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Oliver logo

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Jim Gardner

03-16-1999 20:33:23




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Do any of you have information on the evolution of the Oliver logo from its inception at the merger in 1929 to the nameplate's demise? Specifically, pre-White, the shield: It went from four parts (H-P, Oliver Plow, American Seeding, and Nichols & Shepard) to three, to two (all red); then White flattened the nose on the three digit series and changed the logo altogether. What year did each of these changes occur? When did the Oliver brand finally disappear? With the Agco acquisition? I thought I had the answers but my reference book is contradictory... stating the nameplate disappeared and became "White" in 1969, but then it shows a '73 with an Oliver logo. Anyway, any info is welcomed. Thanks.

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TOM

03-21-1999 11:14:35




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 Re: Oliver logo in reply to Jim Gardner, 03-16-1999 20:33:23  
Jim i was wrong on the final year.I should of typed 1975.As far as the other change dates,the last super 88 that i know of was built in 1957 with red wheels.So i would guess that the three digit numbers started in 1958.as far as the name white above the oliver name being on the decal i dont know the exact date but white showed up on the "55" models after 1970 probly around 1973 or 1974.IN all it is my opininon that the white company really messed up a good thing.Someone told me once that a video was going around explaining how white ruined oliver,but i have never found it.

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Jim

03-22-1999 09:54:30




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 Re: Re: Oliver logo in reply to TOM, 03-21-1999 11:14:35  
Tom, I'd love to see that video. White did more than 'mess up' Oliver. I'm as much a capitalist as the next guy, and in my college econ classes I came to fully understand and appreciate the occassional need for plant closings and lay-offs and the like. But in closing the Oliver plant, White destroyed a town and a unique heritage as home of the very first powered tractor. By allowing a plant producing quality product to close do to management bungling - not unavoidable economic conditions (as was White's contention) is a crime. The failure of White several months later - and later acquisition by profitable Agco - almost acts as proof of my contention. Charles City would have been better off with a second Level 4 tornado than with White. Supposedly a recent UI or ISU professor wrote an article supporting White, blaming labor conditions in Iowa - and got a load of flack by saying that Iowa cannot profitably manufacture goods. Yes, the union rules in Iowa are less appealing than those in Texas or Mexico, but would somebody please tell Quaker Oats to pack it in? Clearly, they are in a bind down in Cedar Rapids...

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Don Nelson

03-22-1999 10:54:29




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 Re: Re: Re: Oliver logo in reply to Jim, 03-22-1999 09:54:30  
White was long gone by the time the plant left Charles City. They had sold White Farm Equipment to another company (I think the name was TCI). They had financial difficulties and sold White Farm Equipment to Allied Products which also owned New Idea. After a period of time White was merged with New Idea and the departure from Charles City started. White-New Idea moved assembly of the tractors to Ohio.

White-New Idea was building tractors for AGCO. In order to protect their tractor production AGCO bought part, then all of White-New Idea.

This is the short version. It is a very involved story with lots of fault and some good intentions that did not work out.

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Jim

03-23-1999 12:18:38




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Oliver logo in reply to Don Nelson, 03-22-1999 10:54:29  
Of course, it is a very involved story Don, and I will not pretend to know all of what occurred. I believe my- and others- use of the term "White" is short-hand for whatever financial shell company controlled the assets at the time Charles City lost its biggest employer. Perhaps it is because it was White Farm Equipment that dropped the Oliver nameplate. Few dispute, however, that the acquisition of White was the beginning of the end for Charles City, whatever the specific financial circumstances at the time of the plant's final day. Much has been written about this subject, and not much of it has anything favorable to say about White and its decendents.

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Tom

03-17-1999 18:54:13




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 Re: Oliver logo in reply to Jim Gardner, 03-16-1999 20:33:23  
Jim the last year of the oliver nameplate was on the 2255 for 1974.Also on the early whites you could scrape the black paint off and find oliver green underneath.



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Jim

03-17-1999 20:44:23




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 Re: Re: Oliver logo in reply to Tom, 03-17-1999 18:54:13  
Thanks. For the literati among us, I think we recognize a metaphor in "scraping off the black to find Oliver green underneath..."



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