United Tractor was an American manufacturer of tractors and aircraft tugs located in Chesterton, Indiana.

United Tractor Company
IndustryManufacturing
Founded1960 (1960)
FounderGeorge A. Sivore
Defunct2004 (2004)
FateDissolved
Headquarters,
United States
Parent
  • United Boiler Heating and Foundry Company
  • Indiana Industries, Inc.
  • American Industries Corporation

History edit

United Tractor and Material Handling Equipment Company was founded by United States Army Air Force veteran George A. Sivore in Hammond, Indiana in 1960 as a division of the United Boiler Heating and Foundry Company.[1][2] By 1962, it had become United Tractor, Inc. and that year it moved to Chesterton, Indiana.[3]

The company was sold to American Industries Corporation in 1968, which then changed its name to United Tractor & Equipment Company.[4][5] The name would be changed again in 1971 to United Tractor Company.[6]

By 1982, it had been purchased by Wedge Products.[7]

In 1988, the company purchased Kalamazoo Manufacturing.[8]

United Tractor signed a deal to build Clark tow tractors in 1995. The agreement also saw the latter's products sold through United distributors.[9]

The company received a grant from the Indiana Department of Commerce in 1997 to improve the energy management system at its factory.[10]

The company moved to Twinsburg, Ohio in 1999.[11][12] In 2002, it was renamed AJD Tractor, Inc.[13] It was dissolved in 2004.[14]

Products edit

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ "Death Notice: George A. Sivore". Chicago Tribune. 18 July 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  2. ^ Marz, Blaine (11 May 1960). "United Boiler Adds New Tractor Division". Hammond Times. p. D-9. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Facts Given on Porter, Chesterton". Vidette-Messenger. 30 March 1962. p. 31. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Tractor Firm Sold". Vidette-Messenger. 26 November 1968. p. 6. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  5. ^ Osborne, Richard L.; Emrick, Charles R. Jr. (29 November 1968). "Certificate of Amendment: Articles of Incorporation of American Industries, Inc". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  6. ^ DeFino, Anthony J.; DeFino, Mary (9 September 1971). "Certificate of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation of United Tractor & Equipment Company". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  7. ^ a b Indiana Industries, Inc. v. Wedge Products, 3-181A6 (Court of Appeals of Indiana, Third District 28 January 1982).
  8. ^ Lyon, David O. (2002). The Kalamazoo Automobilist: 1891-1991. New Issues Press. p. 486. ISBN 0932826830. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  9. ^ "United Tractor Signs Deal with Terex Unit". Hartford Courant. 18 September 1995. p. 4. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  10. ^ McCollum, Carmen (24 April 1997). "United Tractor Gets Grant to Cut Costs". The Times. p. E-1. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Downtown: Vacancies are Available". The Times. 3 December 1998. p. B-3. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  12. ^ McCollum, Carmen (25 June 1999). "Taking Business Closings in Stride". The Times. p. D-1. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  13. ^ DeFino, Francis P. (9 January 2002). "Certificate of Amendment by Shareholders to Articles of United Tractor Company". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  14. ^ DeFino, Francis P. (4 May 2004). "Certificate of Dissolution by Shareholders, Directors, or Incorporators". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  15. ^ Organizational Maintenance Repair Parts and Special Tools Lists: Tractor, Wheeled, Warehouse, Gasoline Engine Driven; Pneumatic Tired, 4000 lb. Drawbar Pull Army Models MHE 189, MHE 189A, and MHE 189B, NSN 3930-00-724-8146, United Tractor Models G40, G40A, and G40B. Headquarters, Department of the Army. 2 April 1984. p. i. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  16. ^ Operator and Organizational Maintenance Manual: Tractor, Wheeled, Warehouse, Gasoline, Pneumatic-Tired, 4,000 Pound Drawbar Pull, Army Model MHE-217, United Tractor Model G40C, FSN 3930-181-3217. Headquarters, Department of the Army. 10 June 1971. p. i. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  17. ^ Operator's, Organizational, Direct Support, and General Support Maintenance Manual (including Repair Parts Information and Supplemental Operating, Maintenance, and Repair Parts Instructions) for Tractor, Wheeled, Warehouse, GED, 4,000 Lb Drawbar Pull, Model GC 340-4, NSN 3930-01-075-2812. Headquarters, Department of the Army. May 1981. p. 1-1. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  18. ^ a b c d Operation and Maintenance Manual with Parts Catalog: Model SM40 Shop Mule Towing Tractor. United Tractor Company. The models are named on the title page of the manual, which was found on eBay.
  19. ^ a b c "SML-80 SML-100 SML-120 Tow Tractors" (PDF). Aeroservicios. United Tractor. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  20. ^ "Approved Navy Training System Plan for Tow Tractors" (PDF). June 1998. p. I-13. Retrieved 15 October 2021.

Bibliography edit

  • Rider, David F. (1983). Jane's Airport Equipment. Jane's Publishing Company. pp. 506–507.
  • Jane's Airport Equipment. Vol. 5. Jane's Publishing Company. 1986–1987. p. 743.