The
Syndicate Companies
Last
updated 09 March 1999
This page is Copyright 1999 by Mark Bookout. You may not reproduce
this text on your web site, or print and sell it, though you may print it for
personal use at any time, and you may link to this page from your web site if
you notify me in writing that you wish to do so.
As I said on the
previous page, there were five companies which were driven by the same man,
Harold L Downing. When I get his biography on line, I'll link it in here. Until
then, simply recognize that he was THE major player in the genesis and
expansion of these companies.
Here are the
companies presented in the order in which they were created.
American Farm Machinery Company (1920 - 1952). Formed on a shoestring, this company was the first of
the Syndicate, and over time proved to be the central focus of the
behind-the-scenes action in the Syndicate's activities. All purchasing over
time was done through this company, as well as much of the billing, contract
work, outsourcing, and management. They also built all of the Kinkade tractors.
Standard Engine Company (1925 - 1952) Formed exclusively to make and market the Syndicate's
two wheel garden tractor, this company grew to be the best recognized of all of
the Syndicate companies. At the time this company was formed, Mr. Downing was
keenly aware that the 2 wheel tractor market was maturing and apparently
determined to get a piece of the market share. His first tractor, though
primitive by later standards was actually very competitive with those on the
market at the time. Later, this company became the central figure for all two
wheel tractor sales and marketing when the great depression of the early 1930s
forced a contraction in the syndicate.
Implement Finance Company (1925 - 1952) This company was formed as a joint venture between Mr.
Downing and some powerful venture capitalists in Minneapolis. Mr. Downing's
need was clear, his customers needed to buy his tractors on time, and he needed
to control the organization that could approve the loans. Waiting on a bank or
local credit was too slow for the hard driving businessman, and by being able
to loan the money from his company, he could build an edge over some of his
competitors.
Allied Motors Corporation (1928 - 1941) This company was formed for the express purpose of
building the "heavy horse" of the Syndicate tractors. With a clean
sheet of paper, they were told to build a tractor capable of replacing the
light team and heavy single horse operations on a farm. They ended up building
an all new 2 cylinder engine, coupled with a very heavy duty drive train. The new
tractor weighed in at about 500 pounds, and proved easy to operate and very
powerful. It was rated at 5 horsepower. This tractor was the first Viking Twin.
Later Twin designs were developed, and the Standard Twin, introduced in 1934
was an offshoot of this engineering group. Some of the highest technology
tractors built by the syndicate were made under the Allied label. Had not WW2
interfered, it is likely that these designs would have been much more prolific.
The Viking one cylinder tractor, described elsewhere in these pages, was truly
an engineering marvel for it's time.
Walsh Tractor Company (1928 - 1934) The Walsh Tractor Company was the shortest lived of all
the Syndicate companies, and in truth it was not formed and run as were the
others. It was more of an independent operation that ultimately folded in 1934.
It's one product, the Walsh tractor was a good machine when it was introduced,
but it did not keep up with the times and could not increase market share as
the volume of sales fell during the depression. For a brief time (1931 and
1932) this company sold it's tractor through Sears as the Sears Handyman.
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