Borger in Hutchinson County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Allis-Chalmers/Cooper Winch Tractor
Photographed by James Hulse, June 7, 2022
1. Allis-Chalmers/Cooper Winch Tractor Marker
Inscription.
Allis-Chalmers/Cooper Winch Tractor. . Allis Chalmers/Cooper winch tractors date from the late 1930's. Allis Chalmers was a U.S. machinery manufacturer. The Fred E. Cooper Company was an oil field drilling and service company in Tulsa, Oklahoma which also built rigs such as the example displayed here. Cooper used Allis Chalmers tractors as a platform upon which to build drilling and service rigs. The rigs used to drill most of the wells in Borger's early oilfield were wooden and were constructed on site, but the discovery field also served as a testing ground for new ideas and innovation. Cooper's winch tractor was the result of innovation obtained from knowledge acquired "on the job" in this relatively-new profession., These rigs were self-propelled units and could be driven to the well site. This design was much more efficient, convenient and cost-effective for drilling and oil field service companies. This model could also be used to service wells. Oil wells require constant repair, cleaning and maintenance. Owning a piece of equipment which could perform most of the company's heavy lifting was very attractive to owner-operators. The ad, (lower right) appeared in a 1941 issue of The Oil and Gas Journal, a trade magazine which reported on machinery, events, places, people and what was happening world-wide in the petroleum industry. This ad appeared in the journal just prior to the attack on the U. S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii which started World War II., The rig's color today is much like the color Cooper painted their rigs," "Persian Orange.", Captions , Lower Left: The jacking ring and two large wrenches shown above were used to screw and unscrew pieces of drill pipe as it was going into and out of a well. , Upper Right: Before stabilization by museum volunteer Don Thompson and crews from D.E. Rice Co., a local industrial contractor. , Lower Right: New tires were installed after restoration which were donated by local tire retailer Harvey Tire Company of Borger. , Lower Right: July 24, 1941 Oil and Gas Journal
Allis Chalmers/Cooper winch tractors date from the late 1930's. Allis Chalmers was a U.S. machinery manufacturer. The Fred E. Cooper Company was an oil field drilling and service company in Tulsa, Oklahoma which also built rigs such as the example displayed here. Cooper used Allis Chalmers tractors as a platform upon which to build drilling and service rigs. The rigs used to drill most of the wells in Borger's early oilfield were wooden and were constructed on site, but the discovery field also served as a testing ground for new ideas and innovation. Cooper's winch tractor was the result of innovation obtained from knowledge acquired "on the job" in this relatively-new profession.
These rigs were self-propelled units and could be driven to the well site. This design was much more efficient, convenient and cost-effective for drilling and oil field service companies. This model could also be used to service wells. Oil wells require constant repair, cleaning and maintenance. Owning a piece of equipment which could perform most of the company's heavy lifting was very attractive to owner-operators. The ad, (lower right) appeared in a 1941 issue of The Oil and Gas Journal, a trade magazine which reported on machinery, events, places, people and what was happening world-wide in the petroleum industry. This ad
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appeared in the journal just prior to the attack on the U. S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii which started World War II.
The rig's color today is much like the color Cooper painted their rigs," "Persian Orange."
Captions Lower Left: The jacking ring and two large wrenches shown above were used to screw and unscrew pieces of drill pipe as it was going into and out of a well. Upper Right: Before stabilization by museum volunteer Don Thompson and crews from D.E. Rice Co., a local industrial contractor. Lower Right: New tires were installed after restoration which were donated by local tire retailer Harvey Tire Company of Borger. Lower Right: July 24, 1941 Oil and Gas Journal
Erected by Hutchinson County Historical Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is July 24, 1941.
Location. 35° 40.36′ N, 101° 23.374′ W. Marker is in Borger, Texas, in Hutchinson County. It can be reached from the intersection of North Main Street and East 7th Street. The marker is located in the courtyard north of the Hutchinson County Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 618 North Main Street, Borger TX 79007, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Texas Panhandle. It is also on the American Great Plains and specifically on the Southern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Comancherνa, the Dust Bowl, the Republic of Texas, and one of the Confederate States of America.
3. The Allis-Chalmers/Cooper Winch Tractor Marker is the first marker on the left side of the sidewalks
Credits. This page was last revised on June 23, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,376 times since then and 90 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on June 23, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
