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AC Topeka Plant - Proving Grounds

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orangeman View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote orangeman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Jan 2019 at 11:55am
Likely the H4, HD4 and 652, 653 and 655 Crawlers were all tested at the Topeka proving grounds.  If memory serves me, Norm Swinford mentioned the AC 840 wheel loaders were also tested at Topeka as well. 

Hoping to resurrect this thread to see if Chopperhopper or others have found anything new on the Industrial Proving grounds. 

Orangeman


Edited by orangeman - 15 Jan 2019 at 6:44pm
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waldersha View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote waldersha Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jan 2019 at 9:56am
Don't have anything to add specifically, but I live about 5 miles from the location Chopperhopper mentions.  I'll have to ask Dad if he remembers anything about that.  He would have been a little kid back then.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lazyts Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Jan 2019 at 11:42am
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote orangeman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Jan 2019 at 12:10pm
Lazyts- Perfect action shot of the good ole 840's at the AC Topeka proving grounds!

Appreciate you posting it!  I wonder what was tucked away in the barn up on the hill - looks to be an excavator or backhoe off on the far left side. 

Orangeman
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Andrew Murray View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Andrew Murray Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2019 at 1:50pm
Yes there was testing involved here i live on the property currently
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote HaroldOmaha Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2019 at 2:29pm
One of our tractor club members had that Oliver with the loader that picked up the bucket load on the front and dumped it in the back. He displayed it at the Ag Expo in 2017 in Omaha. He has since sold off most of his tractors, he lives near Lincoln, Neb.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mikez Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2019 at 9:29pm
Welcome Andrew do you have any info or story's of the site. Or equipment of your own
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Andrew Murray Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2019 at 10:12pm
No not really just have an old sign and a bunch of stuff they left behind
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DMiller Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2019 at 7:11am
I hate to ask, but where out of Topeka was it that I could look on Maps?
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Andrew Murray View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Andrew Murray Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2019 at 2:22pm
Out on 62nd between jennings and leedy
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DMiller Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2019 at 5:01pm
Thanks
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote chopperhopper Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 May 2020 at 10:10am
Man. My 3rd attempt. And by now I'm afraid to waste any time being clever just to drop the message and pic.
I see there Andrew mentioned the sign. He's the family that had it for years. But sign ownership has changed hands. She's a 200lb 4'x8 beast with angle iron going around the borders.
Stay on the good foot. 20200516_053313_2020-05-18_10-05-10.jpg20200516_053323_2020-05-18_10-07-23.jpg20200516_053246_2020-05-18_10-09-20.jpg
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CAL(KS) Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 May 2020 at 10:16am
very cool.  thanks for sharing


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DiyDave Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 May 2020 at 5:57pm
nice gravity boots!Wink
Source: Babylon Bee. Sponsored by BRAWNDO, its got what you need!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DougG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 May 2020 at 7:07pm
Thats very nice,, thanks alot 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CAL(KS) Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 May 2020 at 8:16am
can you tell me the current address or building site of industrial equipment complex?  i go through topeka quite often and have always wondered.
Me -C,U,UC,WC,WD45,190XT,TL-12,145T,HD6G,HD16,HD20

Dad- WD, D17D, D19D, RT100A, 7020, 7080,7580, 2-8550's, 2-S77, HD15
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveM C/IL Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 May 2020 at 10:09pm
Originally posted by CAL(KS) CAL(KS) wrote:

can you tell me the current address or building site of industrial equipment complex?  i go through topeka quite often and have always wondered.
The location is listed earlier in this post
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote NomoreJohnDeere Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 May 2020 at 9:27am
What is ITD engineers?
HD3
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CAL(KS) Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 May 2020 at 10:41am
Originally posted by NomoreJohnDeere NomoreJohnDeere wrote:

What is ITD engineers?
Industrial Tractor Division
Me -C,U,UC,WC,WD45,190XT,TL-12,145T,HD6G,HD16,HD20

Dad- WD, D17D, D19D, RT100A, 7020, 7080,7580, 2-8550's, 2-S77, HD15
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CAL(KS) Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 May 2020 at 10:42am
Originally posted by SteveM C/IL SteveM C/IL wrote:

Originally posted by CAL(KS) CAL(KS) wrote:

can you tell me the current address or building site of industrial equipment complex?  i go through topeka quite often and have always wondered.
The location is listed earlier in this post
Austins link is no good. I am referring to the actual plant no the test grounds and reading back through i dont see anything.  IIRC  norms book list the address but that address is no longer valid in a search.


Me -C,U,UC,WC,WD45,190XT,TL-12,145T,HD6G,HD16,HD20

Dad- WD, D17D, D19D, RT100A, 7020, 7080,7580, 2-8550's, 2-S77, HD15
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote steve(ill) Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 May 2020 at 5:37pm
Andrew gave this location for the old Proving Grounds ...

Out on 62nd between jennings and leedy

I went to GOOGLE EARTH and 62nd is several miles north of town.... and Jennings Road is a couple miles west of Highway 75 ... see below.



I tried to get a closeup of 62nd ( east west road) and between Jennings and Leedy.... i see two farms ( houses and buildings) south of 62nd... I guess CHOPPER said it is on the west corner of the box below






Edited by steve(ill) - 22 May 2020 at 5:46pm
Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tagoodnow Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 May 2021 at 12:08pm
The plant was at 1105 NW Lower Silver Lake Rd... Current site of Midwestern Metals / Custom Dredge Works.

A couple of the former employees at MWM worked at the AC plant in their younger years.


Edited by tagoodnow - 21 May 2021 at 12:08pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote steve(ill) Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 May 2021 at 12:36pm
here are a couple GOOGLE EARTH shots of that area....







Edited by steve(ill) - 21 May 2021 at 12:40pm
Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote orangeman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 May 2021 at 2:40pm
Nice Work Steve!  Orangeman

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steve(ill) View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote steve(ill) Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 May 2021 at 12:36pm
tagoo said "THE PLANT" was here... Prior to this , we were talking  "THE PROVING GROUND".... it appears there might have been 2 places, several miles apart in Topeka.. Im thinking a manufacturing facility and a test center ?? 
Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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orangeman View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote orangeman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 May 2021 at 5:24pm
There is a promo piece of literature showing the AC 714 and 715B Backhoe Series - the building behind the backhoes is Brown Brick and has the good old American Flag flying proudly behind them - see Pages 90-91 in the Bill Huxley Allis Chalmers Agricultural Machinery soft cover book.   Am thinking the brown brick building may have been the Topeka AC headquarters and the proving grounds was a seperate address.  Anyone know for sure? 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Oldandgray Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jun 2021 at 9:39am
ITD office was on Western Ave in Topeka just North of 21st on West side: Russell Story was ITD head man when I was there in early 70’s. Ted Cranford was head of Distribution and Forecasting where I worked: when office consolidated over to plant on Silver Lake road: some management leadership come over too: I went over and continued as day shift line supervisor and then 2 nd shift supervisor till I left in 1976; Was good company till upper management lost sight of what ITD was all about
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