Collector Restored Rare A-C Tractors

Collector Restored Rare A-C Tractors E.J. Croll says that locating a very old and very specific 100-year-old motor cultivator tractor for his Allis-Chalmers collection was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. After years of searching, he finally bought one at a Nebraska estate auction. Much to his surprise, another 6-12 showed up a few months later, and he bought that one, too. The tractors are two of only 1,500 6-12 models that A-C built between 1918 and 1926. Croll says he bought them even though they were in tough condition. The price of a new 2,500-lb. 6-12 was around $800 in the early 1900s. That was a lot of money at the time, but the 6-hp tractor could pull small horse-drawn implements, including a plow, disk, hay mower or rake. It also produced 12 hp on its belt pulley and didn’t need to be fed, harnessed or worked with a set of reins. The tractor’s tiny Le Roi engine was mounted above a transmission that sat between two large steel wheels. A 6-in. tubular trailing arm extended toward the back. There, the operator sat on a ventilated steel seat mounted above a small frame supported by one or two steel wheels. The tractor articulated just behind the engine and turned as the operator rotated the steering wheel. The rear wheels could be removed when the tractor was hitched to an implement that had an operator seat. Croll shipped his first 6-12 to Wendell Kelch in Ohio for restoration. He says Kelch’s 50 years of experience restoring vintage tractors was exactly the expertise he wanted for his rare and special A-C. “My 6-12 was completely rusted and frozen in the center so it wouldn’t articulate,” Croll says. “It had a hole in the bell housing because it’d been modified with an electric starter. I wanted it restored to original condition, so the starter had to be removed and the hole repaired. They were able to do that.” The carburetor, radiator, clutch and other components had to be repaired or replaced. After the rust was removed, the tractor was primed, painted a deep green color and detailed with gold striping on the hood. A stylized graphic symbol was added to the tubular frame. The original brass Le Roi engine plate is also mounted on the tractor. Croll was extremely pleased with the restoration and says the tractor runs and drives well. Now he’s working on restoring the second tractor to equally pristine condition. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, E.J. Croll (lilej888@amplex.net).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.