WARTIME TRACTORS

Several brands and models during WWII went to steel wheels because rubber for tires was directed to military uses. Some also reduced the use of steel for frames and accessories because steel was also desired for military uses. The Ford 2N was one of those.

And then there were tractors made for the military with variations on the domestic farm tractors like the military B: http://geraldj.networkiowa.com/Trees/BMilitary.pdf

The US wasn't involved in that war until December 7, 1941.

Gerald J.

I agree on the allis records being lost. That is unfortunate.

Technically and obviously, a wartime tractor is one made from Dec 7/8 1941 through Sept 5, 1945.  Specifically, war tractors are the ones that have special make discrepancies from the standard run ones.  The WC used the stamped steel rearend.  I have heard the B/C had some differences as well.  Other colors had other things going on.  It would be a fascinating buy if someone were to research all the farming/equipment issues of WW2 and turn it into a well illustrated book.
AaronSEIA

The definition of 'wartime' is certainly a point of contention, so I'll put forth my notes:

In my opinion, A 'wartime' product is one that was not necessarily made within the boundaries of any specific time, but rather, it's production was in some way affected by the war, be it the direct result of governmental production edict, or circumstances, or contracting, tooling, production, resources, or sales.

I consider these qualifications because there were some things that were SOLD as mid-war items, but were actually assembled from parts/resources/etc that were manufactured PRIOR to any war-related impact.

There were also circumstances PRIOR to DECLARATION of war, that came into effect as a result of clear-and-present war circumstances.  US involvement in the war was not immediate, but our circumstances were already impacted.  We were manufacturing and shipping elsewhere as part of lend-lease programs, and our domestic production was directly impacted by that production.

There were circumstances AFTER the war, that had a direct impact on domestic production... for example, chromium and nickle plating materials were somewhat delayed in release to domestic manufacturing, and as a result, some manufacturers sent cars out the door with temporary wood bumpers.

So if you have a tractor that was manufactured and/or sold at some point prior-to, or after the war, but was somehow impacted by the war, it is IMO a 'wartime' tractor.

I'll further complicate the concept by noting that 'war-era' production moniker wasn't just about making products for domestic use... but that many products you would initially not consider worthy of 'war material' status, were produced and sold as that... and tractors were in that class of 'special consideration'...  just like milk-jugs and sewing machines... anything that was used to make things used to support wartime efforts, EVEN IF it was not used by the US... was blessed for production...

... AND... sometimes, the impact wasn't so much in terms of just one company, but the fact that one company got substantial contracts for one type of part, which as a result, impacted their ability to produce components of other systems, so 'contract farming-out' occurred.

I'd hafta go back and look at my notes, but I believe the 'stamped steel' axle circumstance was the result of contracting logistics.  See... Allis-Chalmers wasn't a 'tractor' company.  They were a 'power equipment' company, who's greatest strength was in their ability to melt huge quantities of metal, and produce all sorts of special iron and steel components for manufacturing electrical power generators, transformers, transmission equpiment (circuit breakers, switchgear).  Tractors was more-or-less an afterthought.  Let's say that you're contracted to make the turbines and generators for Hoover, Mead and Davis Dam... and let's say the end-bells for those huge generators weigh in around 110t each... you're not gonna melt 110t of iron for that pour... you're gonna melt 150t.  You'll pour off the first bit from the top, to clear any sl*g, then you'll pour the main casting, then you'll pour the remaining off into a mess of smaller molds all around... that way you KNOW that 110t casting will have not only enough material, but the BEST material of the pour.  For Allis-Chalmers, they realized the cost of the big pour was high, but the cost of the big pour was also a big risk... better to overshoot, and recover the excess by pouring lots of other smaller castings for other markets... so that's what they did.

Now, they had plenty of other things going on... when it came to making those rearends, well, it was probably a situation where they could clear the backlog of half-assembled tractors by contracting a 'slightly modified' truck axle from some other source, to put into the remaining WCs.  I believe the axle was actually a Studebaker design used for heavy trucks... and it MAY be that the circumstances of that selection were facilitated by A-C using their casting capacity to provide castings that the axle manufacturer needed, but didn't have on their own.  It very well may have been a 'work-product trade'... as these things DID happen.

So... it's complicated.  Suffice to say, if it's in the timeframe where ANY aspect had impact, then it was a 'wartime' machine...it's just that some are more obviously affected than others. 

Bob that sounds very interesting. The fellas that remember this stuff are leaving fast. Please keep us in the loop on this so we can watch for more info.

Very good info. Thanks Jim!

Wartime tractors had some noticeable differences. 

Speaking of "Black Market" for farm equipment.  We had such a dealer about a mile from us.  He stated he was not a "Black Marketeer" but a redistributor.  He found equipment that could not be used in some parts of the country (C tractors in mid west states) and shipped them to his place in Maryland where there was a heavy demand.
I still remember Pop seeing a trailer load of C tractors that was destined for our "redistributor".  The serial numbers and other identification had been filed off.  Sold them for cash for whatever the market would bear.  No questions!
He sold all he could get.
Beginning in 1942 things started to disappear from the tractors I knew - starters, rubber, pressed steel oil pans and valve covers - and whatever else was decided to be needed for the war effort.  Pop moved his supply of rubber tires inside for safety.  I remember playing in them thinking I was in a submarine.  Also, we had half breeds - tractors with rubber front but steel rear wheels.  Quite a time
Labor was very scarce since all able bodied young men were in the service.  Pop put me to work - 9 years old - mounting steel wheel cleats, putting together combines, running parts, selling equipment - can you imagine that but I did - and any other item of work that I could do to make his day easier.  One of my jobs was putting on the Farm Commando stickers
Anyway it was a most interesting time to live through.  The United States knew it had to WIN THAT WAR and we all did everything we could to accomplish that.  Remember we were "fitin the War"  None of this stuff that is going on today.  We were for perhaps the only time I remember a UNITED COUNTRY
Just a few thoughts.
Good Luck!
Bill Long
 

I had a wartime  Allis 'C' a few years ago that I sold to another local collector.  When he restored it, he found after stripping it down that the right fender was aluminum and the other was steel.  Both were originally fitted to the tractor as far as we know as it was an unmolested original.

Jim, you are correct.

We have a wartime B on the farm. Has extended fenders and tall air stack. Also has, heavy thick cast rear wheels, with the 4 petal cut out design compared to 2 I think.

The fellow I sold it to is a neighbor and friend. He had a large collection of Allis, but sold it all at auction 3 years ago. I'm not sure where the 'C' ended up, but tractors from his collection went all over.  His 20-35 Allis went locally for $20,000 !!

He won't be chiming in as he has nothing to do with computers!!!


Edited by Alberta Phil - 20 Feb 2018 at 10:07am

Dad got a W C in 43 .It was a 42.Had to be on waiting list .It was all steel no starter or lights ,did have belt pulley.It had casted  diff.I have part of old sales book and i thnk it list three types of rear steel wheels.

1. Standard spade lug
2. Tip-toe lug
3. Special offset spade lug.

Styles 1 and 3 were available with/without extension rims.

Sorry i don't have pictures to show the differences.

Here's a PDF of the brochure for the wartime B and C's: