Allis History Page

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	The Forum	Parts and Services	Unofficial Allis Store	Tractor Shows	Serial Numbers	History

Prior Page Back to Start The Final Chapters
1980	Allis-Chalmers becomes a $2 billion corporation. Annual profits are $47.6 million for the year. However, the boom in farm equipment is running out. The main tractor production line and foundry in West Allis are shut down for two months. Nearly 900 employees are temporarily laid off.
1980	The new 6060 and 6080 begin rolling off the line to replace the 175 and 185. These prove to be excellent mid-range utility tractors with available front wheel drive and much improved driver comfort. The 6070 is added in 1984 and will hold a special place in Allis-Chalmers history.
1982	The new 8000 series is introduced. Arguably the best, most advanced tractors available at the time. The refreshed lineup features updated styling and a quieter, much roomier cab. Front wheel drive is available on most models. The top end of the line is anchored by the 4W-220 and 4W-305 four-wheel drive tractors. These new tractors have everything going for them except the economy. Only 176 4W-305 are built during it's abbreviated lifetime.
1983	As the economy suffers, Allis-Chalmers is drowning in debt and losses. After many tough and often controversial decisions, David Scott resigns as chairman of the board and is replaced by Wendell Bueche. A management group with investor backing purchase the Simplicity lawn-and-garden subsidiary and eventually make it a separate employee-owned business.
1984	In an effort to bring down costs and keep up with competition, Allis-Chalmers develops a prototype next-gen tractor. Using components of the 8070 and 4W-305, this concept tractor is fitted with a Komatsu diesel engine that easily produces 225hp. Despite it's promising performance in field tests, it was just too late to help change the outcome of the story.
1985	In March, Allis-Chalmers announces the sale of the Farm Tractor division to Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz AG (KHD) of Germany. In December the last ever Allis-Chalmers built tractor rolls off the production line in West Allis. It is a model 6070 bearing serial number 1972.
1987	Allis-Chalmers files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as it desperately tries to reorganize into a smaller but viable company. Plans are unveiled to off load all the company's remaining businesses and regroup around the American Air Filter division.
1990	A group of Deutz-Allis North America executives led by Robert J. Ratliff buy the farm equipment business from it's owner KHD and form what will become AGCO (Allis Gleaner Company). Simultaneously, the White line of tractors are made part of the new company. Before long, orange tractors are again being produced, now marketed as AGCO Allis.
1999	The nearly 150-year story of Allis-Chalmers in Wisconsin comes to an end on January 30, with the closing of the company's rented offices in it's former West Allis office tower on South 70th Street. The last remaining employee spends the day packing up remaining documents and putting them into storage; the company still gets calls from old customers seeking spare parts for long-running Allis-Chalmers machinery and equipment, as if the company never went bankrupt.
Prior Page Back to Start

Prior Page Back to Start The Final Chapters

1980

Allis-Chalmers becomes a $2 billion corporation. Annual profits are $47.6 million for the year. However, the boom in farm equipment is running out. The main tractor production line and foundry in West Allis are shut down for two months. Nearly 900 employees are temporarily laid off.

1980

The new 6060 and 6080 begin rolling off the line to replace the 175 and 185. These prove to be excellent mid-range utility tractors with available front wheel drive and much improved driver comfort. The 6070 is added in 1984 and will hold a special place in Allis-Chalmers history.

1982

The new 8000 series is introduced. Arguably the best, most advanced tractors available at the time. The refreshed lineup features updated styling and a quieter, much roomier cab. Front wheel drive is available on most models.

The top end of the line is anchored by the 4W-220 and 4W-305 four-wheel drive tractors. These new tractors have everything going for them except the economy. Only 176 4W-305 are built during it's abbreviated lifetime.

1983

As the economy suffers, Allis-Chalmers is drowning in debt and losses. After many tough and often controversial decisions, David Scott resigns as chairman of the board and is replaced by Wendell Bueche. A management group with investor backing purchase the Simplicity lawn-and-garden subsidiary and eventually make it a separate employee-owned business.

1984

In an effort to bring down costs and keep up with competition, Allis-Chalmers develops a prototype next-gen tractor. Using components of the 8070 and 4W-305, this concept tractor is fitted with a Komatsu diesel engine that easily produces 225hp. Despite it's promising performance in field tests, it was just too late to help change the outcome of the story.

1985

In March, Allis-Chalmers announces the sale of the Farm Tractor division to Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz AG (KHD) of Germany. In December the last ever Allis-Chalmers built tractor rolls off the production line in West Allis. It is a model 6070 bearing serial number 1972.

1987

Allis-Chalmers files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as it desperately tries to reorganize into a smaller but viable company. Plans are unveiled to off load all the company's remaining businesses and regroup around the American Air Filter division.

1990

A group of Deutz-Allis North America executives led by Robert J. Ratliff buy the farm equipment business from it's owner KHD and form what will become AGCO (Allis Gleaner Company). Simultaneously, the White line of tractors are made part of the new company. Before long, orange tractors are again being produced, now marketed as AGCO Allis.

1999

The nearly 150-year story of Allis-Chalmers in Wisconsin comes to an end on January 30, with the closing of the company's rented offices in it's former West Allis office tower on South 70th Street. The last remaining employee spends the day packing up remaining documents and putting them into storage; the company still gets calls from old customers seeking spare parts for long-running Allis-Chalmers machinery and equipment, as if the company never went bankrupt.

Prior Page Back to Start