Showing posts with label farm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label farm. Show all posts

Sunday, June 7, 2026

La Crosse, WI: 1914+1929-69 Allis-Chalmers/La Crosse Plow Co.

(See below for satellite information.)

LandmarkByTheRivers
"This circa 1960 aerial photo shows part of the old Allis-Chalmers factory complex, looking west from above North Third Street, between Pine and Badger streets. The La Crosse Allis-Chalmers plant produced tractors and other agricultural implements, operating from 1929 to 1969. All the buildings in the foreground have since been razed and the Tribune building now occupies the area at lower left. The building with the rooftop aviation markings and the building to its right remain standing on North Second Street. and were recently added to the National Register of Historic Places."

J and L Videos posted
The Allis Chalmers La Crosse Works

The taller industrial building in the above photo is now apartments.
Satellite

Even the smokestack has been preserved.
Street View, Jul 2025

hmdb
"The La Crosse Plow Company Building was constructed in 1914 and expanded through 1938 as a manufacturing building. Its continued expansion created a large multi-part building and adjacent were ancillary support buildings and sheds utilized by the La Crosse Plow Company, and later the Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company. The building is ... significant for its association with the agricultural machinery and equipment manufacturing industry, a leading industry in La Crosse, that developed to become regionally influential. The agricultural machinery and equipment manufacturing industry was important in La Crosse as the city’s dominant industry and largest employer. The La Crosse Plow Company, which incorporated in 1893, quickly grew from its blacksmith shop roots to become the region’s largest producer of plows and other agricultural implements. As part of its nation-wide expansion, the Allis-Chalmers Company, of West Allis, Wisconsin, purchased the La Crosse Plow Company in 1929, making the La Crosse facility one of nearly a dozen such facilities around the country. Allis-Chalmers was, throughout the mid-20th century, one of the largest tractor and agricultural implement manufacturers in the country. The period of significance or this building is from 1914, when the construction on the original section began, to 1969, when Allis-Chalmers stopped production and sold their holdings in La Crosse."

J and L Videos posted
The Allis Chalmers Factory In La Crosse Wisconsin:
Daniel Anton: What did they make there?
Jim Palmer Jr: Daniel Anton tillage and seeding equipment. Closed in the late 60s and production was moved to LaPorte.
James Paul Tewes: If I remember right plows, they bought out the Lacrosse plow co. Don’t quote me but I think some 100 series were made there too.

Ricahrd Beirne posted
The Allis Chalmers complex was quite large at one time. The Freighthouse restaurant was also a working railroad freighthouse. This shows both the old Post Office and Courthouse, along with the Stoddard hotel and a number of other buildings now gone. I am guessing late 1950's based on the cars that can be seen.
Norm Farrington: My parents and I every so often used to park along front street and watch the huge metal stamping presses at Allis Chalmers stamp out the red hot metal parts .
Craig A. Olson: It looks to me like the 1965 flood. Front street is covered with water.
Steven Beezley: The new courthouse is standing and yes it looks like the 65 flood.

1956 La Crescent Quad @ 62,500 and 1963 La Crosse Quad @ 24,000

I didn't watch the video because the volume was too low for me, but I did spot a new view of a plow share.
5:38 @ 1:20
Allis Chalmers Show: Allis Chalmers La Crosse Factory

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

La Porte, IN: Allis-Chalmers/Rumely Oil Pull Factory

Plant: (Satellite, as of Apr 2026, there was a lot of literally brown land.)
Museum: (Satellite)

Allis-Chalmers entered the agriculture business in 1914. In 1931, A-C bought the struggling Rumely company and aquired a dealer network as well as a large factory in La Porte. [AllisChalmers]

I recognize Rumely as the manufacture of the Oil-Pull Tractor.

J and L Videos posted
All Crop Harvesters on the assembly line at the Allis Chalmers La Porte factory:

RumelyAllis

J and L Videos posted
The Allis Chalmers La Porte Works:

Marker at Madison Street and Lincolnway.
in
"Meinrad Rumely (1823-1904), a German immigrant, founded a blacksmith shop here 1853, which grew into a dominant company through reorganizations and acquisitions. Rumely companies in La Porte benefited from available rail transportation plus German and later Polish immigrant laborers. Products included a wide variety of agricultural machines."

in
"Rumely's prizewinning thresher later became one of the earliest powered by steam. Thousands of OilPull tractors sold worldwide 1910-1930. Rumely companies were at the forefront of mechanization of American and world agriculture and had significant impact on La Porte. Allis-Chalmers acquired the firm 1931 and closed La Porte plant 1983."

There is now a museum in La Porte concerning Rumley and A-C's ag business.
MichiganCityLaPorte

Jeff Watt, Jun 2022

Street View, Jun 2024

A display by a private collecter near the musem was stolen.
wstb

The red cross is the location of the marker near the top of these notes. I'm guessing that the plant started down by Lincolnway and expanded north to the buildings that were west of Clear Lake.

This is one of the products that was made in this factory.
Facebook Reel

Saturday, February 14, 2026

Bettendorf, IA: JI Case: Construction Equipment and/or Combine Plant

(Satellite, along the river upstream from the bridge)

I knew International Harvester was big in the Quad Cities. They made tractors in Rock Island and combines in East Moline. Now I have learned that JI Case had a big plant in Bettendorf, IA.
Quad Cities Buildings / Landmarks / History posted
Aerial photograph of Bettendorf 1972.
Quad-City Times.
(Aerial Photo by Harry Boll)

In 1947, Case bought three more factories. These were in Stockton, California; Bettendorf, Iowa and Annis-ton, Alabama. The one in Bettendorf is used to manufacture large combines, corn harvesting equipment and hay balers. [FarmCollector]

Fans of Rock Island Lines posted
The former Bettendorf steel car works a train car manufacturer. A IH/ case plant doubled in size for war production under the war department.
Fans of Rock Island Lines posted
Been awhile since I've posted Bettendorf steel car works originally in Davenport but a fire took them out and they moved to Gilbert today's Bettendorf. This was a train rolling stock manufacturer. Later it became IH then Case

Quad City Images commented on the above post
I'm pretty sure the building at the far east of the property is what's still there now, most recently operated by Alter as essentially an indoor scrapyard, but currently vacant and crumbling. I always thought that the sheds on the west side of the Isle property were the big shops in the foreground of the historic photo, but now I see that they have an entirely different roofline, so I'm not sure where the images line up.

Fans of Rock Island Lines posted
Linda Weatherly: At one time [the implication is during WWII], the largest factory in the world.
Fans of Rock Island Lines: Linda Weatherly yes the building on left was doubled. Ive got a bunch of Sherman's rolling out during WW2?

So both IH and Case had plants in Bettendorf?
Fans of Rock Island Lines commented in Linda's comment


One of nine photos posted by Mark Nyenhuis
In 1952 the JI Case plant in Bettendorf had a major fire. My father who always seemed to have a camera with him took these pictures on that May morning on the way to the plant

One of several photos in CQtimes, Roy Booker

It is obvious from the interior shots in the above referenced collection that the plant made at least dozers and engines. I've seen a headline ("From Combines to Casinos") that implies the plant made combines. Of course, the plant may have made different things at different times. Or, since it is a big plant, it may have made multiple products for different divisions.

If I put together enough articles, I better understand the history. In 1985, when Tenneco bought the IH agriculture assets, it already owned the JI Case assets. Tenenco added the IH assets to its JI Case subsidiary. Tenneco effectively closed the IH Farmall Plant in 1985 because it refused to buy that asset. It did buy the Combine Plant in East Moline, IL. The purchase of the IH's factories in 1985 made the Bettendorf factory surplus and thus its closure in 1986. [upi timeline, QConline] I still need to find where JI Case had a plant in Rock Island. ("Rock Island plant became part of Case in 1937, Bettendorf in 1947 and Terre Haute in 1966." [ChicagoTribune])

In 1970, The Case crawlers were moved from Burlington, Iowa to Bettendorf, Iowa. Bettendorf will build rubber-tired tractors. They also build harvesting machinery. Also, products from Rockford will be transferred. Four-wheel-drive loaders will be made at Terre Haute, Indiana. The 1470 will be made in Racine. The Uni-loader and 480ck will go to Burlington. Farm implements will go from Rockford to Bettendorf. [FarmCollector]

1927 Aerial Photo from ILHAP, the case plant is on the left

1937 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

1975 Davenport East and Silvis Quadrangles @ 1:24,000

Monday, January 12, 2026

Akron, OH: 1865 Excelsior Mower and Reaper Works, then IH "Motor Wagons" (Trucks)

(Satellite, the southeast quadrant of University Ave. and the tracks based on the 1882 map below.)

The company started in Doylestown, OH, and built the Akron plant in 1865. [the-daily-record]

Scott Brown posted two images with the comment: "From an 1874 Atlas.  Does anyone know where this was located?"
Rod Hower: I think my ancestors were involved with that! The Excelsior Mower and Reaper Works was an influential 19th-century farm machinery company in the Akron, Ohio area, co-founded by industrialist John Henry Hower in 1861. It was a significant early industry in the region and a precursor to the Quaker Oats Company and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.
History of the Excelsior Works and John Hower
Founding: John H. Hower partnered with the inventor John F. Seiberling to organize the Excelsior Mower and Reaper Works in Doylestown, Ohio, in 1861. The machine they manufactured was patented by Seiberling and called the "Excelsior".
Brian Vogus: One of these sites now E. J. Thomas Performing Arts [The 1882 map below shows it is south of University, Ave.] Hall. Competitors' plants Buckeye and Excelsior located adjacent to each other. Both consolidated into the massive International Harvester of America, which then began the manufacture of motor wagons, an early type of truck. Shut down and motor wagon business moved to Fort Wayne [c1923] and Springfield.
Vince Nicklin: Broadway @ State. [I'd say the southeast quadrant of University Ave. and the tracks.] #47 at this link
1

2

1882 Akron

A larger excerpt to provide context.

Within a decade, buildings were torn down and University Ave. was extended west of the tracks.
1903/61 Akron Quad @ 62,500

One of the big deals concerning the reaper was the paddle reel.
iastate, p2, Credit: Iowa State University. Special Collections and University Archives
This is a 24 page description of the reaper.

WoosterHistory
"This sketch from Caldwell's Atlas of 1873 features a mower from Excelsior Mower and Reaper Works of Cline, Seiberling and Co., in Doylestown, Ohio. The piece of innovative farm technology was sold in the mid-Nineteenth century to cut lodged and tangled grain in 3 1/2 inch sections."

WhoosterHistory
"This piece of innovative technology from the mid-Nineteenth century was captured in a sketch by the Caldwell Atlas of 1873. It features a man cutting lodged and tangled grain with a mower from Cline, Seiberling and Co., of Doylestown, Ohio."

In the background is a couple of the mowers. The foreground mower shows how it folds up for transport down a road.
huntington
Excelsior Mower and Reaper.
This is from an advertisement.

John F. Seiberling sons, Frank and Charles, helped transform Akron from a hot bed of farm machinery manufacture to a hot bed of rubber manufacture. [FarmCollector]

Friday, April 4, 2025

Rock Falls, IL: IH: Lost/International Harvester Spring Division and Lost/CB&Q Depot

IH: (Satellite, part of the land between 2nd Street & the river and between 1st and 4th Avenues.)
Depot: (Satellite, the land of the depot is now part of a parking lot.)

I know IH made a lot of things in its heyday, but it is hard to believe that it used this many springs. I wonder if they sold some springs to other manufacturers.
Dennis Haag posted
Steve OConnor shared

CB&Q Depot


Trent Briggs posted
Rock Falls, Illinois.  CB&Q
Thomas Whitt shared

The depot was in a small railyard next to their bridge over the Rock River. This area was abandoned and rebuilt.
1940/40 Morrison Quad @ 62,500

The topo map misses the detail that the mainline is curved through that railyard. Judging from the shadow, the depot was just north of 3rd Street and above where 1st Ave. curved to the West. We can also see the buildings of the IH plant west of 1st Ave. and north of 2nd Street.
1939 Aerial Photo from IHLAP

Friday, November 22, 2024

Milwaukee, WI: East Allis, an Early Allis-Chalmers Plant

Reliance Plant: (Satellite "The Milwaukee county historical societies building and pere Marquette park is the original location of Reliance Works factory.")
East Allis: (Satellite  "near 2nd and Florida.")

Edward P. Allis started by buying the Reliance Plant. He then built a new plant south of downtown. When the company outgrew that plant, they built one is West Allis.

Jon Jocham posted
If you research Allis Chalmers. You will learn about Allis East. In the early days of the company. Edward P. Allis purchased a company called Reliance works from a bankruptcy court. The interesting part of the story is the location of the facility was in the middle of Milwaukee close to the river. The primary source of power was waterpower. After 30+ years in maintenance. I do understand this story so much better now. The decision to move the buildings down the river to a new location was a bold move. With the new location, steampower became the source of power for the new facility. Allis East also started an Industrial revolution in the Milwaukee area. When Allis Chalmers ended in bankruptcy due to financial problems. It was also the end of a dedicated workforce that took generations after generations to do great things for mankind. Allis Chalmers tractors from every production line means so much more to the owners and the workers who built them. My stories aren't just about me. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

The Milwaukee county historical societies building and pere Marquette park is the original location of Reliance Works factory. Allis East was near 2nd and Florida.

CN/Milwaukee still has the railroad that went by the 2nd-and-Florida site, and it had the railroad that came down the west side of the river to the Reliance Works.
1958/60 Milwaukee Quad @ 24,000

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Davenport, IA: 1904 French & Hecht Wheel Co./Davenport Wagon Co. Building

(Satellite, it is not the same building. The building and parking lot reuses the land of the first image.)

Yet another manufacturer in the Quad Cities that supported the farmer.

Retro Quad Cities posted
A vintage postcard of the Davenport Wagon Company, later becoming the French & Hecht Wheel Company. The site is now the Quad City Times building.

Davenport Iowa History posted
Davenport Wagon Co. and Red Jacket Pump Mfg. Co.
This photograph, taken from the Mississippi River shows the Davenport Wagon Co. (northwest corner of 3rd and Farnam streets) as well as the Red Jacket Mfg. Co. (northeast corner of 3rd and Farnam streets). The Davenport Wagon Co. was established in 1904 by partners Nathaniel French, G. Watson French and J. L. Hecht. It produced the steel wheel and hub farm wagon with roller bearings, which was quite an improvement over ordinary wooden wheel wagons. The Davenport wagon provided a 30-50% lighter draft and the wheels didn’t cake with mud after the rains like wagons with ordinary wooden wheels. The Red Jacket Mfg. Co. was established in 1887. Their well water pumps were of high quality and easy to repair. It gets its name from “Red Jacket,” a Seneca Indian chief and famed orator. He was decorated with the first Congressional Medal of Honor by George Washington for his help to American patriots during the Revolutionary War. The company, which was owned by S. P. Lafferty, was previously called the Davenport Pump and Pipe Co. and occupied the same location.
Thomas Cassidy: My father worked at the French and Hecht company and I believe they made tractor wheels. I could be wrong about the wheels.
Davenport Iowa History: You are right Thomas. Joseph L. Hecht, of the French & Hecht metal wheel manufacturing company, served as president and treasurer of the Davenport Wagon Co. Deere & Co. purchased the plant in June 1911, then sold it to French & Hecht in December 1914 for the purpose of manufacturing metal wheels. The Davenport Wagon Co. would simply adopt the name of French & Hecht Co. by 1923 and continue to make wheels for John Deere products.
 
Davenport Iowa History posted
This photo, circa 1909, shows the Davenport Wagon Co., located on the northwest corner of 3rd and Farnam streets. The company was famous for its Davenport Roller-Bearing Steel Wagons. Joseph L. Hecht, of the French & Hecht metal wheel manufacturing company, served as president and treasurer. Deere & Co. purchased the plant in June 1911, then sold it to French & Hecht in December 1914 for the purpose of manufacturing metal wheels. The Davenport Wagon Co. would simply adopt the name of French & Hecht Co. by 1923.
Martin Johnson: I don't think that description is quite accurate.
The Davenport Wagon Company was acquired by Deere and Company, and became a part of the John Deere Wagon Works.
Another separate company, owned by the Bettendorf Brothers, and French Brothers, the Bettendorf Metal Wheel Company would become French & Hecht in 1909.
The Bettendorf's also owned the Bettendorf Axle Company.
 
Davenport Iowa History commented on the above post
The Davenport Roller Bearing Steel Wagon.

Adding steel rolling bearings would be a significant technology development. In fact, the entire undercarriage including the wheels were made with steel back when wood was the norm.
invaluable

ebay
RPPC Davenport Iowa Davenport Wagon Company Ruins from Fire early 1900s

John Deere purchased multiple wagon manufactures, allowed them to keep their original brand name, and allowed them to advertise against each other. The Davenport wagon brand ceased production in 1971. [WheelsThatWonTheWest] But a comment above indicates the plant continued to make steel wheels for John Deere.
I think 1917 is when products produced by this plant were stamped with the John Deere brand rather than the Davenport Wagon brand. [smithsonian]

1938 Aerial Photo via ILHAP

I added a red circle at 3rd and Farnam. When they built on the cleared land shown in the 1909 photo above, they built over Farnam as well. In the top photo, the street on the left was Farnam and the street on the right was 4th.
Arial plus Paint

Retro Quad Cities posted
1975 Davenport Riverfront.
Christopher Smith: You can see where the remains of the flour plant are... I remember French and Hecht being down there too because of the huge stack. Our company is in the West end so we'd drive through town a lot as kids. I was one when this was taken.
Retro Quad Cities: This record is from the Upper Mississippi Valley Digital Image Archive, http://www.umvphotoarchive.org, a collaborative project of cultural heritage organizations in the Iowa-Illinois Mississippi River region.
Retro Quad Cities shared
Michael Scheel: Be nice to see a current aerial shot to compare.

Dennis DeBruler commented on Michael's comment
 https://maps.app.goo.gl/tavhiqcq8P15WCLc8