1948 Allis Chalmers WF restored by Daniel Humbert of Switzerland.
The Story Behind the Decal: Allis-Chalmers
In this regular feature, we explore the early inventors and businessmen behind today’s most popular antique tractor brands. Today, will look into Edward P. Allis, one of the men whose name appears on Allis-Chalmers tractors.
Unlike many other names we see on tractors, Edward Phelps Allis was never an inventor. Instead, he was a businessman – and an excellent one.
Allis’s first line of business was leather – together with a partner, he opened a leather shop and a tannery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After 10 years he sold his share in the successful business and looked for a new challenge.
He found that new challenge in a troubled ironworks. The Reliance Ironworks of Milwaukee, founded by two men from Dayton, Ohio, hit hard times during the panic of 1857. When Allis and two partners purchased the Reliance Works, it was in bankruptcy. It quickly became apparent that the ironworks would need a sharp infusion of capital to stay afloat. Allis’s partners grew skittish and backed out of the deal, but Allis rounded up the money to buy their shares and to keep the business open.
Allis’ faith in the Reliance works was soon rewarded. Within 4 years, the Ironworks had pulled out of its nosedive and was booming.
Tractors weren’t a part of the picture when Edward Allis was in charge – instead, the company produced a diversified assortment of equipment for milling and mining, including steam engines. The roller flour mills that Allis built for Washburn-Crosby Mills and the Pillsbury mills changed the industry. Because these two companies were on the leading edge of the mill improvements, they quickly grew in prominence – it’s why we have Gold Medal and Pillsbury Best flour on our shelves today.
Edward was a quiet, studious type with a keen mind for business. He enjoyed reading and even ran for governor with the Greenback Party (a break-off of the Republican party that differed on currency policy). He and his wife, Margaret, had 11 children.
Allis built a solid company, but he didn’t have any sons interested in continuing to lead it. (One son, who showed an interest in the family business, eventually went off to form his own.) Two years after his death, the Edward P. Allis Company merged with the Fraser and Chalmers Company – giving birth to the Allis-Chalmers combination that we recognize today.
1950 Allis Chalmers G
Message from one of our customers looking for parts.
Thank you so much for your help. I will use the sites you provided and order the parts. The numbers I have are the numbers in the original book my Dad got with the tractor when he bought it new, the year I was born, 1950. The serial number is G16472.
I have attached a photo of the tractor with me and my grand children on it. It is still a working tractor that is used on our ranch to pull a Big 4 mower and blade the road down to the barns every year. I cannot imagine how many hours I have on this tractor! We have 8 mm film of me riding on my Dads lap on it when I was one, 1950. We have all the attachments, blade, seeder, plow, drag harrow, etc.
Thanks Again
Gary Larkins
The Color of Allis Orange
A friend of mine originally owned this 1955 Allis Chalmers WD45 and was a lover of the Allis orange. After his passing I acquired it, in pretty bad shape, and my dad and I did a full restoration. on the tractor using many parts from Steiners so it could be enjoyed for many years to come.
Bret Weikert
Council Bluffs, Iowa