New Guy from Illinois Here

I did not see a forum for posting introductions so let me briefly introduce myself. I am 63 with plans to retire in 2-3 years. One of my grandpas was a life-long farmer and I worked for him some while a teenager. I've been around tractors all my life and driven a few, but owned only one of my own. From 89-94 I had an Allis-Chalmers "C". The seller had it for 20-30 years and thought it was a 1949. (I later ran the serial number to learn it was a 1942.) He was retiring from business and getting rid of stuff. He used it to mow the corral and lot around his stable. It came with a 48" Mott flail or knife belly mower. At the time my wife and I lived on a 2-acre place and I was killing my small lawn tractor keeping it all mowed. The little "C" was ideal for that job. I bought all new knives, clevis pins and cotters and the mower gave the place a nice, clean cut. But the tractor lacked power. I ran a compression check and the news wasn't good. I removed the head and the local NAPA had a machine shop. They reconditioned the head with all new valve guides, etc. I put it back on with the old head gasket, and it ran like a champ! I would like to get another one someday. Maybe after I retire.

Hello Frank, Welcome to the site. For my entire life there has been a model C around. The last real farm job it had was cultivating with a shop built 4 row narrow that was made from a couple two row units. When we quit cultivating a belly mower went under it. That one burned up in a barn fire and was quickly replaced to keep the lawn mowed but that one doesn't do much any more but it has a spot in the shed as long as I have a say in it.

Thanks Butch.
I wasn't particularly interested in an Allis when I bought it. It's just what I found. When I was a small child most of the tractors on my grandpa's farm were 2-cylinder John Deeres. I remember a model 50 and some 630s and 730s. There was also a red-belly Ford utility tractor. I think it was a Jubilee. I remember when they got their first "modern" Deere, a 4010. That thing seemed huge compared to the Popping Johnnies they had. By the time I was 16 my grandparents had moved to another farm actually working for another land owner. Here they had Olivers. I worked that summer operating a 1950-T, if I remember correctly. They had a few of them and one bigger Oliver, maybe a 2150. They were all diesels. They also had a small IHC utility tractor that ran on propane.
Really, if get another tractor I might look for a "CA" or an 8N Ford. Sorry if that is a dirty word on this forum. ;>) (Those old Fords are expensive!) We live in town now and no place to do anything with a tractor. Maybe we can retire to the country side with a few acres...

Welcome to the site. One of the early restorations I did was a C. It went on to a small farm in the valley here and the fellow that bought it, plowed his 5 acre pasture with it, an amazing sight to see that little machine working like that. It had the up and down plow set on it plus a belly mount sickle bar mower. I also built a 3-point for it so it would be versatile for him.

Can't go wrong with retiring or a CA .