ToyTractorTimes Anniversary Set History

#2 Allis-Chalmers B

In 1987 The Toy Tractor Times celebrated its 4^th Anniversary with a 1/16 Allis-Chalmers B. Like the 1986 Massey-Harris Pony, Rick Larsen had to secure the licensing and a producer. Rick worked with Deutz-Allis the new owner of the Allis name in 1987 to secure the rights for the B. Rick turned to Pioneer Collectibles again to produce the B. Pioneer Cast and painted the tractor. The B has TTT 87' cast into the model. Rick and Linda Larsen designed and produced the box as well as added the tractor seat, steering wheel and packaged the B’s. At the 2003 National Farm Toy Show the TTT B was selling in the $110-$120 price range.

TTT 87' Anniversary Imprint in the B casting

Rick and Linda Larsen added every seat and steering wheel to the AC B

The TTT model was selected as the second small-horse power tractor because it is one of the most popular tractors of all time in its class. Allis-Chalmers began producing the B in 1937. Allis like the other big tractors makers by the late 1930's had succeeded in mechanizing the larger mid-west and north east farms. The 40 acre small horse farms in the south became the next target. Allis-Chalmers calculated their were 4 million farms that could utilize the Model B. The B was originally powered with a Waukesha engine. In 1938 the power plant became a 15 hp AC engine. The model B was designed as a narrow torque-tube frame tractor. It was about 2/3's the power of the Allis-Chalmers B but had a full line of mounted implements that included a one bottom plow, planter, cultivators, mowers and even a power matched AC 40 All-Crop Harvester.

Allis-Chalmers B

Allis-Chalmers Advertising and sales concentrated on the small horse farmer. AC pitched the high costs of horse farming in their sales literature. Here is a sample: "it took 5 acres of crop land to feed one horse and 25 acres for 5 horses. Being a chamber maid to a horse to 54 hors per year and 270 hours for five horses. Why not use that time to farm 25 acres for profit?" This type of marketing was very effective and succeeded in retiring many horses.

The Allis-Chalmers B was a very versatile tractor

The B became popular because of its versatility. It was adapted to a wide variety of crops and row spacings. Special Asparagus and Potato models were offered for truck farming. The B worked well for the small farmer as well as the larger farmer looking for a second tractor to rake hay. There was even an industrial model IB that could be fitted as a road grader, street sweeper other industrial attachments.

The best selling point of the B was its price. In 1936 it was a mere $495 and in its last year of production in 1957 it sold for $1,285. That was a $50 per year increase over a 20 year production run. In the end the B had lights, a starter any other modern improvements over the original 1937 model. The B earned its place in tractor history as a good tractor for the small farm jobs and the big farm jobs. That is why the B was the second TTT tractor.