Today Press Release 1985 Allis - Chalmers
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=206067
Printed Date: 24 Jul 2025 at 11:56pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Today Press Release 1985 Allis - Chalmers
Posted By: DougG
Subject: Today Press Release 1985 Allis - Chalmers
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2025 at 7:10pm
| March 28 th 1985 Allis - Chalmers signed the paperwork to sell The Allis Chalmers Ag Division to - KHD/ Deutz to form a new company - Deutz -Allis,, Deutz will pay $108 million - on a division supposedly valued at $266 million; will finish tractor production at West Allis on prior models - never buying the factory - every model Allis Chalmers after this will have a Deutz Allis decal- very sad day,,, |
Replies:
Posted By: tbran
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2025 at 8:56am
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Egos are a terrible thing that lead to waste. IF Deutz had continued the name and line, substituted their engines for the AC's (think volume - the biggest issue of Harvey- lack of revenue), painted them orange, shipped the Allis 8000 painted green back to Germany - they had no high hp powershift tractors- allowed their engineers to work with the combine division - it might have worked. Allis Chalmers - a division of KHD. However, as one who sat at the table as a dealer representative in Cologne along with Deutz-Allis first President Bill Templeton - I can attest the only thing they wanted was a dealer organization. They were snakes - all mouth, no ears. Then when the 'Wall" came down they didn't even want that - they had the idiotic idea they could sell modern equipment to no cash socialist farmers who had no idea of capitalistic farming. Plus they were losing money due to products that didn't sell, in most areas. At least Bob Ratliff and company - with old AC guy Ed Swingle - bought it back. Trust me - it could have turned out a lot worse under different options that were out there. AC WAS selling the Ag division. period. Deutz just happened to be the highest bidder. It takes a big bankroll to survive the depression cycles in Ag - like today - wanna make a bet if some more don't fold if these low prices continue ? Other than all this - have a nice day :-)
------------- When told "it's not the money,it's the principle", remember, it's always the money.. |
Posted By: DSeries4
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2025 at 9:54am
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There were other companies who were interested in buying AC. Anyone know who those were? ------------- '49 G, '54 WD45, '55 CA, '56 WD45D, '57 WD45, '58 D14, '59 D14, '60 D14, '61 D15D, '66 D15II, '66 D21II, '67 D17IV, '67 D17IVD, '67 190XTD, '73 620, '76 185, '77 175, '84 8030, '85 6080 |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2025 at 3:11pm
| Kubota was in the running for the farm equipment division. |
Posted By: MrSnerdly
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2025 at 11:20pm
| It is truly a shame what Deutz did. They had the most modern tractor on the market at the time and shut them down and chose to import a design about 20 years behind anyone else. Open center hydraulics (none too much flow either), bull gears rather than planetaries, the ugliest damn tractor ever built but I admit, the engines were good. Later on, when they were basically a White with a Deutz engine, I think they had a good tractor but they were so hideous to look at that it no doubt affected sales. If only they had kept the 8000 series and used their engines they might still be in business. |
Posted By: bigal121892
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2025 at 10:13am
You can always tell a German, just can't tell them much.
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tbran wrote:Posted By: ecosse23
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2025 at 1:38pm
I'd also be interested to learn more about who the other potential buyers were. Do you know whether there was any info in the public domain, e.g. newspaper articles published at the time?
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