Allis Chalmers 12-20/15-25
Built: 1921–1927 · Series: Baureihe-L
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Allis-Chalmers 12-20/15-25 – Series L from Milwaukee (1921–1927): four-cylinder engine with 4,599 cm³ displacement for petrol or kerosene, 16 kW/21.7 hp at 1,100 rpm
Allis-Chalmers of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was one of the large American farm machinery manufacturers of the first half of the 20th century. Series L, with the type 12-20/15-25, was built from 1921 to 1927; the double numerical designation follows the period's American practice of stating a tractor's drawbar rating and belt-pulley rating.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The 12-20/15-25 is powered by a water-cooled four-cylinder engine with 4,599 cm³ displacement, running on petrol or kerosene, producing 16 kW or 21.7 hp at 1,100 rpm. The machine is 3,315 mm long, 1,372 mm wide and 1,600 mm high, weighs 2,064 kg and has a design top speed of 5 km/h.
At 5 km/h, the 12-20/15-25 falls into driving licence category L. Such a low road speed was typical of 1920s tractors, which, besides fieldwork, also drove stationary machines such as threshers through the belt pulley; running on either petrol or kerosene was common among American tractors of this period.
On a tractor this old, what matters most when buying used is the condition of the frame and steel wheels, the state of the carburettor built for switching fuels, and the radiator and water pump; parts are practically available only through collectors, museums and specialist reproduction makers. It is also worth checking the condition of the wheel rims and spokes, which on the steel wheels of this period are often bent or cracked.
Sources: SpecCodex-Register: Kennwerte des Modells Allis-Chalmers 12-20/15-25
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | Benzin/Kerosincorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 21.7 hp (16 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 1,100 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 4correct |
| Displacement | 4,599 cm³correct |
| Bore | 104.78 mmcorrect |
| Stroke | 133.35 mmcorrect |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 3,315 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,372 mmcorrect |
| Height | 1,600 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 2,064 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 2 V/1 Rcorrect |
| Forward gears | 2correct |
| Reverse gears | 1correct |
| Front tyres | 813 x 152correct |
| Rear tyres | 1.168 x 305correct |
| Top speed | 5 km/hcorrect |
Working data
| Fuel tank capacity | 91 lcorrect |
|---|
Origin and approval
| Construction | frame constructioncorrect |
|---|---|
| Units built | 1,705correct |
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 7.8 kW/t (16 kW / 2.1 t)
Power class: Compact (< 40 hp)
Stronger than 8% of the tractors in the register — out of 15,663 models with a stated power figure.
Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the Allis Chalmers 12-20/15-25 have?
The Allis Chalmers 12-20/15-25 delivers 21.7 hp.
How much does the Allis Chalmers 12-20/15-25 weigh?
The unladen weight is 2,064 kg.
What engine does the Allis Chalmers 12-20/15-25 have?
4 cylinders, 4,599 cm³ displacement, Benzin/Kerosin.
How fast does the Allis Chalmers 12-20/15-25 go?
Top speed is 5 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the Allis Chalmers 12-20/15-25?
3,315 mm × 1,372 mm × 1,600 mm.
When was the Allis Chalmers 12-20/15-25 built?
Production years: 1921–1927.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Check front and rear tyre sizes: mismatched pairs strain the drivetrain.
- Shift the gearbox cold and warm — jumps only show up at temperature.
- Load the hydraulics and watch for sag.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
We do not sell machines. We ask the dealers who carry this model and come back with price and lead time.
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This page carries 24 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
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Sources: Wikibooks Traktorenlexikon (CC BY-SA 4.0) (retrieved August 2026) · How we check the data
Tractor in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.
