The Allis-Chalmers model B was produced by the Allis-Chalmers

Allis-Chalmers

The Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. of West Allis, Wisconsin, is an American company known for its past as a manufacturer with diverse interests, perhaps most famous for their bright Persian Orange farm tractors...

 Manufacturing company from 1938 to 1957. With over 125,000 units produced, the model B became one of the best selling tractors for Allis-Chalmers and most loved tractors of its time. Known best for its versatility and adaptability, the model B was also one of the longest production tractors for Allis-Chalmers as well. Over the years of production the B came in several different variations including the asparagus B, Potato special, as well as an industrial model known as the IB. It was designed by Brooks Stevens

Brooks Stevens

Clifford Brooks Stevens was an American industrial designer of home furnishings, appliances, automobiles and motorcycles — as well as a graphic designer and stylist....

 an industrial designer and graphic designer.

Little Tractor - Huge Success

In the early thirties, Allis-Chalmers tractor division manager Harry Merritt studied the farm census figures and discovered that of the nearly seven million farms in America, some four million were of 100 acre (0.404686 km²) or less. Furthermore, the million or so tractors at work on American farms were nearly all on the larger ones. Merritt concluded that there was a need for four million small, inexpensive tractors to fill the needs of the small farmers still using horses. Merritt set out to build the tractor that would finally put the horse out to pasture.

The Model B was not Allis-Chalmers' smallest tractor however; they produced a Model G

Allis-Chalmers Model G

The Model G is a small implement carrier tractor that was made by the Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company. At the time of its introduction the Model G was unique for its rear-mounted, Continental N62 engine. It was a four-cylinder engine with a 2⅜ × 3½ inch bore and stroke...

from 1948 to 1955 with only about 10 draw bar horsepower.

Allis Chalmers B Replaces the Horse

The combination of an excellent tractor and effective marketing help the B to become a smashing success. Allis marketing department had experience with such challenges as convincing doubting farmer the benefits of pneumatic tires. Early sales literature for the Allis Chalmers B was devoted to convincing the farmer that the new B required less work to maintain than horses. Also armed with government supplied facts and statistics along with Allis own research proving that the new B cost less to both buy and operate than horses.

Allis-Chalmers Industry Pioneer

Allis-Chalmers had pioneered the use of forgings and high-strength steel components, not only in their tractors, but likewise in A-C steam turbines and other machinery as well. The company's remarkable achievements in the use of high-strength components for tractor manufacturing served the company's interests initially through greatly increased sales. In the greater perspective however, the entire tractor industry benefited since competing manufacturers were forced to follow suit.

External links

• Tractor Wiki - Has more images of Allis-Chalmers model B & other tractors.