Pan Scraper Power: Engine Size In Allis-Chalmers

Allis-Chalmers was a U.S. manufacturer of machinery for various industries, including construction equipment. The TS-300 Motor Scraper, introduced in 1947, was an 18-yard scraper powered by a 280-hp, six-cylinder, 844-cu supercharged engine, weighing 24 tons. The TS-300 was replaced by the TS-360 in 1954. Allis-Chalmers also offered the smaller TS-200 Motor Scraper and the TW-300 Motor Wagon, introduced in 1950. In addition to the TS-300 Motor Scraper, Allis-Chalmers produced a range of construction equipment, including motor graders, bulldozers, and scrapers.

The TS-300 was an 18-yard scraper with a 280-hp engine

The TS-300 was a powerful and heavy-duty motor scraper, introduced to the market in 1947. With an 18-yard capacity and a weight of 24 tons, this machine was designed for large-scale construction and earth-moving projects.

At the heart of the TS-300 was its impressive engine. Allis-Chalmers opted for a 280-horsepower Buda six-cylinder 844 cubic inch supercharged engine, which delivered ample power to the scraper. This engine, with its robust performance, was a key component in the TS-300's ability to handle significant loads and challenging terrain.

For a brief period, a different engine option was offered—a 265-horsepower Cummins engine. While less powerful on paper, this engine may have offered other advantages such as fuel efficiency or a different torque curve. However, the Buda engine was the standard and most common choice.

The TS-300 was a cable-operated machine, which contributed to its overall functionality and performance. With a hefty price tag of $33,975 at the end of 1954, the TS-300 was eventually replaced by the TS-360, continuing the legacy of powerful and reliable motor scrapers from Allis-Chalmers.

The TS-300 was replaced by the TS-360 in 1954

The TS-300 was a motor scraper introduced in 1947 by the LaPlant-Choate Manufacturing Company of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was an 18-yard scraper powered by either a 280-hp Buda six-cylinder 844 cu supercharged engine or a 265-hp Cummins engine, depending on the customer's preference. The machine weighed 24 tons and was cable-operated. The TS-300 was replaced by the TS-360 in 1954 (or late 1955 according to another source). The TS-360 featured a redesigned tractor unit but used an almost unchanged TS-300 bowl.

The TS-300 was not originally an Allis-Chalmers machine. It was acquired by Allis-Chalmers in 1952 when the company bought LaPlant-Choate. The TS-300 was then painted orange and adorned with Allis-Chalmers decals. The TS-300's steering was fully hydraulic and capable of 90-degree turns in either direction. It could move at 23 miles per hour when fully loaded. The machine was of a relatively conventional design and featured a curved cutting edge to obtain heaped loads faster and with less effort.

The TS-300 was manufactured by LaPlant-Choate and Allis-Chalmers

The TS-300 was not originally an Allis-Chalmers product. The machine was first manufactured by LaPlant-Choate, a company based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, that had been building dozer blades, rippers, and towed scrapers since 1911. After World War II, LaPlant-Choate wanted to follow in the footsteps of its competitor, Le Tourneau, and build a self-propelled scraper. The prototype was ready for testing by mid-1945 and entered full-scale production in 1947.

LaPlant-Choate was already well-respected in the earthmoving industry and supplied equipment to Caterpillar for use with their track-type tractors. The TS-300 was LaPlant-Choate's first motor scraper and was fairly well-received when it was introduced. The machine was powered by either a 275hp Cummins model NHS600 or a 280hp Buda model 6DAS-844 engine, with the latter appearing to be the favoured option. The engine was connected to a Fuller four-speed manual transmission, allowing the TS-300 to reach speeds of up to 23 miles per hour when fully loaded.

What set the TS-300 apart from similar machines at the time was its fully hydraulic steering, capable of 90-degree turns. The scraper had a capacity of 14 cubic yards struck and 17.5 cubic yards heaped. It featured a curved cutting edge, a LaPlant-Choate trademark, which was supposed to allow for faster and easier loading.

In 1952, Allis-Chalmers, a U.S. manufacturer of machinery for various industries, acquired LaPlant-Choate. Allis-Chalmers was looking to become a full-line supplier without spending a lot of money on research and development, so they bought out the cash-strapped LaPlant-Choate. Allis-Chalmers repainted the existing LaPlant-Choate products in their signature 'Persian Orange' colour and continued to sell the TS-300 until 1955, making only minor modifications to the machine. During this period, Allis-Chalmers also acquired the Buda Engine Company, making them one of the few manufacturers of earthmoving equipment in the U.S. to offer a full range of machines and engines.

The TS-300 was eventually replaced by the TS-360 in late 1955. Interestingly, the TS-360 used an almost identical bowl to the TS-300, with only the tractor unit being redesigned.

The TS-300 was originally orange, but the colour was changed to yellow in 1960

The TS-300 was a motor scraper, a piece of construction equipment used for earthmoving. It featured a detailed Buda diesel engine, articulated steering, and a movable "Apron" and "Bowl" with simulated cable lift and hoist detail. The TS-300 also had soft vinyl tyres, a detailed cockpit, and was designed to be an accurate 1:50 scale model.

Allis-Chalmers was a U.S. manufacturer of machinery for various industries, including agricultural, construction, power generation, and industrial equipment. The company was formed in 1901 through the amalgamation of several smaller firms, including the Edward P. Allis Company, Fraser & Chalmers, the Gates Iron Works, and the Dickson Manufacturing Company. Over the years, Allis-Chalmers grew by acquiring and consolidating the innovations of various smaller companies, building upon their technology and expertise.

The company's early years were marked by financial troubles, but it eventually found success with its line of farm equipment, including tractors, combine harvesters, and scrapers. Allis-Chalmers became well-known for its orange tractors, a colour chosen by executive Harry Merritt in 1929. He was inspired by the bright orange California poppy and believed that bright colours would be beneficial for marketing, as they could be seen from far away.

However, by the 1960s, the company was facing increased competition and struggling to maintain its market position. The shift from orange to yellow for the TS-300 may have been part of a broader strategy to refresh the company's image and adapt to changing market demands. While the TS-300's new colour may have been a departure from the traditional Allis-Chalmers orange, it reflected the company's willingness to innovate and respond to the evolving landscape of the construction equipment industry.

The TS-300 was cable-operated and weighed 24 tons

The TS-300 was a powerful motor scraper, weighing in at 24 tons. Its design was not original to Allis-Chalmers; it was first produced by the LaPlant-Choate Manufacturing Company of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1947. LaPlant-Choate was a well-respected name in earthmoving circles and often supplied equipment to Caterpillar. The TS-300 was cable-operated and could be fitted with either a 275hp Cummins model NHS600 engine or a 280hp Buda model 6DAS-844 engine, the latter being the favoured option. The engine was connected to a Fuller four-speed manual transmission via a 17-inch dry clutch. With a full load, the TS-300 could travel at 23 miles per hour.

The TS-300's steering was fully hydraulic and capable of 90-degree turns in either direction. The 14 cubic-yard scraper was cable-controlled and featured a curved cutting edge, a LaPlant-Choate trademark, which allowed for heaped loads to be obtained faster and with less effort. LaPlant-Choate also offered a 19 cubic yard bottom dump for use with the TS-300 tractor, in which configuration the machine was known as a TW-300 (the 'W' standing for 'wagon').

The TS-300 was not particularly comfortable for the operator, with very few creature comforts and a partially exposed engine giving off heat and noise. The seat was rigidly mounted to the frame. Despite this, the TS-300 was a powerful machine, selling for $33,975 at the end of 1954 when it was replaced by the TS-360.

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