do you have a generator?
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2-8070FWA PS/8050PS/7080/7045PS/200/D15-II/2-WD45/WD/3-WC/UC/C
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34 Airflow ![]() Bronze Level ![]() Joined: 26 Apr 2011 Location: Australia Points: 165 |
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In the parts book I have for the tractor the muffler is correct and as you saw was on it back in the day. The heat shield and lower exhaust was all in one piece and seems to be original too, although I will post a photo of that part which shows the exhaust stack part has been replaced at some point.
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1937 Model A, 1937 Model U, 1929 United, 1945 Model C, 1949 WF, 1948 WC, 1956 D272 and a Roto Baler
http://www.australianallischalmersregistry.com/ |
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34 Airflow ![]() Bronze Level ![]() Joined: 26 Apr 2011 Location: Australia Points: 165 |
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It doesn't have a generator on it and I can't see evidence in those photos of one either.
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1937 Model A, 1937 Model U, 1929 United, 1945 Model C, 1949 WF, 1948 WC, 1956 D272 and a Roto Baler
http://www.australianallischalmersregistry.com/ |
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