1938 Allis-Chalmers Model U Tractor

In 1929, the Model U had the distinction of being the first tractor offered for sale in the United States on pneumatic rubber tires. The Model U was available with either steel wheels or rubber tires but rubber tires increased horsepower and fuel efficiency considerably.  The Model U was produced from 1929 until 1952 with over 19,000 tractors produced.

This tractor was used just north of Wetaskiwin, Alberta.

Engine: Vertical, 4 -cylinder, water-cooled
Displacement: 4.93 L (300.7ci)
Bore & Stroke: 11.12 x 127 mm (4.375 x 5 in)
Horsepower: 30.07 drawbar, 34.12 belt
Transmission: 4-forward, 1-reverse (4th gear locked out on steel wheel models)  

Chronology:
1901 - Allis-Chalmers formed after the merging Edward P. Allis Company, Fraser and Chalmers Company, Gates Iron Works, and Dickson Manufacturing Company
1912 - Company reorganized as Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company
1914 - First Allis-Chalmers tractors produced
1919-1922 - Inventor Nikola Tesla worked for Allis-Chalmers
1926 - Harry Merritt was hired and he turned the ailing tractor division around
1928 - Allis-Chalmers bought the Monarch tractor company, adding crawler tractors to their lineup
1929 - Purchased the LaCrosse Plow Works
1929 - Meritt decided to change the colour of Allis-Chalmers tractors to Persian orange due to the bright colour being easy to see from a distance and improving marketing
1931 - Acquired Advance-Rumely
1932 - Collaborated with Firestone to bring pneumatic rubber tires to tractors
1933 - Introduced the Model WC, Allis-Chalmers' first row crop tractor, which would become its highest selling tractor model
1937 - Model B introduced
1939-1945 - Allis-Chalmers made machinery for naval ships during World War II and was also contracted to build equipment for the Manhattan Project
1945-1946 - Allis-Chalmers employees went on an 11-month strike
1948 - Model WD tractor was introduced to the market, and it included inovationsof independent power take-off and power adjust rear wheels
1952 - Acquired LaPlante-Choate, adding scrapers to their line of industrial equipment
1953 - Acquired Buda Engine Corporation
1955 - Bought Gleaner Manufacturing Corporation, making Allis-Chalmers a leader in self-propelled combines
1957 - D Series tractors introduced
1965 - Simplicity was acquired for their line of lawn and garden machinery
1974 - Allis-Chalmers construction equipment division was reorganized with Fiat to create Fiat-Allis
1977 - Allis-Chalmers began importing Hinomoto tractors from Japan and rebranding them as Allis-Chalmers for the US market
1983 - Facing financial difficulties, Allis-Chalmers sold their Simplicity line of lawn and garden equipment
1985 - Allis-Chalmers folded three of its main divisions - Fiat-Allis was completely sold to Fiat and was reamed Fiatallis, the Agricultural division was bought by K-H-D and was renamed Deutz-Allis and the tractors were now painted green instead of orange, and their electrical division was bought by Siemens
1988 - Allis-Chalmers sold their American Air Filter division
1990 - Duetz-Allis was sold and became Allis-Gleaner Corporation (AGCO) and tractors were sold under the AGCO-Allis name and were painted orange again and were produced until 2011
1998 - Any remaining Allis-Chalmers businesses were sold
1999 - Company officially closed