He Restored Rare Manure Spreader
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Only 1,500 Allis-Chalmers front-unloading manure spreaders were made in the 1950’s. So when Allis collector and restorer James Grosz saw one advertised in Edgeley, N.Dak., he purchased it right away. That was 2009, and the retired sheet metal worker stored it until 2016. After about 7 months of restoration work, he had it ready in time for his town’s parade during the Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo in Mitchell, S.Dak.
“Very few people have seen a spreader that unloads out the front,” Grosz says. “The chain carries manure to the front and three beaters throw it out each side.”
He’s not certain why Allis came up with that design, but speculates that it was because it puts more weight on the tractor.
His sheet metal experience helped him make shields and guards to replace those that were missing. He completely disassembled the frame and replaced all the rusted bolts ($180 worth). Then he had it sandblasted before painting it.
“I didn’t have any patterns, and getting the wood to fit was a challenge,” Grosz says.
Rough-cut oak boards were planed, then pieced together to make the sides and floor. He stained and coated the wood with polyurethane and painted the metal parts with premium quality Allis orange paint.
“I was going to put new tires on it, but we broke one down and the tube looked good yet,” Grosz says. So, he kept the 24-in. implement rib tires that came with the 1956 spreader.
Altogether he spent about $4,000 restoring the spreader. It fits well with his collection of other Allis equipment - 38 tractors and about 75 implements. The front-loading spreader attracts interest because it is so rare.
“I had it at an old irons association event and no one had ever seen one,” Grosz says. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, James and Jeanie Grosz, 25751 Hwy. 37, Mitchell, S.Dak. 57301 (ph 605 996-8604; groszjj@santel.net).
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He Restored Rare Manure Spreader AG WORLD Only 1 500 Allis-Chalmers front-unloading manure spreaders were made in the 1950’s So when Allis collector and restorer James Grosz saw one advertised in Edgeley N Dak he purchased it right away That was 2009 and the retired sheet metal worker stored it until 2016 After about 7 months of restoration work he had it ready in time for his town’s parade during the Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo in Mitchell S Dak “Very few people have seen a spreader that unloads out the front ” Grosz says “The chain carries manure to the front and three beaters throw it out each side ” He’s not certain why Allis came up with that design but speculates that it was because it puts more weight on the tractor His sheet metal experience helped him make shields and guards to replace those that were missing He completely disassembled the frame and replaced all the rusted bolts $180 worth Then he had it sandblasted before painting it “I didn’t have any patterns and getting the wood to fit was a challenge ” Grosz says Rough-cut oak boards were planed then pieced together to make the sides and floor He stained and coated the wood with polyurethane and painted the metal parts with premium quality Allis orange paint “I was going to put new tires on it but we broke one down and the tube looked good yet ” Grosz says So he kept the 24-in implement rib tires that came with the 1956 spreader Altogether he spent about $4 000 restoring the spreader It fits well with his collection of other Allis equipment - 38 tractors and about 75 implements The front-loading spreader attracts interest because it is so rare “I had it at an old irons association event and no one had ever seen one ” Grosz says Contact: FARM SHOW Followup James and Jeanie Grosz 25751 Hwy 37 Mitchell S Dak 57301 ph 605 996-8604; groszjj@santel net
