How did you get hooked on Allis?
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Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
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URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6819
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Topic: How did you get hooked on Allis?
Posted By: AllisFreak MN
Subject: How did you get hooked on Allis?
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 2:49pm
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OK forum readers, here is a question for you: Everybody on here loves Allis-Chalmers, so, what caused you to become an A-C addict?
Since I asked, I will tell my story. My grandfather started an A-C dealership here in central Minnesota back in the early 1940's. As a kid growing up I would spend many hours playing around his dealership lot in the 70's & early 80's. I recall sitting on those brand new 185's and 7045's along with all the used Allis equipment wishing I could take it all home with me. My dad and other grandpa both bought brand new WD's from that dealership, along with numerous other pieces of A-C machinery. My uncle also bought a D17 Series III brand new from there. I now own grandpa's 1951 WD which I restored, dad's 1949 WD has not been so lucky-yet, it sits in the shed at his old farmstead in desperate need of repair and restoration, it is owned by my brother but he has shoved it in the corner and forgot about it. Dad is gone now, but I'm sure he would have loved to see it fixed up. My uncle's D17 got out of the family's hands so I found another one identical and restored it instead. I would love to get my hands on dad's WD. Maybe someday. My wife thinks I need an intervention to take care of this addiction. Sorry for the excessive words but that's my story, and I'd love to hear the rest of your stories. Joe ------------- '49 A-C WD, '51 A-C WD, '63 A-C D17 Series III, 1968 A-C One-Seventy, '82 A-C 6060, '75 A-C 7040, A-C #3 sickle mower, 2 A-C 701 wagons, '78 Gleaner M2 |
Replies:
Posted By: Leonard
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 2:57pm
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Well, I got hooked because my grandpa ran only Allis equipment. When he passed my mother inherited the equipment and half of the farm. Then while I was growing up we used the equipment. Now that I am coming up on the age of retirement from my day job, I plan on farming the homestead with only Allis equipment just like my grandpa. So 3 generations on the same land and with much of the original equipment. Leonard |
Posted By: Matt (NEIA)
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 3:01pm
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My grandpa and dad farmed 200 plus acres with 2 WD's back in the early 60's. They never really had a color of tractor they stuck with, just whatever was in good running shape and was cheap. (Later they bought a new White 2-155 and 2-85, and most recently dad and i bought a new Agco ST41) when i was 13 i wanted my own tractor for bailing so dad suggested i buy a WD-45 because i would like the hand clutch for bailing. Like a foolish kid i bought a junk WD-45 because it was cheap, put tons of money into it and still have an old piece of iron. But with all that said, i still have a love for the old girl.
------------- 1955 WD-45 with factory PS |
Posted By: cwhit
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 3:06pm
| How did I become an A-C addict ? Well, my mother thinks I was dropped on my head. My wife thinks its been too much exhaust fumes. As for me, its the only thing Ive ever been good at doing.. |
Posted By: Calvin Schmidt
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 3:52pm
| It was in the genes. My grandfather bought a used 20-35 E in the late 30's. My Dad bought a new WD in 1949. I bought a used D-21 in 1975 when I started to farm. A family friend and distant relative was the A-C dealer. My Dad and his family never had another colour tractor. I do not have any of the originial family tractors but do I have the first B and the last D-15 that our dealer sold and a few neighbours originial tractors. There is a one of a different colour here now along with about 25 orange and A-C yellows. |
Posted By: Jim Lindemood
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 4:00pm
| Just turned the key on a straight stack D17D and fell in love at first sound. |
Posted By: Coke-in-MN
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 4:11pm
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My granddad had JD B that i got to drive and the hand clutch was great for a little guy but my AC love was formed by my uncles unstyled WC, being able to crank it and get it started . Then I got to run his new CA hauling bundles when threshing. Loved the sound of the AC and guess just grows ona person.
Next came the HD5G when I was looking for a track machine. Found the best deals were in the OFF brands of construction equipment. The good ones that were not looked at by others as they were not popular . Just still can't find a better bargain than AC equipment. ------------- Faith isn't a jump in the dark. It is a walk in the light. Faith is not guessing; it is knowing something. "Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful." |
Posted By: neilwcmn
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 4:12pm
| I grew up driving a wc on a 272 acre farm so Igot a lot of seat time. After graduating from farm mechanics school I worked for 2 allis chalners dealers and then got a job as service rep. for allis chalners. I left the company in 1982 shortly before the deutz takeover. |
Posted By: John (C-IL)
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 4:45pm
| I was never hooked, it was bred into me! I've been on a WD45 since I was 5 years old. That's 52 years if you are counting. |
Posted By: CTuckerNWIL
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 5:05pm
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I think i got you beat John. I was about 4 (1957)when I was thrown up on the neighbors lap and got to steer Leapin Lena out to the hay field. LL was an unstyled WC. Dad had the CA since BC(before Charlie) and he had an unstyled WC with a mechanical loader. In the early 60's dad bought a used WD to speed up field work and take some of the load off the CA. I now have Dad's CA along with almost 5 other Allis tractors.
------------- http://www.ae-ta.com" rel="nofollow - http://www.ae-ta.com Lena 1935 WC12xxx, Willie 1951 CA6xx Dad bought new, 1954WD45 PS, 1960 D17 NF |
Posted By: DougG
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 5:25pm
| Just listen to the sound of a 301 in a 180 !!! That got me , or the lope that motor has when you turn the fuel to it ; beautiful orange paint , a 200 that,ll pull the front wheels off the ground when you hit high side , easy to work on, just great tractors ; I really wish AC could a survived as they were, everything they marketed and built , the innovation in everything was just awesome ! |
Posted By: JCinPA
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 5:58pm
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Grew up farmin with my Dad on a WD & WD45 through the mid 60's. Then about 69 we purchased a D17D. Oh what a sweet tractor! Loved that tractor. Loved the sound of that 6 cyl. diesel. I ran that tractor from sun up til way after Dark doing the plowing. Wish we still had it. So all this orange is My Fathers falt. He bled orange and now so do I. JCinPA |
Posted By: acd21man
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 5:59pm
| i should have been born in the 60s not the 90s lets just say that |
Posted By: Tdavison
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 6:04pm
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My dad purchased a C on Pearl Harbor day, and it was delivered in mid
February. Every night when I came home from school, I was looking for the tractor.One night it was there, and I made my brother show me how to start it. My dad passed away in late 1943. My mother continued to farm, and I ran this tractor until late 1952 when I joined the Army. I still have this tractor and it runs fine. I have 8 other Allis Chalmers tractors, plus a big bin 66, a roto baler, a pto rake, disc, BC plows, and a BC mower. Tonight the news had some info on how to avoid stress. I told my wife, it is easy, just have a few orange tractors.
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Posted By: gary ny
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 6:11pm
| My grandfather had allis's and when i was small I would ride the toolbox of the 45 dreaming of the day when I will be big enough to drive it.Then a 7 I was taught to rake hay on the c while my uncle baled with the roto baler.Then the day came that I got to spread manure with the 45, I was so proud to be driving that (big tractor) that I hoped to own one when I grew up.Then driving other tractors through the yrs I always like the allis tractors and equipment,Now I have 3 45s and severel other allis and verious pieces of equipment,and I always like to paint the allis tractors over any other brand.The allis chalmers company was one of the most inovated companies that ever came along |
Posted By: papajim
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 6:22pm
| when i was growing up, our neighbor with the least tractor trouble was the guy with a wc and later wd and then a c and a wd45. when i needed "a" tractor i got a B and a C. I also got a b-10, a b-12, 2 608lt and a 712-s papajim |
Posted By: NickT(Ky)
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 6:24pm
| My uncle had two of the best looking D-17 ds in the county. I always wanted one. Later we had a 210. When you put a 5-18 plow down in Ky clay sod field and watch the front wheels float and the flames out the stack at night...........nuf said |
Posted By: omahagreg
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 6:28pm
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Grandpa and Dad always had AC, and the stories to go along with them! ------------- Greg Kroeker 1950 WD with wide front and Freeman trip loader |
Posted By: bryani289swmi
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 6:36pm
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My grandpa had a WD45, blade, subsoiler, and loader which I now have. He also had a D19 gas, disc, 4 bottom plow, gleaner combine, and allis 4 row corn planter. A D19 is on my future purchase list. First tractor I drove was the D19, my uncle was helping with the harvest and we were the only ones around, he pulled a wagon with the WD45 nf (no power steering). He showed me how to start and stop the D19 and I pulled a 250 bushel gravity box home. Nearly tipped it over in the ditch, I was 5 at the time.
Bryan ------------- Sticks and stones may break my bones but hollowpoints explode on impact. |
Posted By: Joe/NC
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 6:42pm
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Started driving 2 B's and a D 10 in the Tobacco field at age 6. The D 10, I own now, was the first tractor I remember being bought on our farm. I remember how friendly the dealer and the mechanics were. Then Dad bought a Messy Ferguson 135. Never liked it. When I farmed I bought a D 17. Guess it just got in the blood. |
Posted By: roughstock
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 6:49pm
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I wish I had a "grew up with" story like the rest of you all. For me, there was a lack of orange paint in the sea of red and green at every tractor show that made them appealing. My grandpa restored a C and I thought it was the greatest tractor ever. Everyone I talked to that owned an Allis had nothing but good to say about them. Obviously there was some bias but their conviction was enough to convince me I wanted one. I got hooked the first time I pulled the start lever on my WD. Brian |
Posted By: MI8050
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 7:29pm
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In our neighborhood, on the two farms I worked at, they had the following: D-17 II, D-17 III, I-600, 170, 175, 185, 190XTIII, 7045, Gleaner C2, Gleaner F etc. Nuff said. I've had it ever since! Now I have a Gleaner and an 8050. |
Posted By: MilesGray (CO/KS)
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 7:34pm
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My Granddad bought his 1938 new from a Dealer in SE Kansas (which I still have) but I think it was when I ate the grease off the Tractor when my dad was servicing it in 1968... now I have 3 1938 B's and a 44 C... and I'm still looking!
Miles
------------- Miles Gray (CO/KS) 5 1938 B's, 1940 B, 1944 WF C, 1948 NF C, Gleaner A, White Top Rotobaler, 1957 IH Golden Jubilee... I'm either a collector, or crazy! |
Posted By: Ken in Texas
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 7:41pm
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A picture of my Dad and I on our Chicago South Side Farm's first B. I will be 70 on the 28th of May 2010. I have been hooked on ACs for a long time. The Farm Stand was on 111th street |
Posted By: Hurst
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 7:54pm
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Getting to "drive" our D17D series IV when I was 6 or 7 with the square baler in my Dad's lap, which meant I got to put a hand on the steering wheel. I knew something clicked when I instinctively pushed the power director forward without knowing what it was, but knew it would make that slow pace go a little faster. Unfortunately for the guys on the wagon, I wasn't very smooth shifting it :-/. I still to this day wonder why instinct told me what the power director did... That was my first time up there. Didn't get to do that again for a while lol. Must have had orange in my blood from birth. Hurst
------------- 1979 Allis Chalmers 7000 5800 Hours |
Posted By: j.w.freck
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 8:18pm
| started out on a wc pulling a hay wagon and hay loader.5 years old and could not operate the foot clutch,had to grab both hand brakes and kill the engine.as dad brought more farms we ended up with 4 wd45s.i have 5 of here in texas,2 diesels and 3 gas.i have the one i drove home from the dealer when i was a junior in high school in 1956.it has been on one of the farms since then.it has been restored as have all the rest.also had the first roto baler in the county.i will never ever part with that heirloom. |
Posted By: DREAM
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 8:34pm
| Grandad had me on the C with him before I was old enough to walk, or to remember it. He said when I got fussy, my grandmother would just bring me out, put me on with him ,and i'd go right to sleep. Something about the sound of a straight-piped B or C will still calm me down from a fever pitch. Guess I had it almost from birth. |
Posted By: Pat the Plumber CIL
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 8:50pm
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When I was 5 my father would let me drive the D-17 SIII while he threw hay off of the wagon for the cows.By driving I meant steering in 1st low.When kindergarden started I did not want to go.Who would drive the tractor for Dad? I am sure HE was ready for school to start. ------------- 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: Eric NY
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 8:56pm
| I borrowed a D12 III with bush hog from my freind (an AC dealer) to take care of the lot behind my barn. I was hooked from then on. That was 30 years ago and I own almost one of all the D series now. Erc NY |
Posted By: Bertman
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 8:56pm
| Grew up working on them. |
Posted By: Mark J N.Y.
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 9:14pm
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My dad farmed with them. He also had a H-3 dozer. I now have the dozer and we are still looking for the WD-45.......Mark J. ------------- It is what it is and I aint going to change!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: r chancellor
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 9:32pm
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I was 6 years old and riding on grandpas ac dozer knocking down poplar trees in northern minnesota. ------------- 66 190gas, 49WF, b1, b10, 37WC, 48WF, B,C, 3 WD'S 66allcrop, 350chevy powered WC |
Posted By: Joe(OH)
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 9:35pm
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Grandpa had the first WC on rubber in the area, that was when he took over farming and got rid of the horses. He also had the first All crop, which great grandma was thrilled about since she didnt have to cook for all the threshing men anymore. From then on its been all AC with two exceptions, the first was when Grandpa tried farming with an army tank after the war and the second was a Farmall 400 which everyone hated. We now farm with mostly AC equipment and a Gleaner combine. I guess I got hooked just by growing up in it. Joe ------------- Life is simpler when you plow around the stump. |
Posted By: JohnCO
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 10:03pm
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Interesting posts! My dad bought a early B when I was about 3. I have some pictures of me on his lap "driving" it. This was in NE Ohio in the early '50s. Thinking about it, I don't know why he got the AC, it was the only one in the neighborhood until someone down the road bought a new B in maybe 1955. Most of the other farms had IH's or Fords or Fergusons. My grandfather was killed in a fire when my dad was 8. He told me he remembered seeing the tractor, a Fordson, all burned up along with the Model T. Maybe he didn't want something that looked anything like a Fordson. Anyway, when we moved to Colorado when I was 7 we bought a C that I used to plow and fit gardens, etc in the neighborhood. I bought a CA when I was in High School, still have it, along with a dozen more. Sorry for the long post, just got to reminiscing. ------------- "If at first you don't succeed, get a bigger hammer" Allis Express participant |
Posted By: CDR,Ky.
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 10:25pm
| The first one I drove was a CA pulling a disk from my grandfathers farm to my Dads farm back in the 60's but the WD is my favorite. |
Posted By: Kip-Utah
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 10:27pm
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Some of my earliest memories involve my grandpa using a Hi-Crop WC to feed his dairy cows. I guess I was warped from that time forward!! ------------- HANSEN'S OLD ORANGE IRON. Showing, Pulling, & Going!! |
Posted By: Brian Jasper co. Ia
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 10:37pm
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I rode many an hour sitting on the tool box of a D17 and a WD45 with my uncle on mom's side of the family. He had all A-C except for a pony start JD 730. The first tractor I got to drive was a B with hand brakes. Later on it was the D17 picking up hay. I was too small to reach both the clutch and brakes. Good thing the power director is on the same side as the brakes...
------------- "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: CDR,Ky.
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 10:41pm
Here's a picture of the CA that I first operated with my Grandfather cleaning out the dairy barn.
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Posted By: JimIA
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 10:43pm
| I grew up on a small farm that used older A-Cs and with the exception of a cross motor Case in the 30s there was never another brand of tractor on the farm. When I was 15 I decided it would be a fun sideline to own a few pieces of A-C equipment. 16 years later I can safely say that it has been more than I was planning! |
Posted By: GlenninPA
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 10:55pm
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It was a 40 combine in my uncle's pasture that did it to me.
Got a 60 combine to replace Dad's old Massey Clipper when I was 16, and it's been a big spiral ever since....
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Posted By: N6PETE
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 11:24pm
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Grew up with them. My first memory was dad's two WD45s & my first actual drive experience was a D14 on a crimper. I always loved the PD stick it is soo handy especially when baling hay. The D17IV was the best tractor ever made. When dad died he had two of them and I owned a 200. I still have the D17 with a 500 series loader. I now farm with a N6 Gleaner, 8030FWA, 7060, 190XT and the D17 loader.
I have alway been impressed with the simplicity of AC's. The D17 pound for pound is the best pulling tractor I have been around as well as nimble, especially the narrow front D17. I got rid of dad's narrow front series IV that he bought new to help pay for my 190XT rebuild and regret it to this day. Great tractors!!
Can you guess what color my underware is?
Pete Hinrichsen
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Posted By: bauerd44
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 12:10am
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Dad bought a "C" in 1948 or 1949 and I remember riding that "BIG, WIDE" seat with either him or my Mom. Dad traded that "C" for a "CA" in 1952 and bought a second "CA" in 1957. I got to use both of them for all of the jobs on the farm. I later bought a used "WD45" and used that for about 5 years. I then traded that off for a new Allis "175". All of these tractors except for the "WD45" came from my uncle, who was an "AC" dealer here in Missouri.
I still run Dads last "CA" for my light work and my "175" does all the heavy lifting and work. I just don't like any other color for tractors, but now that AGCO is going away from Orange, I may have to look at Kubota.
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Posted By: AC1
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 6:17am
| Both of my grandpas used AC's; My dad and I still have some of their original tractors including a restored WD45 gas wide front and a 160 diesel. WD45 is restored and the 160 is still in use; This point is exactly why I wish the ORANGE would continue even if as an AGCO product. The current and next generations will only associate orange with Kubota and not the heritage of Allis that has remained thru AGCO. John Deere and IH have capitalized on this for years and will continue to do so; |
Posted By: Lonn
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 6:36am
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Hearing stories from my uncles about plowing demos back in the 40's and 50's and how AC was always at the top. Deere was usually the worst for power on the plow. My uncle Verlyn had a whole lot of real good stories. Also my Dad grew up on Case and IH tractors but when he bought his second tractor (a WC, first was a VAC) he was sold. Then he bought a couple WD's and then the clencher was when he bought a WD45. He always called it the bucking bronco that couldn't be stopped. Also riding on the toolbox of that 45 and later in the cab of the 190xt made me a life long AC lover. ------------- -- --- .... .- -- -- .- -.. / .-- .- ... / .- / -- ..- .-. -.. . .-. .. -. --. / -.-. .... .. .-.. -.. / .-. .- .--. .. ... - Wink I am a Russian Bot |
Posted By: DarrylinWA
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 7:17am
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We built farm equipment for living at our shop Krause Mfg Inc. in Bellingham WA. They loacal AC dealer was Meridian Equipment which was owned by Bob Vanderploeg who is 1/4 mile down the road. So I would see stuff everyday. My dad started tractor pulling after our family went back to Lake Crystal Minnisota for FarmFest 76 when I was 5 years old and soon be built a sled, with Bob Vanderploeg. He pulled everthing that had a motor on his lot ! He had this D 21 with a 7080 motor in it and I FEEL IN LOVE with 21 !!! I drove one of his new tractors in the local parade everyyear when I was about 5 years old uo to when he sold the dealer in 82. Since then I have bought and sold 20 D 21s over the years and wish now I had some of those back. Oh well, cant have them all. Oh my dad grew up on a WD 45 then the businees started at the Dairy farm in Blaine WA. in the early 60s.
Sorry for rambling, Darryl ------------- B 10 Custom. Serial # 1001 D21, First D21 built 69 #4498 and Last D 21 Built #4609. 1946 MM UTU. And 2000, 2005 Pete's. AC custom Hauling. |
Posted By: Eric[IL]
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 7:39am
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Driving a D17 series I gas at the age of 4 while my Dad scooped silage out of the bunk on the back to cows. After college, I logged 1000s hours running a F3 gleaner at Asgrow Seed. Don Moore Equipment, Lacon IL was a great AC dealership with super knowledge of combines & parts. The AC combines hooked me the most. A gleaner will give a great grain sample & has the best cornhead in my opinion. If you can't pickup downed corn with a gleaner cornhead, then it can't be done. I now own 7060 black, 1300-24', 2000 6-18plow, 170g/500 loader, numerous K2 machines.
<a href=" http://s402.photobucket.com/albums/pp105/gleanerman/?action=view¤t=DSC01096.jpg - http://s402.photobucket.com/albums/pp105/gleanerman/?action=view¤t=DSC01096.jpg "><img src=" http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp105/gleanerman/DSC01096.jpg - http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp105/gleanerman/DSC01096.jpg " border="0" alt="79' Allis Chalmers 7060"></a>
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Posted By: D17JIM
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 7:41am
| Dad started farming in the 30's with a square back WC and horse then added a round back WC, I was born in 1950 and he purchased a new WD the same year then added a 1954 WD45 These were the first tractors I drove. While I was home he at one time had 3 WD45's then traded for a Series IV D17 and then a another 45 left to get his first Diesel a 180. I left home went to college then farmed on my own and my brother joined Dad at home. I purchased a 190XT III and sold it to my brother (mistake) and went IH 1066,706 (loved my 1066) and even had a 44 MH. Left Farming to become an agronomy manager for a Coop and been there 28 years. Now when I can I help My brother and drive either a 8070, 8050, 8010, or 200. Some times a M2 or M3. He still farms about a 1000 acres near Dad's who at 89 combined 400 acres of beans and 100 acres of corn this fall and drives that 8070 and 24 ft disc in the spring I have a mechanically restored D17 II which I use to clear snow for me and my neighbors and give grandkids a ride. Hope to help Bill when I retire on those AC's. |
Posted By: TexasAllis
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 8:01am
| My dad owned an Allis dealership in the late 60's through the early 80's. I loved sitting in those new tractors in front of the shop. |
Posted By: Brian F(IL)
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 8:03am
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Kind of like most others, didn't have much choice. Dad, uncle, grandpa, and great-grandad farmed with AC's. Later on, Dad & my uncle owned an AC dealership in the 60's and 70's. Grew up with the WD's, etc. and then got to be around the new ones (100 series) when I was in high school. Still looking for that perfect One-Ninety XT Series III with a canopy (I've seen a picture of it on the Forum before) to add to the collection.
Brian
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Posted By: Gary (sw Wis.)
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 8:19am
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I was born hooked, it's in my blood. ------------- 190XT - D17 - D14 - WD45 w/loader - WD - (2)B110 - 616H - 610 - B-208 - WD with 190 Mounted Corn Picker - All Crop 60 |
Posted By: JayIN
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 8:29am
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Sitting on the toolbox of my Dad's WD45 when I was 4 watching the short flame above the muffler while we were plowing in the field north of the house. When I started farming I bought a WD with a mounted picker and stuck motor for $200. I cut the picker off with a torch (whoops!) got the motor unstuck and went to farming 107 acres. 1981. A lifetime of it. GO ORANGE!!!FOREVER!!! ------------- sometimes I walk out to my shop and look around and think "Who's the idiot that owns this place?" |
Posted By: Hudsonator
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 10:48am
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My earliest memories of farmlife were involved with AC tractors. My great-grandfather had 2 WD's that ran the farm in the 1970's. On my mother's side of the family, it was all AC tractors. Mostly WD, WD45 and associated equipment. I grew up in a virtual time-warp that was 20 years behind (its kinda still that way).
Given all that history, you often take it for granted and keep looking over the fence at the greener grass. As I got older, I was enamored of other brands and had the opportunity to have some ownership in an A JD. I loved that tractor, but it burned alot of gas doing its jobs. I had a '37 WC given to me at a time I'd hardly have it. However, we fixed it up to usable condition and I started using it on the farm for my own projects. I could pull just as much on 1/2 the fuel and 1500lbs. less tractor weight. I worked that tractor alot and soon realized how far ahead Allis was for its time. This was in the early 80's. Over that decade, I collected up enough WC-suitable equipment to get any job done I needed to do.
When I struck out farming on my own in 1990, a WC was my workhorse. More than one night, I'd put the WC in the barn with the exhaust manifold glowing bright orange. It never failed me and did its jobs very well. I managed to get a WD fixed up in 1995 and upgraded things from there. As good as the WD is, it never compared with the WC for cultivation and ease of getting the cultivator on/off to do different jobs. One could argue that the WC was quicker to hitch up to any job because you only had one hitch point - the drawbar. If the WC had hydrauilics, I'd likely never have wanted a WD. At the time, I could buy a WD cheaper than retrofitting remote hydraulics to a WC. Make no mistake, the WC is a venerable tractor - but the WD is better overall.
To this day, if anyone asks me what tractor would you run a small farm with? My answer always is, "you can't beat a WD for flexibility, utility, and the ability to get the job done - for the price paid." Unless you are in the very best farmland, a WD45 has no advantage over a WD.
A quick story about the WD. I bought my first modern tractor in 1997, frankly because the older tractors were running my farm so profitably that income taxes were eating me ALIVE! I was paying enough in taxes to afford the payment on a new tractor, so I bought one, a 1997 JD 5300. While the salesman was helping me pick out what tractor I could use: he asked what size equipment I was pulling, about how many acres, etc. The last question asked was what tractor was I currently using, he nearly fell out in the floor when I told him a WD Allis. His reply was, " If the 5300 doesn't outshine that WD, we'll take it back or somehow make it right with you". Okay, that's good enough for me.
The JD came to the farm facing a freshly plowed creek bottom that needed disking. I had to unhook the disc from the WD to get the JD into action. As soon as the disc blades hit the dirt, the tractor stopped, spinning. The JD could not pull the disk at all. The bottom was adjacent to my home and had brought the JD to a stop just at my side porch steps, with my wife watching unappily. I looked over at her standing there with arms folded and shaking her head. "Git me the phone!", I said.
I used our cordless phone to call the dealership and got the salesman on the phone. " This 5300 won't do the job, at all", I said. "I can't believe that", said the salesman. "Well, If you'll stay on the line I let you hear it for yourself", I replied. My wife held the phone while I abused the 5300, then unhitched it and replaced it with the WD. The WD took off from the ruts the 5300 had dug, in 3rd gear, and roared around the bottom wide open. I believe that old tractor was just as agitated as I was and put on a good show. The sound was echoing off the hills just about as loud as I had ever heard.
I came back to where I had started, my wife holding the phone outward so the reciever was toward the creek bottom. I jumped down, snatched the phone out of her hand, and shouted into the phone, "You still there!?". "Yeah, the mechanic has already left and has instructions to do whatever it takes to make you happy - or haul the tractor back. I heard the whole thing".
The mechanic did show up about 45 minutes later, with a truck piled up with weights. We kept bolting on weights till the 5300 could pull the disc, but then the engine was taxed a bit. The mechanic told me he'd heard the salesman declare the 5300 superior to the WD and warned him he didn't know diddly about WD's, and that he would likely be hearing from me again. That's how he got the job of bringing out the weights.
At the end of that season, within the warranty period of the tractor, the transmission was shot and the engine was knowing it had spent a hard year. The same salesman made me a sweetheart of a deal to upgrade to a 5410, remembering his previous comments he asked, "I hope we can finally get you a tractor to replace that WD, I know it has to be deserving of a retirement."
I've got news for JD, AGCO, and all the other tractor manufacturers. The new tractors make my back feel a bit better and my hands don't callous over from handling the steering wheel anymore - but they haven't replaced that WD yet.
That's why I'm an Allis man.
Mark Hudson
------------- There isn't much a WC can't do. WD's just do it better. |
Posted By: Lonn
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 11:35am
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Mark, now that's a great story. I'm printing it out. ------------- -- --- .... .- -- -- .- -.. / .-- .- ... / .- / -- ..- .-. -.. . .-. .. -. --. / -.-. .... .. .-.. -.. / .-. .- .--. .. ... - Wink I am a Russian Bot |
Posted By: Alberta Phil
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 11:58am
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Mark: You should send that story with a pic of the WD to the Old Allis News!! |
Posted By: split51
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 12:05pm
| My father owned the local AC dealership from 68-93 and I spent most of my childhood and teenage years there. |
Posted By: Embellem
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 1:40pm
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When I was little my grandfather had a farm. He wasn't brand loyal and had various tractors. I got to a point where I sort of needed a tractor and talked with my uncles about the tractors they used on the farm. The only ones they really liked were the Allis WD45 and the John Deere 3010 (and disliked the Case DC, Farmall 450, and Ford 960). They really praised the Allis, and it was the only tractor they had for all 20 years they farmed. They also really liked the JD 3010, but that would have been more tractor than I would have needed, so I went with ACs. |
Posted By: Hudsonator
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 1:43pm
Thanks for the comments. Its funny how time moves on and the changes that come with it.
A brave young farmer and his WC, 1992
 The WD in my little story, picking corn in 2001
 Passing the torch, 2009. My daughter's fiancee asked my advice on tractors - you know my answer. His reply was a nice WD45 and a chance to learn how to use it.
 Ironicly, that's the same disc and the same bottom that brought the 5300 JD to its knees.
Teaching the young man how to pick corn with his WD45, 2009. I'm beginning to look as rough as my WC did in '91, getting gray in all the places it was rusty.
 ------------- There isn't much a WC can't do. WD's just do it better. |
Alberta Phil wrote:Posted By: AllisFreak MN
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 5:58pm
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Is that a New Idea picker? Those are good machines. ------------- '49 A-C WD, '51 A-C WD, '63 A-C D17 Series III, 1968 A-C One-Seventy, '82 A-C 6060, '75 A-C 7040, A-C #3 sickle mower, 2 A-C 701 wagons, '78 Gleaner M2 |
Posted By: CDR,Ky.
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 6:37pm
| When Lonn said Bucking Bronco that made me remember some things I saw my Dad do on a WD.Those were the good old days! |
Posted By: Jeff-in-Kunkletown
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 6:50pm
| When my dad bought an Allis B about 1980. Always thought Allis' were the prettiest tractors. Everyone else around here had JD or Farmalls so I liked having something different. Not to mention we also have the best website. |
Posted By: Dale
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 7:00pm
| My mom had 2 spinster aunts that farmed. They had a hired man (but no romantic involvement). They both worked hard and prospered. My aunt Eva apparently never slept off the farm for the first 65 years of her life. They both lived well into their 90's. Mixed farm, milking Herefords for cream. They bought a new AC CA and as a kid (over 50 years ago) I sometimes got to pull the hay wagon with it (what a thrill for a city kid). Eventually I started to farm and got into JD's (I can remember getting my 2-cylinder club newsletter on what looked like Gestetnered paper that's how long ago)-Prices for JDs started to go nuts and I stopped buying (still have a bunch). Memories of the old CA started me thinking about ACs (and the prices were better). Did some reading and realised they were perhaps the best engineered tractor of their time. I like the 200 series but have a motley assortment of other AC orange and yellow. I really like the feeling that AC types are not maybe arrogant like addicts from some other colours and I sure like the raw guts and power of my 200 series. I think I'll stay true to AC (although I like some of the M-M stuff out there). Maybe someday I might find that old family CA. As an aside -as an Ont Canada AC addict I envy the assortment and quantity of product you have in the US to buy,sell and collect. |
Posted By: Hudsonator
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 7:21pm
Yep, its a New Idea 309 snapper. It certainly has been a good machine, no complaints. ------------- There isn't much a WC can't do. WD's just do it better. |
Posted By: AllisFreak MN
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 8:44pm
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Dale, I like your comment about A-C people not being arrogant like some of the the addicts of other colors (as in red and green). I think there is a lot of truth in that statement. (I hope that didn't just make me sound arrogant, LOL!) ------------- '49 A-C WD, '51 A-C WD, '63 A-C D17 Series III, 1968 A-C One-Seventy, '82 A-C 6060, '75 A-C 7040, A-C #3 sickle mower, 2 A-C 701 wagons, '78 Gleaner M2 |
Posted By: codey lowe
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 8:57pm
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i bought a AC C on an old farm sale when i was 14yrs old, been buying ever since ------------- if it dont blow black smoke, then it must be broke |
Posted By: Harvey/pa
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 9:10pm
| My first toy tractor was a red plastic Auburn, that looked just like a WD. My uncle painted it PO#1 when they were getting my grandfathers machinery ready for Public Sale, WD & WC tractors, plows & disc. I learned to farm at my other Uncles Farm, all IHC and as a boy had all JD toys ( Dealer close by) but that plastic WD was my favorite and my first tractor was a WD. That plastic WD has a special spot in my showcase now. Told my wife to bury me on my 175 cause I haven't found a hole I could not get out of yet, just had to unhook a few times...Harvey |
Posted By: Ron(WA)
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 9:11pm
| Drove a WD as a boy on the farm, had an opportunity to drive a D17 later, and was really impressed with it. Looked around for a tractor to mow our property with about 10 years ago, and stumbled onto a D15 with a bush hog, and jumped at it, even though the price was up there. Never regretted it, now I have a WD and a B in the stable, and am looking for a Woods belly mower for the B. Have to get the WD restored and some things done on the B and D15. It's always a pleasure working on them. |
Posted By: SteveM C/IL
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 10:11pm
| Grandpa traded a team and boot on a WC before the war.Don't know why AC,just glad that was the direction.Dad marveled at how much ground you could cover in one day.He helped farm with horses prior.Dad died in 2000 and I have his WD he bought new in 49.It's just the "scoop"tractor now.I hobby farm about 100A with my WD45,220 and 8070. |
Posted By: weiner43
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2010 at 7:31am
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I was almost born on a H Farmall. My Uncle had an Allis C & B and a neighbor had a C and an old unstyled WC, I always liked the little C. My brother had a D17 that he liked very well. I worked for a farmer that had a D19, D14, and a John Deere 70. I dispised that 70, but fell head over heels in love with the D19 & expecially the D14. Today I have a Super C to plow snow with and a CA to play with. I still yearn for a D14 or D17. ------------- God bless our troops and the United States of America. Pick your rut well, you may be in it a long time. |
Posted By: LarryWC In
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2010 at 11:29am
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For me, it was my Grandpa Crawley's WD45 that he had in the late 60's that I grew up playing on and riding with him culavating and spreading manuer. I can't really say what it was about that tractor that attracted me, he also had a real nice Oliver 77 that was his "Big tractor" that he used and it's still in the family. He sold the WD45 before he died in 1977 and I would LOVE to find that tractor. That has ended up being a topic of interesting discussion in our family because no one knows for sure who ended up with the WD45!, many neighbors remember Grandpa having it,,but it's like that moment in time has disappeared! ------------- www.allischalmersmuseum.com |
Posted By: Andy in Central IA
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2010 at 11:36am
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AC is the brand my father had on his farm in the 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's. Learned to drive on a 1937 flat top WC. We only had WC's when I was home. Dad finally got a WD in the 70's. ------------- Andy Central IA |
Posted By: Kip[NY]
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2010 at 11:45am
Posted By: Kip[NY]
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2010 at 11:48am
| Oops. Sorry about the appearance of the above post. I typed it in Word then pasted it here. At least it's the right color! Kip |
Posted By: Bill Long
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2010 at 12:33pm
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Not hard for me. Pop got an Allis Chalmers Dealership in the middle to late 30's and I became an avid Allis Chalmers fan. With Pop we were lucky to sell Allis Chalmers for the life of the B, the C, the CA, the WD, the WD-45, and the D-14.
Without question selling Allis Chalmers with Pop was the most fun time in my life. I thouroughly enjoyed just about every day.
We stopped selling in 1962 cause they planted too much concrete in Baltimore County. Spent 35 very successful years in Branch Banking but never enjoyed a job as much as with Pop.
I discovered this site in the middle 90's and have been on it ever since. While I do not have room for any tractors
 I Cheer for all the forum members who do whatever possible to keep the Allis Chalmers name alive.I have met quite a few of you and look forward to meeting more.
Good Luck!
Bill Long
Picture of me, Fred Wilke and Rick Walten at Coming Home in NY 2005
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Posted By: Dave/cvny
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2010 at 2:38pm
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We had a Oliver 770 for a few years and when the motor set up my father bought a 1650 (1966). I learned how to plow with a Oliver 770 with 3 bottom trailer plows, the next year (72) we bought a 170 diesel w/ 4x16 -2000 monoframe. I thought I had the world by the a$$ ( I was 13)! In '78 we bought a 7000 w/cab (wow)! Sold the farm in '87, moved to town. Now I own 2 WDs, a C and a 200 w/loader! also I collect AC toys, don't know how many, I don't count them just keep buying them! |
Posted By: AC RAY MO.
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2010 at 4:38pm
| sure glad so many people love green tractors has made buying ac alot more afordable my thoughts ac is indestructable and will live on we sure love all ours |
Posted By: Brad-MN
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2010 at 5:48pm
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I spent many a round in the field sleeping on the tool box of a D17 with my Grandpa. Grandma always said that was the easiest way to get me to take a nap! When we moved off the farm, I was so mad at my father that I didn't talk to him for almost a month. I spent every summer on that farm with my grandparents for ten years after we moved to the cities. ------------- 1930 U 1938 A 1941 WF |
Posted By: J-WAG
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2010 at 6:20pm
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Well my Grandfather loved allis chalmers. He had a 210 that he traded for an international 1466. The 1466 was nice but it was never as good as the 210! Then he traded a 185 for a International 806 narrow front. Then my grandfather had an Allis Chalmers C that he loved. Then his last tractor was an Allis Chalmers G that we bought at the estate auction in 2007. Unfortunately my grandfather past away in 2005 from cancer. When all the John Deere kids at school ask "why i drive that junk?" I just smile and say, "Its not junk, and i drive it because thats what pap had." :^)
J-WAG
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Posted By: AllisFreak MN
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2010 at 6:39pm
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It's funny how many people talk about "riding the toolbox". I did that too as a kid, it was the perfect spot for a kid to sit. ------------- '49 A-C WD, '51 A-C WD, '63 A-C D17 Series III, 1968 A-C One-Seventy, '82 A-C 6060, '75 A-C 7040, A-C #3 sickle mower, 2 A-C 701 wagons, '78 Gleaner M2 |
Posted By: JimNEIN
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2010 at 7:55pm
| Dad had a wd45.Traded it for a series 3 d17 in 1963. My uncle had a wd and c which I now own. I got a d14 when i was 16.Dad had sale in 1968 so i sold the 14 on the auction for $700.Wish i had it back. |
Posted By: Dave A
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2010 at 8:02pm
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My dad bought what was cheap and broken. Most of the time it was a Allis or IH. Then we would make it usable. Just carrying on a family tradition ------------- Play the game for more than you can afford to lose... only then will you learn the game. Winston Churchill |
Posted By: Anthony
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2010 at 8:09pm
| My grandpa let me drive his WD. I bought it before he died and still have it today. I always got a laugh, he never called a gleaner a gleaner but always refered to them as Baldwins........... |
Posted By: NCWC
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2010 at 8:34pm
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A man gave me a B for cleaning out his basement in 1994 it was in the back corner the furthest awy from the garage door. Block was busted, tires were flat and a tree had fell and mashed the gas tank. I was 8 years old when I got it and when I was 14 it was completly restored. Sold it a few years later when I was in college cause I needed the money. Tracked it down later and found it at our local tractor pull and another young man pulls it every month that we have a pull. Hard to beleive that old tractor could bring so much joy to two young men. ------------- B,C,CA,RC,WC,Unstyled WC,WD,WD-45,B puller, WC Puller,WD Puller, WD-45 Puller |
Posted By: Bob D. (La)
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2010 at 4:58am
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Allis, I'm, Allis not Allis hooked Allis on Allis Allis. LOL. First tractor I ever drove was a WC, Really young kid and pulled wagon while Dad loaded hay. Dad put me on a Brockway when I was 4 years old disking ahead of him planting corn. That's the day I learned right from left.LOL. We added a UC, which I was fortunate enough to blow the engine on pulling two wagon loads of beans down the road. Apparently, going down a hill, the speed just became two much. We also had a 2nd WC with a loader, a Farmal f10, and finally a Moline Jet Star. Still think the WC and UC were the best tractors ever made. ------------- When you find yourself in a hole,PUT DOWN THE SHOVEL!!! |
Posted By: rickwsomd
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2010 at 8:41am
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I grew up with Farmalls here in Southern Maryland, with the exception of an All-Crop 60 with bagging platform, but there were quite a few AC's in the area. One of my uncles rented a house on a farm that had a G, B and WD45. The first memory I have of ever riding on a tractor, is with my uncle on that B. I must have been no more than 3 or 4. From that moment on I never forgot those orange tractors and how they looked. I was old enough to ride the All-Crop for a few seasons before it went by the wayside. I wish I still had it now, but when you are young and don't actually own the piece of equipment, it's hard to say don't give it to the junk man. Although the old Farmalls did the job here on our home place, I always wanted an Allis of my own. Back in the 80's I finally was able to buy an old 41 B and fix it up to mow my lawn. Since then I have picked up a G, WC with Steel Rear, C, CA, and WD45. All I need now is a WD to round out my styled letter series. Most are in various states of disrepair, but they won't be forever.
Bill, it's funny to get on here and see my ugly mug show up out of the blue. I will get some dates to you as soon as I can so that we can make another AC road trip. Here is a picture of my WD45 with the homemade ROPS on it.
 ------------- Rick W.(So.MD) |
Posted By: Don M SEIA
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2010 at 12:13pm
My Allis connection began with my Grandpa and his brother buying a model U on steel that was coverted to rubber. My folks started an Allis dealership in the fall of 1937 . I don't remem ber too much as I was only when they sold it in1953, and went back to farming. The picture is of my Dad and me on our G. some have talked about rideing on a tool box ,which I did also, but I also started on the gas tank. We have had WC's aWD, B's C's, aCA, 3 D-17's, 3 190XT's ,a7030, and 7020 power shift, 2 E Gleaners, an M hydro, and an N6. I now have a 1938 B, 1948 WC, the 7020, a dozen AC garden tractors, a 1935 22x38 threshing machine, 1940 allcrop 40, 1958 super 100, a 1966 E Glearner an 17" elevator several plows, and etc. I've been to West Allis, LaPorte, LaCrosse, and Independence ,the Cave, and Batavia, Going is Going Great. Don
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