Allis-Chalmers D 14 Rough Terrain Forklift

Here’s one for all you industrial equipment fans.
There is no shortage of rough terrain forklifts. Almost every major manufacturer has at one time or another, produced an entry for the market. Allis - Chalmers was no exception. The D 14 series of tractors aren’t particularly scarce either, so why is it so hard to find any mention of this machine online?

The D 14s were the first of the  D series that Allis built between 1957 and 1969. This run included : D 15, D 17, D 10, D12, D 19 and D 21 tractors. The D 14’s were manufactured from 1957 to 1960. Production numbers vary according to the source, from 17,474 to 23,050 according to the site you visit. The  D 14, came from the factory with a sticker that read $2,900 in 1960. 

A gasoline version of the D 14 was shipped from the West  Allis, Wisconsin plant to the University of Nebraska Lincoln for evaluation  from June 1, 1957 to June 7 and the results were published  as Test # 623. The rated load belt horsepower was recorded as 30.75, drawbar at 24.5 hp.

The test tractor was powered by an Allis built 4 cylinder, 149 cubic inch,  liquid cooled, vertical I head engine with a bore of 3 ½” and stroke of 3 ⅞”.  It was also available as an LP version. The transmission provided four forward speeds plus reverse. Advertised speeds were: 1st, 2 ⅕ mph, 2nd, 3 ¾ , 3rd, 4 ¾ , and 4th, 12 mph.    

I had just about decided that the machine I had photographed at the W.N.C. Fall Harvest  Days Show back in 2016 was some kind of an aftermarket conversion when I found an ad on an auction house website offering an A-C 160 Rough Terrain Forklift for sale. There were differences in sheet metal but overall the appearance was quite similar. The 160 tractors were distributed by Allis but built by Renault from 1970 to 1975. Based on this family resemblance, I’ve concluded that the D 14 is an all but forgotten earlier version of the rough terrain forklift line.

Sources:

www.tractordata.com 

www.rockanddirt.com 

https://digitalcommons.unl.edu 

The Holmes Sawmill Boiler

From time to time I get an email from a visitor requesting information about a piece of machinery, and all too often there’s not much that I can offer in the way of help. Such was the case recently when I was contacted by Mark and Sally Holmes about the steam power used at their great grandfather’s sawmill. As you can see from the photos, there isn’t much to go on. No identifying numbers or other markings that might be helpful. That said, it’s an interesting project so I suggested putting out a request for information on the Mule, on the off chance that someone might see it who could provide some help. If that someone is you, leave a comment or send Sally an email at : shoeboxgenealogy@gmail.com . Now I’ll let them continue the story in their own words.

Can anyone help provide information on this 100+ year-old steam sawmill boiler?

My great grandfather, Russell Holmes, ran a logging/milling operation in Bleecker, Fulton County, New York, from 1890 until his death in 1918. After a brief stint of ownership by another lumber company, the land was reclaimed circa 1921 by the State of New York. Today, now part of the rugged Adirondack Park, the forest has reclaimed most of the evidence of the Holmes logging/milling operation. One behemoth exception is this steam boiler.

The steam sawmill was situated at the base of a mountain, receiving the timber from the higher elevations by team (vs. water). The logs were then hauled out, again by team, about five or six miles to the nearest public road.

In early May 2018, I photographed the boiler. Although I examined the boiler closely, to my amateur eye, I couldn’t spot a manufacturer’s name or any such identifying markings.

 

I've been told by the Bleecker Town Historian that the boiler was initially "dragged in through the woods.” This would definitely have occurred pre-1918. The historian added that, during WWII when scrap metal was in demand, men went to the old steam sawmill site. Whether or not some pieces were retrieved is not clear. But, as told by the historian and evidenced by the photos, the bulky remains of the boiler were not retrievable and thus it lies today.  

Related or not, is a "Wanted" advertisement in a 1913 New York newspaper - "Second-hand boiler about 65 horse-power (R.E. Holmes)" -- Would the boiler pictured be in that range? 

 

Any information – the manufacturer, possible date range of manufacture, HP capacity – any thoughts -- would be greatly appreciated.

Mark Holmes