Bob Bancroft
Well-known Member
- Location
- Aurora NY
I'm reading a book about Clessie Cummins, written by his son. On page 156 is this interesting paragraph.
Allis-Chalmers in Milwaukee was another candidate on Clessie's list in the spring of 1930 to be either a potential engine customer or purchaser of the company. Allis-Chalmers even shipped a crawler type tractor to Columbus for installation with a 60 bhp model U. The tractor was tested at a local farm on July 25, 1930, where it plowed a field with performance equaling the gasoline engine that had been removed. This was the first operation of a diesel powered crawler tractor in America; Caterpillar's first diesel tractor operation came later that year. Cummins never entered into serious negotiations with Allis-Chalmers.
Allis-Chalmers in Milwaukee was another candidate on Clessie's list in the spring of 1930 to be either a potential engine customer or purchaser of the company. Allis-Chalmers even shipped a crawler type tractor to Columbus for installation with a 60 bhp model U. The tractor was tested at a local farm on July 25, 1930, where it plowed a field with performance equaling the gasoline engine that had been removed. This was the first operation of a diesel powered crawler tractor in America; Caterpillar's first diesel tractor operation came later that year. Cummins never entered into serious negotiations with Allis-Chalmers.