First Use Of Rubber Tires

First Use Of Rubber Tires 1932 Perhaps the most notable and famous innovation developed by an AGCO predecessor was the use of rubber tires on an Allis Chalmers Model U. The first model used rubber tires from a Ford Tri-Motor airplane-the result of a joint experiment by Harry Merritt, general manager, of A-C from 1926 to 1941, and the Firestone Company. Says Norm Swinford, author of Allis Chalmers Farm Equipment 1914-1985 and a member of Allis Chalmers marketing department for 30 years. "Of all the major advances made in farm tractors since their inception, the substitution of air tires for steel lugged wheels is no doubt the most profound". But while employees at A-C knew tread-type rubber tires were just as effective as lugs, saving fuel and improving comfort, many farmers were still skeptical. To win them over Allis Chalmers initiated one of the most effective advertising campaigns in history. They hired Albert Schroeder, a Wisconsin farmer who purchased the first Model U with rubber tires, to travel the country giving talks and demonstrations. They also hired Barney Oldfield, a famous racecar driver, to perform in tractor races, featuring Model U tractors on rubber, at many county and state fairs. Within a matter of years, every tractor sold in America was equipped with rubber tires.