Vintage tractors

Farmall, Allis-Chalmers, Massey Ferguson, International Harvester, John Deere. These brands are familiar like old friends.

My grandfather’s tractor was an Allis-Chalmers from the 1940s, which my dad inherited and continued to use until the mid-2000s. This beauty, built in West Allis, Wisconsin, is a sturdy ride in the distinctive rusty-orange color with a high steel seat perched between the large rear tires and the smaller double wheels on the front. After the starter died it was cranked by hand for many decades. The throaty growl of the running tractor is one of my favorite sounds, always making me remember my dad sowing the garden, running the sawmill, or putting the boats and docks in the lake. My dad affectionately dubbed her “Allis.”

I love the history of these tractors. In 1929, Harry Merritt, a senior executive in Allis-Chalmers' tractor business, was in California when the bright orange poppy blossoms inspired him to think about the use of bright colors in marketing. He reasoned that brightly colored things that can be seen from far away had potential for farm equipment. He soon changed the paint color of Allis-Chalmers' tractors to Persian Orange, which he felt most closely resembled the California poppy's color. Thus began the tradition of orange Allis-Chalmers tractors. Various tractor competitors followed suit adopting their own shades of reds, golds, greens and yellows.

After a boom in sales and growth in the 1930s-50s due to war-time activity, Allis-Chalmers began to struggle in the late 20th century and eventually ceased operations in 1999. The name has persisted, however, with Briggs & Stratton continuing to sell lawn tractors under the Allis-Chalmers moniker.

A friend is currently restoring my dad’s tractor, which should be running again later this year, complete with a fresh coat of orange paint and decals. I am eagerly awaiting the familiar purr of Allis once again at Otter Lake and hope to drive her in area parades in coming years.