Harvey Firestone Congradulating Ab Jenkins
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=18007
Printed Date: 06 Feb 2025 at 10:48am
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Topic: Harvey Firestone Congradulating Ab Jenkins
Posted By: CJohnS MI
Subject: Harvey Firestone Congradulating Ab Jenkins
Date Posted: 09 Sep 2010 at 9:49pm
"Some of Jenkins’ 1933 runs were on Harvey Firestone’s farm in Ohio. Firestone and Allis-Chalmers developed a pneumatic tire for tractors,
but found a difficult time selling farmers on the concept, so
Allis-Chalmers’ Harry Merritt hired Oldfield and Jenkins to race the
pneumatic-tire-equipped tractors to enthrall farmers and convince them
of the benefits of the tires." |
Replies:
Posted By: Mojo
Date Posted: 09 Sep 2010 at 11:56pm
|
I believe the Nebraska tests did more convincing than anything.
mojo/Mike |
Posted By: CJohnS MI
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2010 at 6:21am
Convincing on what - the benefit of balloon tires? To have a set of those first Firestones today - man that would be something! I'm surprised that no one has researched that tractor and built a replica. In fact, I'm surprise AGCO hasn't done that. If they ever get serious about rebuilding their reputation, this part of their heritage would be a good place to start. Have I mentioned lately what I truly think of AGCO? |
Mojo wrote:Posted By: JayIN
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2010 at 7:08am
|
Marvin Klutzke has a tractor like that with the original tires on it. I saw it when I was near West Lafayette, Indiana at the Little "K" wheat harvest in July this year. It was in the moving van truck on Friday. I dont know if they unloaded it later, but it was VERY IMPRESSIVE !! By the way, thanks for a great day! My daughter and I really enjoyed it! ------------- sometimes I walk out to my shop and look around and think "Who's the idiot that owns this place?" |
Posted By: Kip-Utah
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2010 at 10:36am
|
I spent a very enjoyable afternoon with Ab's son, Marvin just a few months prior to Marvin passing away. According to Marv, his dad said driving that U over 60mph was like stradiling a stampeeding buffalo. It was easier piloting most of his land speed record cars such as his famous "Mormon Meteors" than keeping that tractor pointed forward! Kip ------------- HANSEN'S OLD ORANGE IRON. Showing, Pulling, & Going!! |
Posted By: Kip-Utah
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2010 at 12:06pm
|
Harvey Firestone was a close friend of Henry Ford, so used several Fordson Tractors on his farm, but in about 1936 he also bought a couple of A-C Allcrop combines to use with these "off-brand" tractors. It's interesting how many of these early industrial giants had close personal relationships with each other. Kip ------------- HANSEN'S OLD ORANGE IRON. Showing, Pulling, & Going!! |
Posted By: CJohnS MI
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2010 at 4:09pm
|
Those friendships forged brand loyalties that lasted the best part of a century. It kind of kept the outside competition well, out. I'm sure the FTC would call that collusion or something similar today... It would tickle me pink to see someone build a replica of that tractor. Those balloon tires were as they say, "a game changer". |
Posted By: Brian Jasper co. Ia
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2010 at 4:30pm
|
That must have been interesting to see a tractor pulling a plow, then be unhitched from the plow and start buzzing around a race track at those speeds. ------------- "Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford |
Posted By: AllisChalmers37
Date Posted: 10 Sep 2010 at 5:02pm
|
Sweet, I know it says 65.45 mph but at first glance it looks like 6,545 MPH. ------------- 1937 WC, 1950 CA, 1959 D14, 1967 190XT, 2006 Ram 3500 |