Allis-Chalmers had more than just the many-acre farmer in mind when coming up with tractors to produce and market. In 1948, they released the “G” model, which was a very small tractor designed for small farms and large gardens. Weighing in at only 1,285 pounds, the two-wheel drive G had a rear-mounted four-cylinder Continental N62 engine. It tested at a max belt power of just 10.33hp and a max drawbar power of 9.04hp.
Because the G was designed with the small farming jobs in mind, it had an appropriate line of implements available for the farmers’ use. These implements included cultivators, planters, and plows, as well as a front-mounted windrower and hay rake that were produced beginning in the early 1950s. Because of the engine being rear-mounted, the implements were easily viewed by the operator as they were working.
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Allis Chalmers released its first D21 tractor in 1963, and it sold for about $12,300. For the first two years, a regular, six cylinder diesel engine ran this machine. This model was referred to as the Series I. Starting in 1965, a six-cylinder turbo-charged diesel engine was used, and it was called the Series II. A major difference in the two engines was the horsepower output. In 1963, the Series I D21 had a max PTO power measure of 103.1 horsepower, and a max drawbar power of 93.1 hp. Once the turbo-charger was installed, the PTO horsepower jumped up to 127.8 hp, and the drawbar power topped out at 116.4.
The transmission used on the D21 was an eight-geared sliding gear tranny. It had eight forward speeds and two in reverse. It was controlled by a range control knob and gear shift lever. The range control knob was near the steering wheel, allowing the farmer to have the tractor in either high or low range. The gear shifter then was used to select the desired gear. All of this had to be done while the tractor was stopped. With 18.4×34 rear tires, the D21 could move anywhere from 1.6mph to 16.2mph.
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The 1961 release of the Allis Chalmers D19 provided some firsts for the company. This 6-cylinder, two-wheel drive tractor was available for purchase with three fuel options: gasoline, diesel, and propane. The propane model had the least amount of horsepower with 66.19hp, and the turbo-charged diesel came in close second with 66.92hp. The gasoline-ran model had the most horsepower at 71.54. The turbo-charged diesel model was the first tractor with a commercially produced turbo charger.
Another first was the optional three-point hitch. The snap coupler hitch had previously been the norm, so sales of the three-point hitch stayed pretty low. In fact, so little of the D19s were purchased with the three-point hitch that when they are found today, then are considered a collectible.
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Ford celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 1953, and marked that feat with the introduction of a completely new Ford NAA tractor. This compact tractor was built to replace the Ford N-Series tractors that had been released back in 1939. The 1953 NAA had a 50th Anniversary Golden Jubilee badge on the nose of its already stylish hood, signifying its importance. Because of this easily identifiable badge, the NAA was also known as the Golden Jubilee. The NAA was also released in 1954, although without the anniversary badge, and only had a change in gear ratio.
The Ford NAA had a 134 cubic inch, inline four-cylinder engine that ran on gasoline and gave farmers 32 horsepower. The four-speed transmission would get farmers going at nearly twelve miles per hour. The NAA had Solid System hydraulics that relied on an engine-driven pump, making a live PTO optional. read more »