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Allis Chalmers Discussion Forum

Just wondering...what's your opinion

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mark

10-18-2007 19:44:23

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It is apparent to me that Allis sold a gazillion B's in comparison to C's and CA's. For the life of me, I just don't understand why. Was cost the factor? I had a '56 CA and it is twice the tractor a B ever was, so far as versatility is concerned. I can't imagine the new cost was so much more to cause buyers to choose the B instead. True enough, their size and weight isn't much different, but the added bells and whistles the CA had made it so much more usable for multiple tasks. What do you fellers think was responsible for the B's greater popularity?

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Texas Denny

10-19-2007 13:07:12

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Re: Just wondering...what's your opinion in reply to mark, 10-18-2007 19:44:23

I've read all the responses. The best year for CA sold about 11500. The best years for the B were 11700 (1939), 21700 (1940), 16400 (1941), 11700 (1951). The B production fell sharply when the CA was introduced probably for the reasons that you mention. When given the choice, most buyers selected the CA.During concurrent production years, the B sold 8787 and the CA sold 39513. I've never owned a B but I've had two C's and a CA. I miss my CA - thought a C would replace it but no way. I thought a D-14 would replace it but no way. The live clutch was kind of weak but otherwise the tractor was great.

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02XLT4X4

10-19-2007 06:55:18

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Re: Just wondering...what's your opinion in reply to mark, 10-18-2007 19:44:23

mark said: (quoted from post at 19:44:23 10/18/07) It is apparent to me that Allis sold a gazillion B's in comparison to C's and CA's. For the life of me, I just don't understand why. Was cost the factor? I had a '56 CA and it is twice the tractor a B ever was, so far as versatility is concerned. I can't imagine the new cost was so much more to cause buyers to choose the B instead. True enough, their size and weight isn't much different, but the added bells and whistles the CA had made it so much more usable for multiple tasks. What do you fellers think was responsible for the B's greater popularity?

They made B's from 1937 to 1957, they made CA's from about 1950 to 1957. That is a 20 year production run compared to 7. You could retrofit alot of the frills from the CA to the B, mainly the snap coupler and the hydraulics. I know my 1947 C is a handy little critter to have, there isn't much I would trade it for.

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John (MO)

10-19-2007 06:40:11

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Re: Just wondering...what's your opinion in reply to mark, 10-18-2007 19:44:23

Different tractors were popular in different areas. I never saw a B or a C as a kid, but there were plenty of WCs and WDs around. Seems to me the B and C were popular with tabacco farmers and vegetable farmers, but not with those that raised corn, beans, wheat, cattle and hogs. The smaller tractors around here were Fords and Fergusons.

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Mike in Ohio

10-19-2007 05:26:08

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Re: Just wondering...what's your opinion in reply to mark, 10-18-2007 19:44:23

Something else not mentioned the b was designed to replace a team of horses, it pull the same type of equipment, a wheel driven mower or hay rake for instance. I don't know what a team of horses cost towards the end of the depression, but I know that my great-grangpa paid $600 for a new b in 1946. Plus he only had to feed it when he wanted to use it. Just my guess, Mike

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jeffalex2

10-19-2007 02:46:38

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Re: Just wondering...what's your opinion in reply to mark, 10-18-2007 19:44:23

The B was cutting edge tech when it came out, and the competition said it'd never sell. Once IH, JD, MH, & Oliver saw it's popularity, they started to try and catch up. IH was actually sued by Allis for the 'A' design because it was so close to the Allis B. By the time the CA came out, there was alot of competition from the others like the JD-M/40, IH Super A, MH Pony, Oliver 60/66...there was alot more for the small farmer to choose from...

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b fan

10-19-2007 02:45:45

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Re: Just wondering...what's your opinion in reply to mark, 10-18-2007 19:44:23

B's were no frills tractor, cheap compared to a CA. If you needed a CA for, say, a veggie garden and 3 acres of hay, it was fine. If you were bigger you bought a bigger tractor and a B to cultivate with - dirt cheap (tooing paid for many years before) and very economical to operate, and capable of working in tight spaces.

CA is much more machine, and much greater flexibility. But an awful lot of B's were dedicated to a mower or cultivator, and were the perfect machine for that.

BTW my dad replaced his garden work B with a Troy-built tiller. Once we stopped cultivating corn (by spraying) the B sat untill scrapped.

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JMS/.MN

10-18-2007 22:32:36

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Re: Just wondering...what's your opinion in reply to mark, 10-18-2007 19:44:23

You're talking about two decades apart, and people had no money in the late 30s, 40s. Full-time farmers ran the WC, etc. Smaller farmers bought the B/C models because they fit their needs and pocketbook. People bought for cash, not credit. CA came out about 1952, well after the war. Whole different economy, and then, farmers bought the WD, etc.

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mark

10-19-2007 05:15:47

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Re: Just wondering...what's your opinion in reply to JMS/.MN, 10-18-2007 22:32:36

Quality responses all around. I know the B was built prior to the war and the CA came in the early 50's. However, I don't know how many B's were available from 1942 until 1946.

I know my uncle said he couldn't buy any kind of tractor during the war and finally bought a '46 Oliver RC60 and JD equipment to use with it....couldn't get a new JD tractor...too many orders to fill ahead of him.

Allis tractors were what I consider, the best of their era. Everybody has their opinion and this is mine. However, based on my experiences, the B wasn't and isn't much. I'd much rather have a Red SA for cultivating work. But rather have a CA for plowing. If I were going to 2 row cultivation, I'd choose a Super C because of the taller tires/clearance and you can see better from the seat on a SC than a CA. I've ran'em both. But that CA has a place in my heart for being tough and stout and one of these days, I'll find a nice one to bring home.

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