1938 A-C Power Horse
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=160367
Printed Date: 02 Aug 2025 at 5:00am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: 1938 A-C Power Horse
Posted By: HoughMade
Subject: 1938 A-C Power Horse
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2019 at 7:12am
I did not know these existed until yesterday. Now, I have decided that my life will not be complete until I have one. http://www.mecum.com/lots/CJ0717-301533/1938-allis-chalmers-power-horse/" rel="nofollow - 1938 Power Horse at Mecum ------------- 1951 B |
Replies:
Posted By: savedallis1953
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2019 at 7:15am
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You could pull a big three story house with that. Nice! ------------- 1953 WD, 1953 WD, WD engine with WD-45 crankshaft. |
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2019 at 7:49am
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That is a neat Allis piece. Probably not many around?? Good luck! Regards, Chris ------------- D17 1958 (NFE), WD45 1954 (NFE), WD 1952 (NFE), WD 1950 (WFE), Allis F-40 forklift, Allis CA, Allis D14, Ford Jubilee, Many IH Cub Cadets, 32 Ford Dump, 65 Comet. |
Posted By: Fred in Pa
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2019 at 8:26am
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If you Really Really want one ,just be ready when one comes up for sale ,then BUY IT . That's all it takes . That's how I got all the stuff I have n had . Good Luck . ------------- He who dies with the most toys is, nonetheless ,still dead. If all else fails ,Read all that is PRINTED. |
Posted By: TramwayGuy
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2019 at 9:52am
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To be accurate, only the ‘B’ engine was made by Allis Chalmers. The rest was by the Harris Power Horse Company. Here’s an article on it; from “Farm Collector”: https://www.farmcollector.com/tractors/eimcos-power-horse-tractor" rel="nofollow - https://www.farmcollector.com/tractors/eimcos-power-horse-tractor |
Posted By: Alberta Phil
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2019 at 9:53am
Here's one I restored for a customer a few years ago. This one was in the original Power Horse colors. |
Posted By: HoughMade
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2019 at 10:04am
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Still super cool! ------------- 1951 B |
Posted By: chaskaduo
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2019 at 10:06am
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The Farm Collector article says it weighs in at 2,500 pounds, Tractor Data says the B weighs 2,060 to 4,193. Must be some heavy duty construction going on there. ------------- 1938 B, 79 Dynamark 11/36 6spd, 95 Weed-Eater 16hp, 2010 Bolens 14hp |
Posted By: Pat the Plumber CIL
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2019 at 12:36pm
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As I understand it they operate like a skid steer where you apply power to one side or the other to steer . Is this thinking correct ? Also were these the predecessor to the original bobcat ? Did Melroe buy the rights to produce ? ------------- You only need to know 3 things to be a plumber;Crap rolls down hill,Hot is on the left and Don't bite your fingernails 1964 D-17 SIV 3 Pt.WF,1964 D-15 Ser II 3pt.WF ,1960 D-17 SI NF,1956 WD 45 WF. |
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2019 at 12:42pm
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this was posted on this site a few years ago.......Don't know who.  ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: Pferdestärke23
Date Posted: 29 Jul 2025 at 1:27pm
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RECENTLY FOUND IN THE WILD ! The Albert & Bond Bonham Patent led to the creation of the Prototype (Trigger). This Prototype led to the Eimco Power Horse (Miss Mavis). The Eimco Power Horse led to the Allis Chalmers model which is focus of this Topic. Following the end of WWII, AC sold the design back to the Bonhams. The Bonhams built a few more tractors before they sold the design to Harris Manufacturing Co.  Search Terms: 0 Bonham (Albert and Bond) 1 Utah Constr Co (Ogden) 2 Eimco 3 Allis Chalmers 4 Harris Man Co (Calif) https://youtu.be/xLGdtx4nEAg?si=-pMv2TXLrzfrzAY2" rel="nofollow - 𝑱𝒖𝒍𝒚 𝟐𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒂𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝑬𝒊𝒎𝒄𝒐 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝒃𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, 𝙴𝚍 𝙼𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚐 ( . . . ) https://youtu.be/Ohc-dUgyUrc?si=64bsLVKm7vRfX4nS" rel="nofollow - 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, 𝙵𝚊𝚛𝚖𝙰𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚜 ( . . . ) https://youtu.be/AkehKd1ySnk?si=etBFJcjT0fdw1yxr" rel="nofollow - 𝑬𝒊𝒎𝒄𝒐 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒆 (Leaving the Stables), 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, 𝙲𝚘𝚍𝚢 𝚆𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚗 ( Dana's Daughter is at the Reins . . . ) https://youtu.be/upahhHEzvOQ?si=MKrXllM1S-6AMYEj" rel="nofollow - 𝑬𝒊𝒎𝒄𝒐 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒆 (Return to Stables), 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, 𝙲𝚘𝚍𝚢 𝚆𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚗 ( . . . ) https://youtu.be/gupMo30DYdo?si=pE8jz6N_Da8-h8kj" rel="nofollow - 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆 ( Sat, 10 am, Stagg's Entry ), 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, 𝙲𝚘𝚍𝚢 𝚆𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚗 ( . . . ) https://youtu.be/57FdSCkKlMw?si=Wi1U0cXxZPJOBoUj" rel="nofollow - 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒚𝒑𝒆, 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔, 𝙳𝚊𝚗 𝙺𝚒𝚍𝚖𝚊𝚗 ( Dana bought 𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳 from the Kidman Family . . . ) |
Posted By: Pferdestärke23
Date Posted: 29 Jul 2025 at 2:54pm
uploads/24913/powerhorse-patent_2025-07-31_17-47-57.gif" rel="nofollow - 𝕻𝖆𝖙𝖊𝖓𝖙: April 16, 1940 A. W. BONHAM, JR., ET AL 𝖘𝖍𝖊𝖊𝖙 𝟸 𝖔𝖋 𝟻 uploads/24913/powerhorse-patent-5_2025-07-29_15-05-20.gif" rel="nofollow - 𝕻𝖆𝖙𝖊𝖓𝖙: April 16, 1940 A. W. BONHAM, JR., ET AL 𝖘𝖍𝖊𝖊𝖙 𝟻 𝖔𝖋 𝟻  INVENTORS: Albert Wagner Bonham, Jr. Alvin Bond Bonham Reprinted text from Mr. Bonham’s patent application for the Power Horse. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Patented April 16,1940 2,197,248 United States Patent Office 2,197,248 Tractor Albert W. Bonham, Jr., and Alvin B. Bonham, Clinton, Utah, assignors to Bonham Manufacturing Company, Montello, Nevada, a corporation of Nevada. Application June 26, 1937, Serial No. 150,470 26 Claims (CL 180-17) This invention relates to a tractor, and more particularly a general utility tractor, that is to say, one which may be used for substantially all purposes for which horses, mules or other draft animals have heretofore been used. For example, the machine may be used with equal facility for plowing, harrowing, cultivating, scraping and many other purposes on farms, and for widely diversified haulage of modern contractors’ machinery, and the building of roads and in other engineering and industrial works. The principal objects of the invention are: First. To provide a tractor which may be completely controlled from a point remote from the tractor, by means of a pair of lines or reins in the hands of a driver although control of the machine may also be accomplished by an operator riding on the machine and handling the control device directly. Second. To provide a machine which is positive and reliable in its action, but whose control mechanism is extremely sensitive and responsive. Third. To be capable of making turns practically within its own length so as to economize space in turning at the ends of the furrows in plowing, or at the ends of the rows in cultivating farm crops, as well as in innumerable maneuvers in connection with industrial operations. Fourth. To be capable of going straight ahead at a uniform speed, turning to either the right or the left, standing still for short periods or for periods of indefinite length, and backing either straight or to the right or left. Fifth. To provide a tractor capable of being hitched to ordinary horse-drawn implements with only minor changes in implement hitch, such, for example, as replacing the ordinary long tongue with a short tongue. Sixth. To be so compact and maneuverable as to facilitate operation in close quarters where ordinarily movement is difficult or even impossible. Seventh. To be relatively simple in construction and operation, durable in use, and reasonable in cost. Eighth. To be so conveniently handled by means of the reins or lines that the implement to which the tractor is attached can be manipulated even more effectively than if draft animals were used instead of the tractor, only one person being required for the entire performance. Ninth. To provide clutch means, preferably in twin units, through which the power flow from a suitable source is routed direct from a forward driving member or a reverse driving member to a driven member, which is to say that at no time does the energy from the forward driving member have to flow through any element of the reverse driving member, or vice versa. Patent drawing of A. W. Bonham, Jr. et al filed June 23, 1937 Tenth. To secure the maximum strength, compactness, and maneuverability through the novel disposition of four traction wheels, two wheels, preferably in tandem, being disposed on each side of a body frame, all the wheels being rotatably journaled on rigid axles, and having their tire circumferences spaced apart from each other only so far as is necessary to provide adequate working clearance between the two. https://www.gasenginemagazine.com/tractors/the-very-first-and-one-of-the-last/" rel="nofollow - Patent Application SOURCE |
Pat the Plumber CIL wrote:Posted By: Kip-Utah
Date Posted: 29 Jul 2025 at 5:13pm
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I was just with the Staggs at Hutchison this weekend, where we discussed the need to write a proper correct history of this special tractor. I spent about a half day talking to Albert Bonham's son, Stanley a few weeks before he died. According to Stanley; Bert & Uncle Bond made two prototypes with Hercules engines in about 1938. They then entered some type of joint venture with Eimco to produce the first Power Horses using A-C 125 engines and transmission gears common to the AC-B. They also used A-C hoods & radiators. Their tractors were painted many different colors, but none were Persian Orange. Then right before WWll they sold the rights to the Power Horse to A-C. At this time A-C moved Bert & his family to West Allis where they employed Bert as a consultant to the project. According to Stanley, A-C produced two prototypes before abandoning the project & giving the rights back to the Bonhams at the end of the war. Bert moved his family back to Utah & commenced building more tractors for a short period of time before selling the design and rights to the Harris Company out of Stockton California. I'm really sorry that I didn't have the foresight to record this meeting with Stanley.
------------- HANSEN'S OLD ORANGE IRON. Showing, Pulling, & Going!! |
Posted By: IBWD MIke
Date Posted: 30 Jul 2025 at 7:28am
| A short video I shot of them on parade; https://youtube.com/shorts/Ohc-dUgyUrc?si=ofiiK6c3AHJh-mHC" rel="nofollow - https://youtube.com/shorts/Ohc-dUgyUrc?si=ofiiK6c3AHJh-mHC |
Posted By: HudCo
Date Posted: 30 Jul 2025 at 4:30pm
| kip what does shorty probasco from up to pinveiw have to do with the power horse beginings i thought he had somthing to do with the creation of the power horse or getting it pataned |
Posted By: Kip-Utah
Date Posted: 30 Jul 2025 at 9:42pm
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That copper colored Powerhorse that Probascos had was either a preproduction or one of the very first Eimco Powerhorses built. ------------- HANSEN'S OLD ORANGE IRON. Showing, Pulling, & Going!! |
Posted By: Pferdestärke23
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2025 at 5:16pm
uploads/24913/Rawhide_!_.jpg" rel="nofollow - MEME made from one ScreenShot of Mike's Video |
Posted By: Pferdestärke23
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2025 at 9:00pm
 Now, wouldn't a normal horse just be encouraged to leap from the trailer ? ( the staggs: day one at the 2025 orange spectacular ) |
Posted By: Pferdestärke23
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2025 at 11:27pm
 
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Posted By: Pferdestärke23
Date Posted: 01 Aug 2025 at 2:26am
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Allis CHALMERS ( Just an example using the "COLOR" tag, the "SIZE" tag, and the "FONT" tag. ) (( This does not activate an URL ! ))  ( This is by far the most dysfunctional implementation of BBC that I've ever encountered ! ) |